(NOAH) AXIZ "Endless Love" Vol 1.

This live video was broadcast on 14th February 2020, Valentines Day, on Noah's official YouTube channel. At this time Noah had bought out the first in two AXIZ photobooks (you can read about how this all came about here), to commemorate Go Shiozaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima's joint 15th anniversary in wrestling. At the time of writing, the book in this video "Gold" is sold out and not available via the official site or at the venue. I am unsure as to whether at this time Noah will be re-releasing it. This video was intended to promote the book and other AXIZ products, and in it, AXIZ would also answer questions from the fans on the live chat. Katsuhiko Nakajima tends to speak a lot more softly than Go Shiozaki, who is generally louder. I think this is probably because Shiozaki has hearing problems anyway, and these were made worse at this time by Kazuyuki Fujita, who he was defending the GHC Heavyweight against, who had burst one of his eardrums. Shiozaki later describes the blow to his ear which caused it as the sensation of something travelling through his head and bursting out the other side.

NAKAJIMA: Good Evening!
SHIOZAKI: Good Evening!
NAKAJIMA: AXIZ, "Endless Love". Welcome!
SHIOZAKI: Nice to see you!

Then Shiozaki manages to lean back and knock the table, Nakajima wisely puts the bottle on it on the floor.

We start with introductions and what today is about (see above); the lady who is hosting it is Wakako Miyaki, who is Noah's official photographer and who created the photobook, then AXIZ are introduced, Shiozaki waves enthusiastically and tells the people watching to "Give me a little".

Well, it is Valentines Day after all, so Nakajima says he has something for "Go-san".

Nakajima: What is that? What is that? 
He reaches under the table and brings out a white bag, and in it is some chocolate.
Nakajima (handing Shiozaki the chocolates): I love you
Shiozaki (laughing): What? 

Shiozaki then gives Nakajima his present, and he sings a tune as he pulls the chocolate out of the bag. Nakajima was given "Nude Chocolate" (this is an American brand name, no, Shiozaki did not give Nakajima rude chocolate, despite Shiozaki's joke of it being "Intimate chocolate"). Naturally, they tear into their gifts, Nakajima tells Shiozaki that his is "really good", and even at one point feeds him. Shiozaki offers one of his chocolates to the photographer, she refuses, he even rolls it in his palm and offers it to her! Unsurprisingly she still refuses.

So while AXIZ eat their chocolates (they are kind of the heavyweight version of HAYATA & YO-HEY except both are more vocal, less insane, and chocolates replace cigarettes), they read the questions from the fans; one is about the streamers (it's a pet hate of wrestlers when they get hit in the head or the face with them, so please aim over them and not at them), another about Nakajima's era when he did karate (he was a "Karate boy genius"), and someone gets owned as its pointed out that AXIZ is spelt with a Z not an S at the end (whoever this is fails to realise this, and keeps spelling it with an S).
Shiozaki starts singing at the end of the segment, Nakajima says "Welcome to AXIZ "Endless Love" again.

"The main issue at hand" and the "AXIZ Goods Marathon"

The photographs in the book are discussed, but mainly the ones taken at Korakuen Hall (I sadly don't have a copy of the book, so I don't know what else is in there). The "AXIZ Goods Marathon" is the AXIZ goods that are coming out, and which (I think) fans had the opportunity to purchase as a package of them.

Nakajima gives a short talk about the photos and the merch, he says he wanted to "make them stylish", and indeed they did. There is the AXIZ parka jacket (Shiozaki says its cool). Nakajima is wearing the hoodie, which Shiozaki vaguely waves at, the knit cap (which they are both wearing). They wanted to give fans a sense of "just us" with the photobook, they wanted to convey the sense of AXIZ within Noah.

The three gather round and look through the photobook, it is mentioned about the intensity in their faces during the training session photos. Shiozaki gives us a sneak peak at the book by opening it quickly and shutting it, Nakajima does the same, but with Wakako we get a longer look. It's a black and white picture taken at Korakuen Hall of Shiozaki lifting weights, and Nakajima watching him. Now to explain quickly, when Noah arrives at the venue as well as bringing a ring with them, they also bring exercise equipment which is set up around the ring for the wrestlers to train with before the event begins, by the time the fans arrive these have been packed away (usually), but it's better to have them round the ring as its more accessible, and it gives them a sense of the dojo 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. 

After this stickers are bought out for AXIZ to sign, and they are asked to write a random message on them. AXIZ sign the back of the stickers, I believe that they will be put in the books.

Then follows a long talk where they answer fan questions, and talk about merchandise, some gems include:

~ AXIZ sunglasses are suggested by a fan, Go Shiozaki says they should have "AXIZ" written on the front of them.
~ "Endless Love" is explained. It is the tandem AXIZ move of the kick and the chop sandwich, Shiozaki describes each kick and chop as that, "love" coming at you from both sides. Fans think on the chat that this is a great name for it.
~ "I think Taniguchi and Kumano are half of AXIZ". I can't hear him well, but Nakajima says something like "I don't know" (Shiozaki makes an "mmm" noise).
~ How does Shiozaki feel about working with Kiyomiya? Shiozaki says it has been beneficial to him (Shiozaki) because it has meant that he is the only one who has defeated him (for the title) in one shot
~ What does Nakajima think of his singles match with Yoshiki Inamura? Nakajima says they usually fight Kongoh in tags, he doesn't really comment on it further, but he does look thoughtful about it.
~ Why don't they fight Marufuji in singles matches? This question seemed to be directed at Shiozaki, he said it was because they were the GHC tag champions at the time, and so didn't really have many singles matches.

Fans post messages saying things like they do not want Shiozaki to lose to Fujita, or that they are looking forward to seeing Shiozaki's single with Suzuki. There is also concern about the injuries that Fujita inflicted on Shiozaki, and how smouldering Nakajima looks (Shiozaki did jokingly describe him as "Sexy cute Katsu-san" earlier when looking at the pictures).

To finish up, Nakajima says he has a quick announcement to make (they joke that he is going to do it grumpily like he wants people to listen who are in a rush and want to go), funnily enough Shiozaki does not clap at first because he's too busy reading the fan comments, so Nakajima has to repeat it. Nakajima announces that on the 29th March he will be holding a fan event to celebrate his 32nd birthday. Go Shiozaki will be the special guest. Nakajima cannot believe he will be 32, Shiozaki (who is older) smiles knowingly and he and Miyaki tell Nakajima that he is still very young.

They talk a bit more about the book to finish up. They enjoyed making it, so they hope you will enjoy it too. To finish up, Nakajima says "see you again", and plugs his birthday event. Waves.
Shiozaki starts to say something about something being interesting and getting a sense of something, but I don't really think he knows what he wants to say, in any case Nakajima politely interjects and AXIZ pose on the sofa, before everyone waves and the camera cuts out.