(NOAH) From the few pro wrestling promotions watched for the first time as a child, to being a Noah born! Yoshiki Inamura talks Noah love and subculture love.
Yahoo.co.jp\Pro Wrestling & Kakutougi News Site
Yoshiki Inamura is a person of outstanding talent, for who three years in a row was a student at Pro Wrestling Summit, after that he became a trainee of pro wrestling Noah, and made his debut in 2018. He attracted attention as a member of Kongoh, led by Kenoh, and after leaving he inherited Takashi Rikio's technique, and used it to get wins over his seniors.
At the Nippon Budokan event, which will be held on February 12th, he will team up with Kaito Kiyomiya and fight against Naomichi Marufuji and Jun Akiyama.
Inamura, who there is a lot of hope for as a Noah Born, conducted his fourth interview for the first time in about six years with BattleNews (who have followed him since he was a student), to reveal his thoughts.
Student wrestling is "Reasonably fun".
Q: What was the biggest difference between student wrestling, and professional wrestling when you joined the promotion?
INAMURA: The quantity and the quality of practice was completely different. In student wrestling you just do what you like, and I used to practice thinking that it would be like this, but it was completely different. The quality, the quantity, the pace, everything was different.
Q: It took a while to become a pro after graduating from university, did you give up on your dream of become a pro wrestler during that time?
INAMURA: While working part time, I practiced and prepared to become a professional
Q: I have heard before that Noah was the first pro wrestling that you watched, but why did you choose Noah again?
INAMURA: It was the first promotion I saw, and I was always watching Noah, even when I was watching other companies. The first time I watched it live was at Korakuen Hall, and I have been watching it ever since, so it was a promotion that I had a lot of love for. Moreover, it was the wrestlers who were there when I was watching it, and I thought that it would suit me to go there, so it was my best choice.
Q: I think that the atmosphere in Noah is different in terms of being a wrestler between when you were watching it. But now are in Noah, how was it when you saw it from the inside?
INAMURA: I didn't know the atmosphere at that time, I wonder...well, the practice was tough, but the seniors are very kind, they always give me proper guidance, and if there is something wrong, they will say. I thank them for their kindness.
Q: Wrestlers who aren't Noah born, are now at the center of Noah. Is there anything you think about that being a Noah born?
INAMURA: I think Marufuji used to say on Twitter that if you are in Noah, then everyone is a Noah wrestler. I'm Noah born, but I've never really thought about it.
Q: Regarding that, the pride as being Noah is the same.
INAMURA: I think it's the same
Q: Kyu Mogami, who you formed a tag with during your student wrestling era, is still active as a professional. Do you still keep in touch?
INAMURA: We are in touch (laughs)
Q: In relation to each of you becoming professionals
INAMURA: He was quick to be active. When he had no idea what to expect, he was doing a title match with Hiro Tonai at KAIENTAI DOJO. Seeing that, I thought it was simply amazing. I don't think I heard that he wanted to turn professional. He had a teachers licence, and I thought he was getting a job, but he still had blonde hair and I was wondering what it was. I forget when I was told, but when I first learned I remember being surprised. But the best was that he had gone ahead with it, and passed the test. He was pretty disorganized at the time, so I didn't think to act so quickly.
Q: You were inspired by your partner?
INAMURA: I didn't have any jealousy or anything like that about his becoming a professional first, but I got a good stimulus.
Q: Do you have a desire to meet somewhere?
INAMURA: There is
Q: Do you want to team up or fight at the time?
INAMURA: I want to fight, but I also want to do either. Certainly at Koshinaka's commemorative event, Kiyomiya and Mogami teamed in a ten person tag, and Aoyagi and Saito with each other, so I think there is a possibility.
Q: I remember that when you formed a team with Mogami, you wanted "Go pass the boundaries of the promotion". Your tag was built with that in mind. I am looking forward to the cross-border tag that will go beyond the boundaries of the promotion.
INAMURA: What is this thing (laughs) Those who know the past may expect it, but it would be nice if something was available.
Q: You said that Mogami didn't tell you, but did you tell him when you entered Noah?
INAMURA: I did, I was generally in contact.
Q: In the same era when you were a student wrestler, at the same time Diamond ☆ Fuyukai debuted at Shinshu Pro Wrestling, the heirachy goes up and down, but Shin Suzuki is a pro wrestler, Asuka the World is Pro Wrestling Shi-En, Masayuki Mitomi is Union, Orca Uto is Big Japan, Joji Otani is Guts World, Andras Miyagi made her debut at Sendai Girls, and there were many other wrestlers. Was there something about your generation that had a strong sense of professionalism, or did something happened in you?
INAMURA: I think something happened. For me I wasn't a professional after all, but I thought it was amazing to hear that SWS Clint Eastwood was aiming to be pro first...but I wonder if there had been an unusually large number of people both before and after in our generation. I don't know why this happened for only a couple of years because it didn't happen after that (laughs). I think with Mogami, myself and Fuyaki, it was because we really liked it.
Q: How do you watch the current wrestling student world?
INAMURA: I am only able to watch UWF (Kanto Student Wrestling Federation), to which I belonged. I wonder what it is, but I guess you just want to have fun without being injured. After all, after becoming professional and practicing properly, I felt like I had been doing something extremely dangerous. I really don't want them to get hurt. There are no matches because of Corona, but it looked fun at Nishikawaguchi, and if there is a match that can be done, I want you to be active, and do what should be done properly. You have only four years after all.
Q: In terms of not wanting to get hurt, is there anything you want to be careful of now that you are a pro?
INAMURA: I don't want to say to much, but simply put, it's not always possible with the body. I don't think there is anyone who can teach you how to be passive, I think it is the case with everything, and you can only do what you can with your height (bitter smile), but it's definitely not good to get hurt too much or to hurt your opponent, so it's "reasonably fun"
"I wanted to get out of Kongoh to leave a different impact"
Q: Who taught you in training after you joined Noah?
INAMURA: The first practice was always with Kumano. In the middle, Kiyomiya returned to Japan and so he taught me from there.
Q: I think it wasn't until you joined Kongoh that you got a lot of attention after entering Noah, why did you decide to join Kongoh in the first place?
INAMURA: I think that Kenoh said he was dissatisfied with the company, it was like a group of interested people who want to change something with a strong determination, moving in response to that intention. I think it is important to gain experience when you are young, but I thought that I could grow more if I dared to put myself in a harsh environment where everyone around me became an enemy, so I decided to join Kongoh.
Q: Did you leave Kongoh because you graduated from it?
Q: Your new goal is to be either the top of Noah, or the top of the Pro Wrestling world?
INAMURA: Kiyomiya says he has always been aiming for the top of the industry, and I want to show my presence, but before that happens, I have to leave a track record in Noah and increase my presence. I have to leave a big presence there, so I want to take the top position in Noah first.
Q: After you left Kongoh, your match style has a slightly different shape, but have you felt the change in evaluation around you?
INAMURA: Well, I think I was able to turn the eyes of the fans towards me, because I acted prominently. Above all, I was aware of the reaction. But how about my evaluation? The match that I won against Miyamoto in Yoyogi and the match that I lost in Nagoya received a lot of evaluation from the customers. But I don't really feel like I have achieved any results yet.
Q: When you beat Miyamoto, you used Rikio's technique, but did you officially inherit it?
Q: I think that it was transmitted directly
INAMURA: Yes, of course
Q: Did you have any other technique candidates?
INAMURA: No, if there was anything, I always wanted to use the Musou. There was no other.
Q: It has become a technique that has surpassed Splash Mountain, which you have used for many years since the days of student wrestling.
INAMURA: It's hard to settle (reluctant smile) So I wanted to leave Kongoh, and leave a different impact in that sense as well.
Fighting Akiyama & Marufuji has a stronger feeling of excitement than pressure
Q: Did you feel any change after joining CyberAgent?
INAMURA: The biggest thing was that we were able to have matches on a streaming service during Corona? If it weren't for CyberAgent, ABEMA and WrestleUniverse, it wouldn't have been possible to transmit it. I felt that first.
Q: Your parents will also see the broadcast I think
INAMURA: Truly watching! They are watching them all, right, including WrestleUniverse. Grumbling about the match and saying, "Lost again...". I am working at the venue, so I can't check my cellphone until the event is over, but when I am on the bus afterwards and going home, I look at my cellphone and I have a short message from my parents. I got a message when I used the Mosou from my mother saying that she was watching and was happy to see me win, because I had been losing all the time.
Q: During your student era, your parents didn't watch pro wrestling, right?
INAMURA: They didn't see it at all. I was wrestling as I wanted to, and they didn't pay much attention. But when I did sumo and judo, they supported me, and they saw everything, but I think they just didn't have a chance to see pro wrestling. It's quite easy to come from Tochigi (to Tokyo), so a lot of people came to my debut match. If there is an event in Tochigi, I want to subculture lovers to bring friends to see pro wrestling.
Q: Are you interested in going out and wrestling in front of people who don't know wrestling, or having matches and wrestling in the street like DDT?
INAMURA: That is the best way for the general public to get to know about pro wrestling. It wasn't on the street, but I have had matches in front of Musashi Kosugi station, and matches at Home Improvement Stores, but the reaction to those were completely different. I saw a lot of children who came and had a lot of fun, so I hope I can continue to do that in the future.
Q: Noah doesn't have the opportunity to do that, but do you want to open it up?
INAMURA: I'm not alone (laughs) However, I don't feel like doing it alone, and I haven't done anything in Noah since I came there.
Q: When I interviewed you before, you were working part time at the apparel maker, "Hardcore Chocolate", and you wanted to put out your own goods with them.
Q: When you get results?
INAMURA: Yes. I asked him to make a personal T-shirt for THE TOUGH when I was with Masa Kitamiya. I want MUNE to do it when I can have personal t-shirts.
Q: What are your feelings towards the Nippon Budokan?
INAMURA: I went there when Kobashi retired...I think also wrestling, DDT. I have some emotions and memories, but this is my first time in having a match there, but to be honest it didn't hit home until the card was arranged. By putting together such a big card, it's wonderful, and my emotions have risen all at once.
Q: There is Corona, but you want people to come to the venue.
INAMURA: I want a fixed number to enter. In terms of the number of people watching, I think that an overwhelming number of people will watch online distribution like ABEMA, FITE TV, WrestleUniverse. I think it is very important for the first Budokan in a long time to actually come and see it, but I don't feel it should be forced.
Q: Has Corona affected your career?
INAMURA: Honestly, I was able to have a lot of matches during this period, so I have been really blessed compared to the wrestlers of other promotions. I can also watch the video of the match each time. Moreover, since the number of matches has decreased, so whether it was practicing or treating an injury, I had time to reflect. So it was a very important year for me. It may have been a bad year for the customers and the company, but it was a great year for me.
Q: Thank you very much. You said that you want people who don't know wrestling to come and see it, but in the end, what kind of people do you want to see your wrestling?
INAMURA: I want people who like subcultures to come and see it. I don't know if I can bring that style out in the match, but I think I can attract people who share what I like, as my hobbies are better at that (laughs) I think I can attract people who share what I like. Korean movies are quite popular now, and I have been watching them since I was a student, so there are people who like Korean movies. Also, I like to go and see exhibits such as Katsuya Tereda's paintings. Teranda himself likes pro wrestling, so there may be people who like that. I also like Rockin' Jelly Bean and others, so I often go to see them. As an enthusiast I often go to small places to see things, rather than big exhibitions. I want people who like such art and movies, I want people who are close to that culture to watch my matches.
Thank you to Miriam (Flame286) for preparing the pictures
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