(NOAH) EVENT: In Memory of our MISAWA

27th May 2022

Pro Wrestling Noah

VENUE

Date: Monday June 13th 2022*

Place: Shinjuku LUMINE 0, 5-24-55 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 5F

(Upper floor of Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal)

The two nearest stations are the JR Yamanote Line Shinjuku (2 minute walk) and the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Shinjuku Sanchome (7 minute walk)

Nothing has been announced regarding the event being televised, although we should get some clips put on the Noah YouTube. 

APPEARANCES

Wrestlers

Naomichi Marufuji

Kotaro Suzuki

Satoru Asako

Ippei Ota

Other

Kagehiro Osano

Hikaru Inoue

Naomichi Marufuji and Kotaro Suzuki were Misawa's pupils (sibling students), with Kotaro being Noah's firstborn. Immensely proud of Kotaro, Misawa would refer to him as "A boy Kotaro" and Christmas always reminded him of his debut. Kotaro was given his ring name by Misawa, "Ko" - which means drum as Misawa wished him to reverberate like one, and "Taro" which signifies he is the eldest son. He did want to legally change his name to "Kotaro", but his parents would not let him. Marufuji of course is Misawa's heir, and protected Noah after his passing.

Satoru Asako debuted during the hectic 1990s (1991) in All Japan, eventually walking out with Misawa in 2000. He stayed with Noah until his retirement in 2002 following injuries. Misawa paid for his training in osteopathy. He was a trainer with Noah until 2017, when he retired to run a clinic. 

Ippei Ota (According to CIMA, Misawa, a big Pokemon fan named him "Ippei" as he thought he looked like the character from the TV series) made his Noah debut in 2005, but retired four years later in April 2009. After Misawa died, Ota started suffering anxiety and depression, would vomit when coming to training and in the end refused to go. His wife told him that he needed to quit. He changed his number, moved away and refused any contact with Noah or wrestling. In the end he was tracked down by the late Atsushi Aoki (along with Genba Hirayanagi), who told him that running away was not the answer and if he was going to leave then he needed to do it properly. Ota returned as a coach three years after Misawa's death and got back in the ring in 2019 at the Atsushi Aoki memorial show. He now runs his own gym and works as a body builder. 

All four of these wrestlers where Misawa's assistants at various points (Kotaro Suzuki was the one who took charge the night Misawa died, even packing up his hotel room), and they will share their memories of him this evening. Marufuji has called this "his seconds* gather"

Kagehiro Osano: Pro Wrestling writer and author. Mainly writes about Baba era All Japan, with his most recent book being the definitive work "Supreme Triple Crown Champion Mitsuharu Misawa" (I will be translating this after I have finished "Donmai Donmai")

Hikaru Inoue: Former deputy editor of "Weekly Pro", ABEMA commentator.  

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

2PM (Free entry): Exhibition Hall exhibition, merchandise sales start (these will be mainly Misawa themed, details to be announced)

2.15 - 4.30 (Free): Mitsuharu Misawa matches will be played on Hall Vision

The exhibition will contain:

- Photos from Misawa's matches from his All Japan era to Noah (50,000 yen plus tax included if you wish to purchase any pictures)

- Misawa's costumes from All Japan and Noah

- Misawa's GHC Heavyweight belt*

- Fans will get the opportunity to take pictures with a lifestyle cardboard cutout of Misawa

All Japan and Weekly Pro have cooperated in the exhibition. 

5.30 (1500 yen): Admission for the two talk shows

6:30: Talk show vol 1: Kotaro Suzuki & Ippei Ota (moderator: Kagehiro Osano)

7:00: Talk show vol 2: Naomichi Marufuji & Satoru Asako (moderator: Hikaru Inoue)

7:45: Naomichi Marufuji autograph session (you will need to purchase products for this)

7:45: Fan club members who have a talk show ticket can have a photo session with Kotaro Suzuki, Satoru Asako and Ippei Ota (please go to the FC booth beforehand and you will be given a ticket following membership authentication. You can use both your physical and digital membership card. It cannot be expired. You can rejoin if you wish)

REQUEST TO VISITORS

- Please no shaking hands or high fiving due to Coronavirus infection control

- Please do not visit if you are showing signs of a high temperature (37.5° C or higher) and symptoms of abnormal taste and smell

- Please wear a mask, and refrain from talking loudly in the venue (i.e. no shouting across the room, cheering etc as this is still prohibited)

- Please be prepared to provide your name, address and phone number on entry

- Please leave the venue immediately after the autograph session

- Please use the disinfectant provided (admission may be restricted due to infection control measures due to the number of visitors)

TICKETS

Tickets will go on sale from 10:00 JST on Saturday May 22nd. You can purchase these through E-Plus, SevenEleven, FamilyMart (FamiPort)

Please note, there will be no seat reservation.

Notes

*This would have been Misawa's 60th birthday

*Probably on loan from Kenta Kobashi, who was handed the old belt in November 2019 when it was retired.

*Western word used as a substitute for "Uchidesi" which means "apprentice", but "apprentice" is a far better word to use in terms of meaning. The seconds or ringside assistants during The Golden Era would accompany their teachers to the ring where they would wait on them i.e. taking their robes to the back, provide cheering support (KENTA once looked like he was telling Kobashi when to finish a match), throw and gather up the paper streamers, and complete their apprenticeship period by observing the action closely and learning by observation ("minarai"). When the match was finished they would see to their teachers with icepacks and spray, sometimes untying their bootlaces to allow for blood flow, and help them from the ring. Backstage they would wash their backs after matches and run chores by doing their laundry, getting them food, packing and carrying their luggage etc. While some things have changed since then, much of it remains the same. 

Translated from & Picture credit: Pro Wrestling Noah