(NOAH) "A feeling that new things will be born" What are you aiming for in returning to the "Sacred Place" of the Nippon Budokan, interview with Naomichi Marufuji.
February 5th 2021
(Interview by General Manager of Puroresu Today, Yoshinori Yamaguchi)
Pro Wrestling Noah will hold their Nippon Budokan event, "ABEMA presents DESTINATION 2021 ~ BACK TO BUDOKAN", for the first time in about 11 years on February 12th (Friday).
In this interview with Naomichi Marufuji, "The Genius of The Ark", who will fight against Kaito Kiyomiya and Yoshiki Inamura, in a tag team with Jun Akiyama at the event, talked about his return to "The Sacred Place" of The Nippon Budokan, tagging with Akiyama, The M's Alliance, and his own goals.
Thoughts on February 12th 2021, Nippon Budokan Event, which will be held for the first time in about 11 years.
Q: Regarding the Nippon Budokan event, which is the first time in about eleven years for you, because you are returning to the sacred place of The Ark and it lifts your heart, how does it feel?
MARUFUJI: Well, I was very happy when I was told about returning to The Budokan for the first time. In the last few years, so to speak, there was a time when Noah's scale was shrinking, as was the number of wrestlers, the staff and the number of new customers. It was a time when I was in a situation, where I couldn't imagine having a match at The Budokan, so I am very happy and deeply moved to have arrived at this rebirth.
Q: It really feels like you have arrived here after many twists and turns.
MARUFUJI: Yes. Noah has managed to continue while being assisted by various people. I am grateful to everyone, and I don't think there would be a Noah right now if even one of those people was missing.
Q: I am very happy for the fans and the supporters of The Budokan event. However, since there is a new type of coronavirus, I don't think it can be 100% (number of seats, etc), I think there are some differences.
MARUFUJI: Yes.
Tag with Jun Akiyama
Q: The tag team with Jun Akiyama, who you called out to, has been officially arranged. First of all, please tell us the reason why you called out.
MARUFUJI: When returning to The Budokan, the first thing I wanted to do, of course, was to stand in the ring at the main event, but I couldn't do that due to my lack of ability. So, I wanted to have a match that was meaningful to me, so I wanted the fans to see it, and I wanted them to feel it. It seems that there was only one exciting thing left to do, and that was Akiyama.
Q: Indeed. You fought against Akiyama in a singles match at All Japan, is this something fresh for you to tag?
MARUFUJI: Even when Akiyama was in Noah, I don't think we teamed up. I don't even remember it. Maybe some people wanted to see a match between Akiyama and me, but the feeling that something new will be born with Akiyama, is stronger when we form a team. In the latest singles match I had with Akiyama was at Champion Carnival (Korakuen Hall, April 25th, 2018), and various emotional things were settled then. I think it is better to tag and get a slightly different stimulus.
Q: So, will there be anything like a team name, for example?
MARUFUJI: No, no no. It's not going to start in earnest.
About the match against Kaito Kiyomiya & Yoshiki Inamura
Q: Your opponents are Kiyomiya and Inamura, what about them? I think there are many things that you usually come into contact with.
MARUFUJI: I think there are some fans who want Akiyama to have a match with people who have been related to him for a long time. For example, I think there are people who have teamed with Akiyama like Saito, Ogawa, Sugiura and so forth, who want to see old fashioned matches. From my point of view, this is not a produce for memories. This is not a memorial match, this is not an anniversary show, and it has strong meaning as a starting point for Noah, and a new starting point at that, so in that sense Kiyomiya and Inamura are probably the best opponents.
Q: Do you feel that the inheritance is also very strong when you start again?
MARUFUJI: There aren't many pro wrestlers who have the terrifying atmosphere of Akiyama, I want them to make good use of this timing, and use it for food as nourishment.
Q: I think Akiyama has some injuries (*at the time of writing), but I have the impression that winning the victory at the D-Oh Grand Prix, has revived him. How do you see that situation?
MARUFUJI: I am happy to see it from the point of view of the onlooker. I'm not someone who isn't connected. Even if I'm not there, I'm watching, and news comes in. After all, rather than the seniors getting more and more older, it's nice and inspiring to be reborn, and it's rewarding.
Q: That's right. There is a difference of about ten years between you. It seems that the appearance of a senior ten years older, and the fact that he is still working very hard on the front line, is very inspiring.
MARUFUJI: That's right.
Looking back on last year, Corona and and matches
Q: Last year due to Corona, you continued to hold empty arena matches, and I think in perspective, Pro Wrestling Noah was the one who made the most effort in pro wrestling. Looking back on the year, what did you think of 2020?
MARUFUJI: The timing of Corona and the timing of becoming a member of CyberAgent overlapped, and they gave us the content that we could make the most of. With that as a trigger, the staff and the wrestlers were really united as a result of that. If we didn't do it, I think Noah would have fallen. If I have to do something, then I will try hard to find out what I can do, and then transmit what I can do. I think "standing firm" is the best word to use.
Joining CyberAgent
Q: I am in IT, so I was definitely very happy to see you join CyberAgent, did the employees and the wrestlers feel like it was an improvement?
MARUFUJI: I have been like that from the start, but perhaps there were some wrestlers who didn't understand what they did. That is why Noah has changed in the last few years, so I think if some wrestlers wondered about it changing again. Noah did so well in that timing and in the presence of corona, and I feel that Noah created a situation where everyone felt that they could fight, and everyone is happy again.
Q: I think the fans are probably feeling relieved as well.
MARUFUJI: So, for some reason online, I think the negative part is featured more than the positive part, I think that the image is bad, and words stand out, but I think we got the result of steadily bringing it out, and the result was good.
Q: I agree. It was true that it was a positive reaction.
Goals for 2021 from a management perspective as Vice President of CyberFight.
Q: You have become a new company as CyberFight, but as the Vice President, from a management perspective, do you have any goals for 2021?
MARUFUJI: A goal. Well, since we are holding events during Corona, I want as many customers as possible to come and see it. We have received hundreds and thousands of views using ABEMA, so I want to make sure it is clearly visible. I think it would be great if we could mix and match things like empty arena matches that happened in Corona for example.
Q: I see. Certainly, the part that the mass media called ABEMA supports, is very good fore expanding the fan base.
MARUFUJI: Well, I think it is definitely expanding, so I want to make it visible and get more results at the venue. I think that is just a few more steps.
Q: When Corona calms down, different fans will come to the venue, and I think that everyone will have a personal experience.
MARUFUJI: With so many people watching through ABEMA, it's not like you should only see it there, you have to go to the venue to watch. Whether you go to see or not, I think if you find something that makes you want to come, you will be converted at once.
Q: I think that people who are watching it on the TV will be surprised and impressed when they see professional wrestling live for the first time. The sound of a realistic chop always conveys a great power. I will do my best convey the appeal of professional wrestling to those who see it for the first time as media.
MARUFUJI: Thank you.
About the M's Alliance Member Expansion
Q: The M'S Alliance is expanding tremendously now, I think that some wrestlers have entered through different channels, but how far is the road to expansion?
MARUFUJI: Not everyone can enter because the initials are M.
Q (Laughs): That's right. Who decides? Marufuji?
MARUFUJI: It's pretty much me. There are also company recommendations.
Q: I see, do you consult with Mutoh when you decide on someone?
MARUFUJI: Mutoh doesn't know much (laughs)
Q (laughs): Is it like if you think that this is a good thing in the main, he will make an offer?
MARUFUJI: There are many forms. That's why the people who are called legends are not limited to the M's Alliance. So with whats happening in Noah, I'm not going to treat them as guests.
Q: I was certainly surprised at Mutoh's GHC Heavyweight Challenge
MARUFUJI: Everyone enjoys Noah's professional wrestling in a good way, like Mr. Mutoh, Mr. Funaki, and Mr. Sakuraba.
Q: A pretty way of saying it, would be to say that Sakuraba has really revived as a pro wrestler.
MARUFUJI: I think he's having too much fun (laughs)
Q: Laughs
MARUFUJI: Is it okay? In that vein, what he has built is definitely real, yes.
Q: The single with Kenoh was also very exciting. Unlike the image of Sakuraba that I have so far, I think he has come to Noah's ring and firmly experienced the part of receiving as a pro wrestler.
MARUFUJI: We will also set up a chop battle (laughs)
Q: This not the old The Nomura Regeneration Factory*, it feels very good for the fans to see the wrestlers returning to life and working hard, like the Noah reproduction factory.
MARUFUJI: Perhaps whose who don't look at information probably say? I think Noah now has an image of using old people, but if you ask me, here you can see Keiji Mutoh who can only be seen now, Masakatsu Funaki who can only be seen now, Kazushi Sakuraba who you can only see now, and I would like to speak a little more about the others who you can only see now.
Q: I'm really looking forward to the expansion of the M's Alliance in the future
Naomichi Marufuji's goals in 2021
Q: Finally, I would like to ask you about your own personal goals for this year.
MARUFUJI: 2020 was Noah's 20th anniversary, and since I have been here since it's birth, I wanted to reach the top at this anniversary, but I haven't been able to do that because of my lack of ability. I want to make a new start in 2021 with The Budokan as a trigger, with that as another borderline, I want to find myself on top.
Q: From 2021, The Budokan will be a trigger, and if you make a new start, it will be as the GHC Heavyweight Champion.
MARUFUJI: Yes.
Q: You lost the belt since January 2016, so I think you haven't had it for about five years.
MARUFUJI: Yes
Q: But, in terms of age you are still young, so I would like you to set a record as the one with the most title reigns or as the longest defense record in the heavyweight division.
MARUFUJI: Well, I would like to get some results, and go to a higher stage as a professional wrestler named Marufuji
Q: But, you already have one Champion Carnival in All Japan, and taken all of Noah's belts* (laughs)
MARUFUJI laughs
Q: You said you wanted to take a further step, what is next?
MARUFUJI: The most important thing for me now is to make sure that customers steadily enter Noah.
Q: Definitely. Thank you for today, we are looking forward to the Nippon Budokan event!
MARUFUJI: Yes, I'll do my best, thank you for your support.
*Katsuya Nomura (now deceased) was a manager who reactivated old baseball players who were thought to be past their prime.
*Except for the GHC National
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