(NOAH) Kenoh was super fighting elite

18th September 2019
East Sports Web

The experience of glory and suffering to go to the dream stage.

Kenoh (34) Noah's "N-1 Victory" champion, revealed a surprising part of the first half of his life on the 17th.
On the night before, he won the championship match against Takashi Sugiura (49) and decided to challenge the GHC Heavyweight Champion Kaito Kiyomiya (23) at Sumo Hall on November 2nd. The man who maintains dissension for the recovery of the promotion, has the past of a super elite athlete representing Japan.
After a night of intense fighting, Kenoh renewed his vow, "I will stick to my beliefs, and return the shine to Noah's ring".

Noah moved to a new system in February when LIDET entertainment became the parent company. The big match that will end a turbulent year is Sumo Hall on November 2nd.
The GHC match with Kiyomiya, the main event, has a special meaning for Kenoh who has been through the ups and downs of martial arts life.

Born in Tokushima City, he has been involved in competitions since the age of three* when he started training in Nippon Kempo. In 2003, in his third year of High School, he made the achievement of winning the All-Japan Championship*, and becoming the youngest in history.

"I wanted to be a wrestler when I was in Middle School. In Tokushima, Jinsei Shinzaki was the hero, it was pro wrestling that equaled to Michinoku wrestling. However, winning All-Japan changed the direction of my dreams."
Kenoh's father is a local civil servant*, and he was forced to face reality for the first time when he was told, "What? Pro Wrestling is ridiculous! Go to school!"
So he chose the Kempo Club at Meiji University.
"At this time the enthusiasm that I had for pro-wrestling, was perfectly suited to Nippon Kempo at that time". He immediately stood out, and in two years he won the world championships. In his third to fourth year, he took the second victory in a row at the All-Japan Student Championship.
As a junior, the super featherweight champion, Kenichi Ogawa (31, Teiken Boxing Gym) was also a prestigious member, leading thirty members as the captain during his fourth year.

Upon his graduation from Meiji, he was scouted by various companies, including by Shinzaki himself.
"A superior person has arrived, and you say I can't go. I had graduated from University, and so my father was convinced".
He joined Michinoku Pro in 2008.

Despite finally realizing his dream, the second hardship came in five years. He had reached the top of the group, and faced the wall as wrestler.
"I saw the future. I also was faced with the reality of financial living, and it was at that time and it was at that time that Shinzaki told me to go to Noah. I could not go against his words".
From 2014 he participated in Noah, and in March of 2015 officially transferred to the company.
There is no need to talk about his success.

In December 2017 he took his first GHC Heavyweight championship.
Although he is dissident in the group, he says "No one understands the future of the promotion or Kiyomiya's character more than me. The company has spoiled him, and now is the peak. But no...the future bears an outstanding talent. I will make it easy."

In order to lead the new Noah to higher heights, he will stand on the stage at Sumo Hall.

Link to original article from Yahoo Japan (in Japanese)
Picture credit: Yahoo Japan

*Geisha\Maiko traditionally start their training at three years, three months and three days, Kenoh's might not have been as exact, but three years old is the traditional age to start for those learning a skill.
*Not All Japan the wrestling promotion.
*He worked for the postal company, and as Kenoh said about his birth in typical style, "my father worked for the post office, and was fucking busy".