(NOAH) "Come at me you bastards!" (Kenoh's column, July 2019)

Speaking of Johnny and pro wrestling,
 Hideaki Takizawa (J-POP idol) vs Antonio Inoki.

KENOH: Recently, the topic of Noah has occurred too much. I wanted to talk about topical issues too, but Noah has taken priority. It's good to have a topic, but even talking about LIDET in "Weekly Pro", it is hard for it to echo in all directions.
Q: Certainly, you have talked a lot about Noah in this serialization.
KENOH: I'm doing this column so that I can talk about the current events in wrestling, right? If it doesn't echo in every direction, there is no point in doing this column. If it is just about Noah, then it only effects Noah fans, so I am not doing a series of weekly talks.
Q: I know that!
KENOH: As I said earlier, I am happy that the topic of Noah is indispensable. Its good, but now something needs to be different. What KENTA has done in New Japan, strictly speaking, is Noah; so lets talk about recent current affairs.
Q: What is your theme for this time?
KENOH: It seems that the president of All Japan has been replaced. I was surprised. I would like to talk about that, like this week about Johnny-san*
Q: Right?
KENOH: That he has died
Q: Its a big topic
KENOH: He spent a lot of time behind the scenes, so I never saw his face too much. Despite the fact that Mr. Johnny created such a great organization, keeping up with that attitude is what makes the imagination work. That is an amazing point. Not only his talent producing ability, but also his self producing ability.
Q: It seems that Mr. Johnny just really wanted to be behind the scenes...
KENOH: It is completely different from Takeda (Arihiro, Noah's president). He's putting it about that he doesn't want to be seen too much, but he's usually at the venue.
Q: No comment from me.
KENOH: Twitter and social media are in their heyday now. Most people do something that makes them appeal, but on the other hand, I thought that playing a mysterious part outside the ring would be good. Speaking of being outside the house, I don't know anything about Yoshinari Ogawa in private, do you find this worrying?
Q: Sometimes
KENOH: The story strays, but Johnny-san built Johnny's in a single generation. Post-war Japan must have had a solid entertainment industry system, right? Johnny was a rising influence, so at first it would not have looked good, and an American guy went into it, and that is something that also leads into the modern puroresu world too.
Q: And when?
KENOH: Now, New Japan is one of the strongest. I have no choice but to admit it. But is it okay for Puroresu fans to stay in that situation too? It's a thought. By reading into the potential atmosphere of such an industry, Noah should soon rise up above Johnny's, but it is not possible. It is not Takeda or LIDET that can do that. It is me. No matter how good and talented Kaito Kiyomiya is, he is no good if produced by LIDET. I will teach that in the ring like Mr. Johnny. Look at it. Atsushi Kotoge, Masa Kitamiya and Yoshiki Inamura are all in Kongoh, and they all shine like diamonds.
Q: So, that's right?
KENOH: Look at New Japan. They are flourishing, as they have developed management that is tailored to the times, and have focused on strong style that is not only in the ring, but also for the era. But, Johnny was always thinking ahead of the times too. In other words, the reason that the other entertainment offices that had been in place before the war were removed was that they could not fit into the era. The old Noah is the same. We have sunk because we have been drawing on the past successful experiences. At first glance we guys look old-fashioned, taking advantage of the original splendor of Noah, and just like Mr. Johnny, we are always going that step further. So, those bastards may not like Kongoh (rough). There are many negative opinions now, and I cannot answer them all.
Q: What of Johnny's did you like?
KENOH: My older sister loved SMAP*. Especially Katori. I watched frequently.
Q: Katori Shingo!
KENOH: I liked Nakai*. The reason is stupid and embarrassing (laughs)
Q: Masahiro Nakai!
KENOH: Anyway, it will be us guys who will take the era to the cutting edge like Mr. Johnny, and take Noah to further heights.
Q: That's very encouraging. Finally, some words?
KENOH sings to the tune of a SMAP song adding in the word "Kongoh", but it doesn't translate.

Johnny Kitagawa: deceased manager and producer of several Japanese boy bands, and founder of a talent agency. He died in July 2019.

SMAP: Japanese boyband. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi once mimed to one of their songs, "SHAKE SHAKE", complete with synchronized dance moves on a variety show.

NAKAI: Kenoh's real surname (his real name is Daisuke Nakae), so its no wonder this member was Kenoh's favorite as it is so similar to his own.

Picture credit: Weekly Pro
Article translated from Weekly Pro