(NOAH) "I want to become the "protagonist of the event" and convey the appeal of professional wrestling to all the fans", How do you feel about "versus Okada?" Friday, June 9th, "ALL TOGETHER" is just around the corner! Interview with Pro Wrestling Noah's Kaito Kiyomiya.

7th June 2023

Noah.co.jp

Q: At the time of the previous "ALL TOGETHER", which was held in 2011 and 2012, you were 15 years old and in your third year of Junior High School. As a pro wrestling fan back then, how did you view the event? 

KIYOMIYA: It was like a miracle that the three promotions (New Japan, All Japan and Noah) got together, and it felt like a dream. Out of all of them, I was rooting that, "Noah wrestlers, do your best". But, I was in my third year of Junior High School, and I had a (High School) exam, so...

Q: It's true that it's hard to really enjoy it when you have to study for exams (laugh)

KIYOMIYA: I had time to watch the first event (August 27th 2011, Nippon Budokan) on TV. The second time (February 19th 2012, Sendai Sunplaza) was in February and I was in the middle of my exams (laughs). I couldn't watch it at all.

Q: Where there any parts that left an impression on you? 

KIYOMIYA: The moonsault competition between Kobashi (Kenta) and Mutoh (Keiji) was like a dream*. I remember being so excited as a child. Even before the event, I had a lot of imagination, such as, "What would happen if that wrestler and this wrestler fought each other?"

Q: So you were having fun while making predictions about the cards and such. Didn't you actually think of going to the venue to watch? 

KIYOMIYA: I wanted to go, but I was a Junior High School student, so I couldn't afford it. I think I watched it on TV with my friends at home.

Q: Twelve years have passed since the first "ALL TOGETHER" event, which you used to watch on TV when you were a fan, and this time you will be involved in the position of representing of Noah. 

KIYOMIYA: It's both deeply emotional and surprising. "I'm going to take part in the event which I watched at the time". It's a novel feeling, and when I heard that it was going to be held, I was genuinely happy and said "Alright!" However, although I feel happy, Tanahashi (Hiroshi) and Miyahara (Kento) are next to me, so as a Noah wrestler, I think I have to be careful.

Q: This will be your first tag with these two partners, but first of all, what is your impression of Tanahashi? 

KIYOMIYA: When I meet Tanahashi, I have the impression that he always speaks to be kindly, and he talks to me and people of the generation below me from his own perspective, and I have a tremendous respect for it. I think that someone like that stands at the top, with the impression that he is watching the entire pro wrestling world. 

Q: Up until now, there has been no contact with Miyahara in the ring. 

KIYOMIYA: Yes. Before I met him, I had the impression that he was very energetic, but when I actually met him, he was so much more powerful than I had imagined (laughs)

Q: Was it twice as much as you imagined? 

KIYOMIYA: The volume of his voice when he speaks normally (laughs)...the energy that he usually emits is amazing, and I think that's the kind of person he is (laughs). 

Q: Do you have an image of when you form a trio?

KIYOMIYA: I think our team will go with brightness, and we will go with the intention of standing out more brilliantly than any other match!

Q: It's the best in terms of the amount of energy emitted. Among them, do you have a desire to stand out as the youngest among them? 

KIYOMIYA: I can't lose to the same team, and I can't lose to the opponents either.

Q: Your opponents are Kazuchika Okada, Yuma Aoyagi, and Kenoh. How do you feel about facing Kenoh, who you have fought in Noah many times, in a special situation like this event? 

KIYOMIYA: I have had many matches with Kenoh that were turning points for me. We have also had singles matches at the Nippon Budokan and other big events, so I think I'm happy to be able to fight in a big event where many pro wrestling fans, including the three promotions gather at "ALL TOGETHER". 

Q: Are you conscious of being the opponent who can show Noah's pro wrestling? 

KIYOMIYA: I think it's the best way to show Noah's current fight the most because I have the determination, or rather that "If it's with him, I'll do anything."   

Q: As far as Aoyagi, you have had no point of contact so far, and this will be your first confrontation. 

KIYOMIYA: We are of the same generation, and of course I have heard his name, but I haven't really had any contact with him until now, so I won't know until I meet him face to face in the ring.

Q: If you look at it another way, you may be able to enjoy the tension that only an exhibition match can provide. 

KIYOMIYA: I think I have to deal with whatever comes my way, while not losing sight of the focal point of fighting.

Q: And this will be your first singles match with Okada since the singles match at the Noah's Tokyo Dome event in February of this year. Is there any difference in your feelings from before from when you faced off against Okada after the singles match?

KIYOMIYA: There are things you learn through fighting, and in the singles match, I felt that the size of Kazuchika Okada's ability and my own. But even so, when I saw this card, my feelings were burning, and as I didn't hide my frustration at that time (singles defeat), the moment I saw this card I found myself naturally reviving my frustration. 

Q: Your feelings rekindled in part non rationally

KIYOMIYA: The most important thing is that by becoming the main protagonist of this event, I want to show and spread Noah. I don't know what my feelings will be when we face each other (Okada) on the day.

Q: Having lost the singles match, do you have any desire to connect with Okada again after this match? 

KIYOMIYA: I'm not thinking ahead. In fact, we have fought three times so far, and I've lost twice directly. So, if I miss again this time, I won't be able to do it next time. In terms of Baseball, I think it's like a situation where you don't know when the next turn at the bat will come around if you have two strikes and miss one more time. That's why I don't know what will happen, but I feel like I'm going to seize the opportunity that's in front of me without thinking about the future.

Q: Lastly, in light of the theme of this event, which is to restart from chaos and to send energy via professional wrestling, is there anything you would like to say to the fans? 

KIYOMIYA: For the past three years, the pro wrestling has been facing the coronavirus, one step at a time, and I think the fans have felt that as well. It may not be comparable to other industries, but 

pro-wrestling fans really love pro-wrestling, and as they have followed the spectator rules, "ALL TOGETHER" is possible. It's a great pleasure for us to be able to hold "ALL TOGETHER", this time in the form of a restart, as you can cheer at the venue. I want to make a big step in this event and begin again, so that pro wrestling cam move forward. I want to take the lead and convey the appeal of professional wrestling to the fans.    

Translated from Noah.co.jp

Picture credit: Noah.co.jp

Notes

Moonsault competition: Keiji Mutoh said that before the match he and Kenta Kobashi had a conversation about how doing moonsaults had wrecked their knees.