November’s almost over, and I finally finished the first TJPW November show translation, haha! This was for the November 3 show.
Lots happened in this! First was the first round of the Next Generation tournament. Himawari vs Haru was the first matchup, and unfortunately for poor Haru, she didn’t beat the odds and was unable to get the upset.
Himawari:
HIMAWARI: “First of all, I made it past the first round of the Next Generation Tournament! This was my first singles match with Haru.”
This part was a bit tricky: “同期…まだ初勝利してない子もどんどん勝とう勝とうって成長してて.”
“Those in my class, even the ones who still haven’t gotten their first win, have been steadily growing and getting more and more determined to win. But, hey, I couldn’t afford to lose. As things stand now, Shino-san awaits me next, but I’ve already beaten her once. Well, I’m gonna win the next one, too! I’m going to win and stand at the very top of the class of '23!”
Haru:
Kazashiro: “I fought HIMAWARI-san in a singles match for the first time in the first round of the tournament. We started training at the same time, but before I knew it, she’d pulled ahead… It’s frustrating. I was thinking I was absolutely going to win in the first round of the tournament today, and then go all the way to the top and win the whole thing, but HIMAWARI-san is so strong. I’m still no match for her, so I’m going to practice and practice, and I hope I’ll be able to take down even HIMAWARI-san.”
Next up was Toga vs Runa, the battle of the elbows! Both of them are really good at absolutely laying in those strikes. Runa wasn’t able to pull the upset here, either. She fought well, though!
Toga:
Toga: “To start with, my first match was against Runa. It was our first singles match, and to be honest, Runa’s also a power type, and her elbow strikes are really strong, so I really didn’t want to lose. I managed to get past the first round, and I have Wakana-san next. We’ve had one singles match, but I lost to a roll-up. I was really disappointed then, and I felt that I’d lost before I was able to show my full strength. So of course I’m going to put my all into the semifinal next, and I really hope to make it to the final. In the left block, HIMAWARI-san won, and her next match is with Shino-san. I don’t know which of them is going to win, but of course I intend to reach the finals. I’m going to win no matter who comes forward.”
Runa:
Okubo: “I lost. Toga’s elbow strikes were stronger today than they were the other day.”
This sentence threw me off a bit: “でも負けたくないって気持ちだけはまだ残ってるので、今日は負けちゃったけど（凍雅には）勝ってもらって.”
“But I still feel like I don’t want to lose, so even though she beat me today, I hope she wins. I’m definitely aiming to win the next time we have a singles match. Well, I think Toga is absolutely going to go on to the final, so I’m definitely going to beat her next time. Everyone, please look forward to it!”
After that was MagiRabbi vs Daisy Monkey. I was really looking forward to this one! Every time, Daisy Monkey gets closer and closer to actually beating them. I would’ve liked to see them get their big win over MagiRabbi before Yuka leaves, but alas… I did really like this match, though! I feel like they pulled out some stuff I’d never seen before, and it was really fun and exciting!
Yuka and Mizuki:
Sakazaki: “I haven’t moved like this in six months.”
This next chunk lost me:
瑞希「なんかマジラビの試合をでじもんの試合で…」
Mizuki: “It felt like a MagiRabbi match in a Daisy Monkey match…”
坂崎「引き出せたというか」
Sakazaki: “They brought it out of us.”
瑞希「またできたってかんじで」
Mizuki: “It feels like we’ll get to do it again.”
Sakazaki: “I think it’s a match that wouldn’t’ve been possible if it weren’t the two of us and Daisy Monkey.”
Then Mizuki said: “元気いっぱいすぎて、いつ口の中に手突っ込んでやろうかと思った” and I was really confused by that last part, haha, so I looked it up to see if it was some sort of set phrase, and then google gave me a jp quora question that was like “why do cats stick their paws in their owners’ mouth?” so maybe it’s literal? In which case, I’m baffled, haha.
Mizuki: “They were so full of energy, I was wondering when they were going to stick their hands in my mouth.”
坂崎「おー！ そんなこと考えとったんかー」
Sakazaki: “Oh, you were wondering about that?”
瑞希「だまれーって！」
Mizuki: “Quiet, you!”
Sakazaki: “They were so full of energy. It was super fun. Also, their willpower was stronger than the last time we faced each other. I could really feel how determined they were not to lose… they had so much determination. You have something good, Daisy Monkey.”
(What is the theme for MagiRabbi’s next two matches?)
The last part of this sentence confused me: “まぁマジラビとしては残り2回になるんですけど。解散するとかじゃないので、そんなにナイーブには捉えてないんですが.”
“Well, as MagiRabbi, we only have two left to go, but we’re not breaking up or anything, so I’m not treating it that simply. But we can make it a match that only we can do for the Daydream match, and the one with Arai and Moka. I think you’ll be able to see a different side of MagiRabbi than you saw with Daisy Monkey. I definitely want you to see every Yuka Sakazaki match, and every MagiRabbi match, while I’m at TJPW! Every single one of them!”
Mizuki: “I said I’d give her up because there aren’t many matches left, and I wanted her to team up with a lot of different people, and face a lot of different people, too. But I think the fact that we were placed in a team like this, surely there’s a reason for why it had to be MagiRabbi. I hope we can do our best together while keeping a close eye on Yuka-chi.”
Sakazaki: “I’m the only one who’ll be graduating in the end.”
Mizuki: “That’s true.”
This last chunk was a bit tricky:
坂崎「マジラビは卒業しないので。噛みしめていきたいと思います」
Sakazaki: “MagiRabbi isn’t graduating. So I want to keep savoring it.”
瑞希「思います」
Mizuki: “Yeah!”
Arisu and Suzume:
Suzume: (sitting down with Endo) “MagiRabbi is still the strongest. I think it’s because of MagiRabbi that we were able to form our tag team and grow as much as we have. We’ve always wanted to surpass them. We still have a chance to face them, but this might be our last chance to do it as a tag team. But we brought out everything we had, didn’t we?”
Endo: “We did. We did everything. But we gave it our all and lost, so I think we still have a long way to go. It made me think, ‘Let’s aim even higher!’”
Suzume: “I’ve always admired their team.”
Endo: “We’ve always loved them.”
I wasn’t sure about the last chunk:
鈴芽「でもまだあるから」
Suzume: “But there is more to come!”
遠藤「まだあるから！」
Endo: “Yeah!”
鈴芽「油断しないでください」
Suzume: “So don’t let your guard down.”
遠藤「まだですよ？」
Endo: “Not yet?”
I think the wrestlers are definitely right in that MagiRabbi is super versatile and are capable of doing a bunch of different kinds of matches. That’s one thing I’ve really been appreciating during Yuka’s graduation tour, as short as it is. This Daisy Monkey match is very different from the Daydream one, for instance. It makes me so sad that Yuka’s going to be leaving, because I feel like MagiRabbi is only getting better and better… 
And finally, the last and saddest match: Saki Akai’s final TJPW match. I thought they picked such interesting teams for this one because it was sort of like… the tag teams that never got to be. The links I shared just above about Misao’s history touch a lot on her relationship with Rika (and it comes up in regular matches every now and then), but for anyone who doesn’t know/doesn’t remember, the thing that sparked Misao’s 2019 heel turn was her wanting to be a team with Rika, and Rika not exactly reciprocating. Rika of course also played a big role in the downfall of heel Misao, and caused her to ultimately leave Sakisama and return to being a hero.
(Rika also was very vocal about not wanting Misao to retire during her almost-retirement match. So the two of them uniting here with that same sentiment for Saki Akai was touching.) Misao’s almost-retirement actually directly followed a singles match she had with Saki in the first Wrestle Princess in 2020, and Misao implied that her original plan had been to retire after that match. In the comments of that, if I recall correctly, she mentioned that Saki was a major inspiration for her becoming a wrestler.
And of course, with Kamiyu, I think this has come up multiple times during the time that I’ve been translating, but she admitted that she’d always wanted to team with Saki. I think they’ve gotten a couple chances to team together, but they never really got to have a real run together as a team. So I found it interesting and sort of deeply sad that Kamiyu got her chance right here at the end…
Anyway, talking about the match itself, I think I made it through most of it with dry eyes, but totally broke down in tears when Misao brought the Vanitas (her finisher as a heel) out against Saki 
. She used it against Saki during their 2020 singles match, too 
. In character, Misao never really had regrets about joining Sakisama, even as a face again afterward. She was grateful to her for that time they spent together, and grateful for the confidence that it gave her. I feel like the Vanitas is part of her way of expressing appreciation for everything that Saki has done for her (it sort of leans on kayfabe without breaking it).
I am sad, though, that Misao will never get to beat Saki Akai (or Sakisama, for that matter…). Just the sadness of Saki retiring so early, while she has all of these stories that are still unfinished…
Anyway, after all of that rambling, here’s the post-match. I had some help from Mr. Haku with this.
Tatsumi holds a mic as all of the wrestlers who participated today gather at ringside.
Tatsumi: “Akai-san, thank you so much for everything that you’ve done for us so far.” (to the wrestlers at ringside) "Everyone, come up here for a bit… Once again, Akai-san, we are truly indebted to you. On behalf of TJPW, let me say thank you. Thank you very much! (applause from the audience) “My memories of Akai-san are countless, and from here… I can’t put it into words right now. I’m not good at conveying it in words! I still want to fight Akai-san in a pro wrestling match! Everyone else does, too, right? There are some wrestlers who still haven’t fought you yet. You’re gonna fight everyone in TJPW! Starting NOW! Please fight everyone here!”
Akai: “Rika-chan, I can really feel the strength of your feelings. Thank you. But, Rika-chan… don’t you know that there was a DDT show earlier in the day? This was my second match today.”
Tatsumi: “I don’t want it to be over!”
Akai: “It is, though. It’s impossible, out of the question. Everyone… I was just in the main event, so listen—” (Tatsumi encourages the crowd) “Rika-san… I know you’re passionate, but—” (Tatsumi slaps her)
Tatsumi: “Which will it be, are you going to do it or not?”
Akai: “Thanks. That woke me up. Alright everyone, bring it on!”
Tatsumi: “Right now, starting with Saki Akai, TJPW, let’s go! It’s decided!”
And then they have an extra match! A TJPW tradition, which is the entire roster vs the retiring wrestler. I’ve only seen a couple of these matches before, but they’re always both delightful and sad . And Nodoka came!!
I thought maybe this would be Misao’s chance to finally, finally get that win over Saki! But alas… She tried to trick Saki by pulling out a letter like Hirata had in his match with Saki earlier that day, but Saki was wise to her ways, haha, and it didn’t go so well for Misao…
Here’s the post-match (again):
Misao: “…It’s really, truly over. Thank you for accepting all of the feelings that we at TJPW couldn’t put in words, right up until the end.”
This sentence was tricky: “赤井さんから引退の話を聞いた時から、赤井さんらしく美しい10年の節目っていう…美しい引退ロードだなって.”
“When you told me about your retirement, I thought it was a beautiful 10-year milestone, just like you… a beautiful retirement road. I was in agreement that it was a beautiful decision, but in the end… as much as I felt that, I felt so sad that I wouldn’t be able to see you in the ring again, and I couldn’t accept it. Until we faced off in this match today, I avoided thinking about it, or rather there was a part of me that couldn’t face the fact that you were retiring. I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want my story in the ring with Akai-san to end. And it’s not just me, but everyone here at TJPW… and the many other wrestlers who adore Akai-san, and the audience, too, all of us. But in this match at the end, she took in all of our feelings. And I thought, ‘This is not the end.’”
This was tricky: “赤井さんのリングの中で見せてくれた、リングに立つ覚悟…強く気高く美しく、芯が真っすぐ通ってる赤井さんの姿を見て、私たちの中にもそれぞれ譲れないもの、またしっかり受け取りました.”
“Akai-san showed it in the ring, her determination to stand in the ring… Seeing you, strong, noble, beautiful, and honest to the core, in not yielding to any of us, I once again received something from you. This is the last time that you will fight us in TJPW, but this isn’t the end… You’ll always be with us, living on inside of our hearts. For all of us at TJPW, you will always be our proud big sister. Truly, thank you for everything.” (Akai embraces Misao, and the crowd applauds) “Sorry, I’m the only one who shared my feelings. We have something that we all put our passionate feelings into, so please bring it here. It’s a bouquet and a memento that we all made.” (Tatsumi and Kamifuku hand over the photo album and the bouquet)
Akai: “Thank you. I was always the one watching this happen to others rather than having it happen to me, so I never expected to receive it, but thank you. Rika-chan, to be honest, I really didn’t want to do that match at the end. But you gave me the opportunity, and there are so many wrestlers I had never fought before… and, well, I’m their big sister, after all. Thank you. I debuted the same year that TJPW was born. The founding members are in my same class.”
This chunk was confusing: “で、プロレス界の中で新しく団体ができて、たぶん最初の方はいろんなことを言われたと思います。けどこうやってたくさんのお客さんがいらっしゃることで、認められて世界中に発信されて、どんどん東京女子がパワーアップいきます。同じグループ内で私は隣の家か、学校か.”
“I think I heard a lot of things in the beginning about this new organization getting started in the pro wrestling world. However, with so many people coming to shows, TJPW is gaining global recognition, and it’s only going to keep growing. Being under the same umbrella, I’m in the house next door, or the school. I may have been their big sister, but I’m truly blessed to have so many new additions to the family among all of these girls. So, everyone, please continue to work together, make TJPW more and more exciting, and make your mark all over the world. Thank you.”
This was a bit tricky: “で、チビちゃんたちはちゃんともっと自覚持って、プロ意識を高く持って、責任感持って自分で頑張ること。お姉ちゃん軍団は、ちゃんと人に甘える時は甘えて、自分だけが頑張らんと、ちゃんと東京女子を引っ張っていって。もっともっと下の子たちを引っ張り上げて、でもかといって1人で頑張らんこと。こんだけ仲間がいるんやから。あと全員に言えるのは、強く気高く美しく、それを胸に持って東京女子をもっともっと世界中に…勢い知らずなところまでやってください.”
“And, to the littlest ones, please be more aware of yourselves, have a high sense of professionalism, and each do your best with a sense of responsibility. To the older girls, you should spoil them when it’s time to spoil them, and do your best, not just on your own, and lead TJPW well. Keep lifting up the younger girls, but don’t work hard alone. You have so many friends. And what I’d like to say to all of you is that you’re strong, noble, and beautiful, and with that in your hearts, bring TJPW to an even grander global stage… to somewhere you don’t even know how far your momentum will take you. …Okay, that’s enough from me; I’m spent. But I’m happy to be in TJPW, surrounded by so many people in the audience. Please continue to take great care of my adorable little sisters! Thank you so much for today!”
At the end, the wrestlers all gathered together in the ring for a commemorative photo with Akai. Haruna Neko, who was absent due to injury, also joined them. Afterward, they each embraced Akai, and finally, after receiving a fist bump from Yamashita, who is in her same class and who is scheduled to face off with Akai in her retirement match next week, Akai exited the ring.
Here are the post match comments from all four:
Tatsumi: “Akai-san, I don’t want you to quit! I don’t want it to happen, but… thank you for being really, really cool and fighting us there at the end, and giving such a beautiful comment!”
Kamifuku: “Being able to stand beside Saki-san at the very end… I’ve been jealous of her all this time, and I’ve caused her a lot of trouble, but I’m so happy that I could be there beside her at the end. This is a bit presumptuous, but I’d be very grateful if, when all is said and done, you could give me the gear you’re no longer using.”
Misao: “Since it was the end, I wanted to face Akai-san in my own style, but I lost.”
I was a bit confused who exactly was the subject for this first sentence: “でも…分かんないですけど、たぶん強く気高く美しく、でした。私もこれからも気高くこれからも闘い続けます.”
“Though… I don’t know; maybe I was strong, noble, and beautiful. From now on, I’ll continue to fight nobly. Thank you very much.”
Akai: “I’m happy that I was able to bring out Misao-chan’s emotions at the end. And I hadn’t seen Rika-chan get so passionate in a long time. The girl beside me (Kamifuku) had always said she wanted to team up with me, so I’m happy that we could stand side by side at the end. The DDT show ended in the afternoon, and this was my last match before my retirement. But even though I’ll graduate from pro wrestling on November 12, everyone may be getting sentimental, but I’m certainly not going to disappear. I’ll no longer be a pro wrestler, but I’ll still be everyone’s big sister. So, those in my same class, and the younger girls, too, and those who will become trainees in the future, anyone who is involved with TJPW, please feel free to come talk to me about anything. I will always be your big sister. Please keep coming to the world of pro wrestling. TJPW is a fun place to work. That’s all I have to say.”
The others leave, and Akai is the only one remaining.
(It became a 1 v 23)
Akai: “Yes, I’ve done two matches in one day before, but this was probably my first time doing three.”
This part was a bit tricky: “ホントにリカちゃんが言ってきた時には勘弁してくれって…初めてプロレスで心が折れそうになりました（笑）.”
“When Rika-chan said it, I thought, ‘Give me a break…’ I almost had my spirit broken by pro wrestling for the first time.” (laughs) “But when I actually saw the youngest TJPW wrestlers coming at me like that, and took their attacks directly, I thought they were really strong. So regardless of the length of their careers, I want the younger girls to fight with the intention of defeating the older girls, and I want the oldest girls to be strong, noble, and beautiful. And at the end, Yamashita’s gaze was a bit… unsettling. For the first time in a while, I felt irritated and also felt a tremble of fear. So I’m still looking forward to facing her at Ryogoku… I am graduating from pro wrestling, but I will remain strong until the last moment that I’m a pro wrestler, until the moment I graduate. I am not going to lose to Miyu Yamashita, nor Kazusada Higuchi, nor Naomichi Marufuji. So please come to Ryogoku. TJPW will be there, and Yuki Arai-chan and others. Everyone, I hope you will be there to witness that moment live."
(It was a very TJPW-like way to see you off)
“I’ve seen it before, but for wrestlers like Nodoka and Azusa.”
This was a bit tricky: “自分がまさか…言ってもお外の人なので、自分がそれをもらうことになるとは思ってなかったんですけど.”
“I said ‘no way…’, because I’m an outsider, so I thought I wouldn’t get to have that experience. It made me really happy to feel in the ring that the TJPW girls thought of me as one of their own. We are in the same class and part of the same group, but I’m the only girl from DDT. I felt like I wasn’t included in the true circle of girls, so I’m happy that they recognized me as one of them in that manner at the very end. But it’s not the end. I’m not going to sever our ties, so I will continue to think of everyone as my cute little sisters.”
(Kamifuku wants you to give her your gear)
“My gear isn’t available for free, so…” (wry smile) “There are some things I’d like to discuss on that matter.”
(You received a memento)
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve contributed to these before, but I’ve never received anything like this. And it perfectly matches the red and white of my gear… I love roses, too. It’s glittery and cute. They put so much time into it, and I’m so happy.”
(There’s just your retirement match left)
This was tricky: “まだ実感はないんですけど、私にかぎらず言えることは…みなさん、大好きって思ったら大好きって伝えてほしいし、今日リング上で選手のみんなも『大好き』ってみんなに聞こえない声でもずっと言ってくれてて、すごくかわいいなと思いました。会いたかったら会いに行った方がいいし、その時に思った気持ちを大事にしてほしいと思ってます.”
“It doesn’t feel real yet, but I can say this… Everyone, I want you to say ‘I love you’ if you love me. Today in the ring, all of the wrestlers kept saying ‘I love you’ even though their voices weren’t audible to everyone, and I thought that was so cute. If you want to see me, you should go see me, and I want you to cherish the feelings you have at that moment. So, let’s go to Ryogoku… It’s fine to watch the stream, but I want people to cherish the feelings you get when you attend a live wrestling show. I want you all to watch until the moment my flame as a professional wrestler burns out. I hope to see you all at Ryogoku.”
And that’s all!
For now (at least until Yuka’s retirement, probably), I’m going to prioritize current TJPW stuff over translating the stuff from DDT Ultimate Party, I think, since it’s so long, but man… I’m going to miss her…
Not looking forward to the sad Yuka stuff we’re gonna be getting soon, either…
At least NaNoWriMo is ending soon, so I should have more free time again, though!
).
Here she’s echoing Suzume’s sentiment that Daisy Monkey’s not done yet and you should keep paying attention to them, she’s just less assertive about it than Suzume since she took the loss harder so that tone ended up as a question mark in the transcript.
), or any fun Japanese wrestling stuff you’d like to share!
