(NOAH) FAN EVENT RECAP: Tokyo Verdy

10th September 2022

Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium, Chōfu, Tokyo

Attendees: Naomichi Marufuji, Alejandro, Masa Kitamita, Yoshiki Inamura & Kaito Kiyomiya

"The best festival"

"Today was the best day ever, I am glad I came"

The fan event took place at the Ajinomoto Stadium, which is the home of Tokyo Verdy FC. There was no crossover between the wrestlers and the team though i.e. no one from Noah did a goal challenge and no one from the soccer team took any wrestling moves. The event took place during the match in the grounds of the stadium. 

The weather had been forecast to be raining slightly, but in the event of things it was a warm Tokyo day. The Noah wrestlers lined up with the mascots to welcome the fans to the ground, someone remarked that two of the wrestlers (probably Yoshiki Inamura and Masa Kitamiya) where as big as the mascots themselves. Yoshiki Inamura was seen playing with the bells around the neck of the collar of the black cat mascot. 

"The fucking tire" as Masa Kitamiya called it

The talk show took place on the pitch before kick off in a segment called "Kids Park", I don't think it was like a normal one would be i.e. fans asking questions, in any case the talk show was a little echoey and I don't think the audience could hear it too well, and this is part of what was said; 

ALEJANDRO: So that a Noah event can be held at the Ajinomoto Stadium, let's come together to make the Ariake Arena event a success. I would love to return. Thank you!

INAMURA (When asked about the hardest training) I love all training, so there is no hard training (Applause in the stadium)

KITAMIYA: I think that Versapo are really passionate fans as they have put up a wonderful banner. I would like as many people as possible to come and see Noah.

KIYOMIYA: I played soccer from Elementary School to Junior High. My position was left back. I ran great (laughs) I think that the thickness of my thighs was made during my soccer era.  

MARUFUJI: I would like to build a ring in such a wide space (the pitch) and have a match  

Some Noah fans in the crowd had prepared a banner, which looked like one from Noah's "Golden Era", while some Tokyo Verdy fans had a banner to welcome Noah to the stadium. Meanwhile, Yoshiki Inamura's tire (and the equipment for the wrestling class) sat massively behind some iron barriers, waiting for the next part to begin. The tires (especially the biggest one) don't really leave the dojo, and fans didn't realize just how big it was until they saw it up close, and they took commemorative pictures.

"Tire waiting for the master"

"An item that conveys greatness"

Part two was a Rock Paper Scissors tournament (fans won goods), and Masa Kitamiya and Kaito Kiyomiya doing a tug of war against children, who overwhelmed them the first time. The second time they were "unexpectedly merciless"!  The children were fascinated by them, and gathered around, asking to touch the muscles on their arms. 

Alejandro held a pro wrestling training class (with light exercises) and taught the children simple gymnastics - rolls, handstands etc, and Yoshiki Inamura flipped the tire in only a few seconds to the amazement of the crowd.

 I don't think fans got to try to lift the tires, but they got to pose with them, and Inamura was called the "Tire Fairy" as someone snapped a shot of him sitting on it, his legs drawn up and talking to fans. Former Referee Fukuda, who now works as a backstage agent, was also there and taking pictures. 

The day ended with fan pictures and autographs, the word "Prince" or "Shining Prince" was used a lot with Kiyomiya, who apparently stole a lot of hearts. 

Picture credit: Noah Official Twitter, BBM Japan

GIF taken from Noah Official Twitter

With thanks to: Chobi_ondine, Kei, Metapoko, Higashino1121, Shishi@masutaNoahCode & Amuamu