(NOAH) Endless Love: The AXIZ photobooks

"IF I GAVE UP, DID NOT ACT AND FORGOT ABOUT IT, THEN NOTHING WOULD EXIST"

KATSUHIKO NAKAJIMA 

The  three AXIZ photo books came from an idea of Katsuhiko Nakajima's to mark the shared 15th debut anniversary in 2020 of himself and Go Shiozaki who had both debuted in 2004. Nakajima had debuted on January 5th, and Go Shiozaki six months later on July 24th.   

Nakajima did originally have a produce show in mind, but for some reason or another it never happened. He wanted to mark the anniversary in a special way, and create something which he said "created something that stored memories and served as record", and thus the first AXIZ photobook, "GOLD" was born, which then led to "SILVER" and a few months later, "GREEN" which was the last. I will talk about the three books separately, and just so you know, I'm not going to show many pictures from the books, but only about one from each for visual purposes. 

So getting back to the story, Nakajima went to talk to Noah's owners, who were at that time LIDET ENTERTAINMENT, but he had reservations about whether he could actually pull it off as he knew both money was tight and his own limitations in making what he called a "sales pitch", although being extremely intelligent and graduating Valedictorian, he is no businessman. The answer was ambiguous, it wasn't a straight out "NO", but they did talk to Noah's official photographer, Wakiko Miyagi about it to get her thoughts, and she assembled her team. Nakajima didn't want to bother her and said he didn't want to do it when asked, but fortunately it was Wakiko-san who saved the whole project as she didn't and wouldn't take no for an answer, and told him whether he liked it or not, they were going to be doing it. Looking at the pictures, Nakajima absolutely loved it. He more than Shiozaki, who can sometimes come off as a bit awkward, loves the camera. 

The first book "GOLD" came out in March 2020, this sold out quickly at both venues and online, and was followed a few weeks later by the second book "SILVER", which also sold out soon after. The two books were re-released about once or twice on the official Noah site, but wouldn't be available again after selling out until "GREEN" was released in August 2020 when fans had the final opportunity to buy all three. The books have now been through their final printing, and are unavailable. If you do want to try and source them I suggest you look on Japanese online auction page or at the Toudoukan shop site. You probably won't find them on any Amazon as they do not have barcodes. Noah have not announced (at the time of speaking that is) as to whether or not there will be another run and to be honest at the present time this is highly unlikely as soon after "GREEN" came out, AXIZ split up. 

I bought the books on the final run in August, and the books came with a fan card, and some wet tissues from THE LEAVE. I often get asked who THE LEAVE are. THE LEAVE are Noah's longtime sponsors, who have been with them from the beginning of the company. They specialise in rental properties, their motto basically is that "if you have an empty room we will fill it". They also helped Kenoh find somewhere to live when he moved to Tokyo. 

As an added bonus there were free AXIZ stickers included. Some lucky fans also got an AXIZ signature, but these were done on a random basis. 

  

GOLD (MARCH 2020)

"GOLD" is the first in the series and roughly covers the period leading up to their 15th anniversary match at Korakuen Hall. Aside from a few pictures at the end, these are the only pictures in the series that aren't all posed, and have other Noah wrestlers in them, even if its just in the background or more usually in the ring. 

Nakajima says they wanted to give fans a sense of "just us" with the photobook, they wanted to convey the sense of AXIZ within Noah. The pictures give you a tiny snapshot of life backstage before the show begins. To explain quickly, when Noah arrives at the venue as well as the ring, they also bring exercise equipment which is set up for the wrestlers to train with before the event begins, by the time the fans arrive the equipment has been packed away and Yoshinari Ogawa is usually finishing up holding a class. Due to space they have the equipment set up as it would be in the dojo, i.e. around the ring, and I think this gives them a sense of having their own space to train and being together. I think it also creates a sense of stability for people who spend another night in another city in another hotel for three quarters of the year before moving on to the next one. It also saves time and money when you aren't in a big city, or else in an unfamiliar city, and have to seek out a gym.  

The pictures also give you a sense of their personalities, especially when they are caught off guard. They are kind of like night and day, sun and the moon, the intense, confident Nakajima who has this kind of smouldering darkness, and the milder, somehow more lighter Shiozaki who true to his teacher Kenta Kobashi, has a burning fire in him. It's not easy to explain, but it's my take on them. Hopefully you know what I mean.    

Shiozaki did jokingly describe Nakajima as "Sexy cute Katsu-san" when looking at the pictures during a YouTube chat about the the book, and nowhere is this going to be more true than in the next book, "SILVER". 

SILVER (APRIL 2020)

"Silver" is a completely different book from "GOLD". These pictures take place far outside the ring and were taken at the Rembrandt Hotel in Tokyo, and of course they are posed with hair and makeup being done. There is a very erotic element to them, with pictures being taken on beds, in showers, in baths. 

You can tell just how much Katsuhiko Nakajima loves the camera, his gaze is far piercing than Shiozaki who doesn't seem as natural a model. 

GREEN (AUGUST 2020)

"GREEN" is a lot more whimsical, you get street scenes, laughter, domesticity such as cooking together, clinking wine glasses, playing monopoly. Go Shiozaki (the man with six cats) fittingly has a cat pillow. And as its late summer, the last few pages of the book are of AXIZ visiting a country inn and enjoying the evening in the garden dressed in Yukata which are traditionally worn by guests at inns, and during the summer when attending things like firework displays, which we will discuss in a moment. Inside the inn, Shiozaki causes havoc by seemingly poking a hole in one of the paper screens in the shoji door, and the two of them mimic a movie with a samurai fight. You can tell that Nakajima was the more sensible one in this group.  

Out of everything in the three books, these are my favorite pictures as I love the sense they give of the drawing in of the end of summer, as they eat Nagashi Somen (thin noodles that come flowing down a bamboo chute in ice cold water) together. I especially love the pictures with the Senko Hanabi fireworks that they are pictured with at the end at dusk as the sky grows dark. It's kind of poignant they are using these as they evoke what the Japanese term as "Mono no aware", which basically means that there is a sadness in transience, and knowing that nothing beautiful in nature can last. Just like the summer. It's apt as AXIZ broke up soon after "GREEN" was released when Nakajima turned on Shiozaki, and joined Kongoh. 

Regarding the future of Noah photobooks. I obviously don't know who or what would be next, but I do know that when Kongoh appeared on the fan event on YouTube, there was demand for a Kongoh book. I don't know if this will happen or not. 

With thanks to: Metal Noah

Picture credits: Photo The Live (AXIZ), myself (books, fan etc)