(NOAH/ALL JAPAN) Motoko Baba's letter to the Japanese Sports Press regarding Mitsuharu Misawa's resignation from All Japan

14th June 2000

(Note, the original letter was dated "Heisei 12")

All Japan Pro Wrestling Co Ltd

Motoko Baba

Dear media companies, 

I would like to express my thoughts on the current series of events surrounding All Japan Pro-Wrestling. 

My husband, Baba-san, passed away unexpectedly. I inherited Baba-san's will and had Mitsuharu Misawa appointed as the representative director as the successor who will lead All Japan Pro Wrestling. However, President Misawa acted out this dismissal drama* without fulfilling his duties, and I feel like I was caught by a fox*. When Baba-san was alive, as his wife, I listened to the intentions of my husband, and at times played a role of being hated for the sake of the company. This was all for the sake of the company, the wrestlers, and the employees. After Misawa-san took office as President, I gave the necessary advice as an executive. However, I trusted almost all of the management of the company to President Misawa. Some reports have suggested that my failure to relinquish the company's "treasury" was the cause of the conflict, but that is not the case. The dismissal of the President on 28th May in particular, corresponds to President Misawa's actions from February this year. President Misawa appointed a lawyer to represent him, and he began to go to the agency's office to attend board meetings that had previously been held at the company. At that time, he began to loudly argue that the payment to a subsidiary of All Japan Pro Wrestling was illegal*, and since then, the executives have been talking about it every time. There has been no discussion of the actual operation of All Japan Pro-Wrestling. All Japan Pro-Wrestling has a structure consisting of the main company and four subsidiaries, and I have been managing the subsidiaries with the approval of the President since Baba-san's era, each which has it's own employees. I have never been accused of being illegal or unfair. 

The beginning of this dismissal drama was the extraordinary meeting held on May 28th. On the day of the event, in the middle of an All Japan Pro Wrestling show*, I came to the meeting wondering why it was necessary to hold a board meeting on such a day. At that point, Yoshihiro Momota-san*, an executive, suddenly announced that President Misawa would be dismissed, and the motion was passed without any convincing explanation. I had no idea what was going on, so I voted against it, but it was passed in favor of the resigning director. And then there was yesterday's resignation drama. 

Yesterday, I attended with the intention of having President Misawa go back to the beginning and return to the position of president of All Japan Pro-Wrestling. When I attended the meeting with the intention of discussing his return, the six executives had perhaps made an agreement and left after saying one after another they would resign. The executive pay was done in a few minutes, and I felt as I was caught by a fox. Looking back on it now, I can only believe that the dismissal and resignation were planned by President Misawa several months ago with the intention of becoming independent. 

Isn't the flow too easy?

The same goes for the fact that he was procrastinating on signing contracts with wrestlers, and, now that I think about it, it makes sense that President Misawa has recently paid back All Japan Pro Wrestling's loan that he has guaranteed without even talking to the board of directors. Encountering this situation, I feel very sad and frustrated because I wish Mr. Baba was here. I can't help but feel resentment toward President Misawa and his sympathizers who abandoned their duties without taking any responsibility, but I have a duty to protect the remaining wrestlers and employees, no matter what happens. I am determined to continue All Japan Pro Wrestling. Fortunately, despite this situation, Kawada and and the wrestlers have pledged to carry on Baba-san's will and to excite All Japan Pro Wrestling, so we will do our best together. Regarding the future, we will consult with our shareholder*, Nippon Television, to decide on a policy and report it to everyone again, so we ask for your continued cooperation. We also apologize to all our fans for causing great concern.       

Translated from Weekly Pro, 4th July 2000

Notes

Dismissal drama: Phrase which means a series of events which led to a firing or a resignation, not a dramatic or sarcastic turn by Motoko. 

Caught by a fox: Would best translate as being left shocked, dumbfounded etc. In Japanese folklore, the fox is a trickster spirit which is able to shape shift and cause mischief. I have chosen to keep the original meaning in for more impact and to reflect the era of which she came from and this letter was written in. 

Subsidiary payments: Probably alludes to Motoko's most infamous company "Giant Holdings" which dealt with merchandise and of which she took a share and all the wrestlers disliked as they were basically cheated. Misawa had raised this issue before, but there was no illegality. 

May 28th 2000:  This would have been AJPW Super Power Series 2000 (Tag 8), held at Korakuen Hall. This is odd as Misawa was in the main event yet she is saying this took place during the show. I would imagine though Misawa would have appeared for the sake of the fans. Misawa's recollection of the date when he was dismissed was (ironically) the 13th June. The day before this communique was written. 

Yoshihiro Momota: Rikidozan's son and Mitsuo Momota's brother. Mitsuo would walk out with Misawa. 

Shareholder: In order to broadcast shows and cover production costs (Japan does not have production houses who make TV shows etc), networks share-hold in the company of the shows they are broadcasting.