(NOAH/NEW JAPAN) "Umino and the others are finally experiencing the road I have travelled. Anyway, I want to defeat Okada in the end, and win the championship". The G1 is just around the corner! Interview with Kaito Kiyomiya

11th July 2023

Njpw.co.jp

Q: First of all, in the G1 New Japan have named Shota Umino, Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji, who will be participating in A Block with you, as "Reiwa's Three Musketeers". I would love to hear your opinion on this phrase.

KIYOMIYA: Isn't it great that it's being talked about? Who will stand out from the crowd, will attract attention towards the G1, right? At the opening of the G1, we will return to the topic of Noah Kaito Kiyomiya. 

Q: Then, I would like to ask you about the G1. First of all, what is your honest impression of the offer to compete? 

KIYOMIYA: The G1 is a big stage, and I thought "Come on!". I lost to Kazuchika Okada at Noah's Tokyo Dome (February 21st) in the "Vs New Japan Pro Wrestling" part. I think the fact that there was an offer this time, means that New Japan thinks "The G1 will be interesting if Kiyomiya appears". 

Q: I think that is true, and it has also attracted the attention of pro wrestling fans. Now, you will miss thirteen Noah events in July and August, and along with what you have also declined to participate in Noah's singles league, "N-1 Victory 2023" to participate in the G1. What was the reaction of Noah fans?

KIYOMIYA: I was happy because there were more positive reactions than I had expected. I want to respond to that, and I think that becoming the lead man in the G1 is a way to spread Noah.

Q: By the way, what was your impression of the G1 when you were a wrestling fan? 

KIYOMIYA: I was rooting for Noah in the first place, but it figures that I was interested in the G1 and watched it. I thought it was really exciting, and I still have the impression that when Kazuchika Okada won the championship he made his name known at that time. 

Q: Okada has currently won two consecutive G1 championships in the past, winning in 2012 and 2014, so you were in High School. Looking back on the past from Noah in the G1, Jun Akiyama (2003), Takashi Sugiura (2009), Go Shiozaki (2010), Naomichi Marufuji (2012 & 2016) and Katsuhiko Nakajima (2016) participated. 

KIYOMIYA: When Marufuji-san took part in 2016, I went with him as his second. I had just debuted, but I remember the enthusiastic atmosphere of the G1, and the strange feeling of tension. 

Q: So far, the highest ranking of Noah wrestlers is Akiyama who came second place, so if you win, it will be the first achievement. 

KIYOMIYA: I'm really fired up about that part, and I definitely want to win and return to the Noah ring. Well, I will definitely return!

Q: Did your seniors say anything to you about participating in this years G1?

KIYOMIYA: Not directly, but I was happy that Marufuji-san and Mutoh-san sent me support through the media.

Q: Mutoh-san said, ", I'd like him to get in the spirit of "I want Noah and New Japan to be enriched."

KIYOMIYA: I thought that was a very Mutoh-san like expression (laughs). The seniors are cheering me on and giving me their support, so I think I can't lose because I'm going to represent Noah. 

SANADA

Q: This time, you are entering into A block. This block is attracting attention as the new generation of wrestlers, including the Reiwa Three Musketeers.

KIYOMIYA: But when I saw A block, I could only see SANADA. I am not participating at this time with the intention of raising excitement among young wrestlers.

Q: Anyway, are you aiming to the best in the G1 anyway?

KIYOMIYA: If the current top of New Japan, that is, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, is SANADA, then naturally I have no choice but to aim for him. 

Q: In terms of being technicians of an orthodox school, I think you and SANADA are similar in type.

KIYOMIYA: SANADA seems to be good at classical techniques, and I have a lot of confidence in that as well. As a wrestler, that part is important to me, and I will fight in the same ring as SANADA, and I will definitely win. 

Q: Also, both of you are successors of Mutoh-ism, and like you, SANADA'S speciality is the Shining Wizard.

KIYOMIYA: No, I think I'm definitely better there. I want this match to leave an impact that will reach Mutoh-san.

Q: Considering this block from the standpoint of the new generation, you are 27, Umino is 26, Narita is 25 and Tsuji is 29. You are only in your twenties, but you have already won Noah's highest belt, the GHC Heavyweight twice. Do you feel strongly that you don't want people to see you on the same level? 

KIYOMIYA: To me, all three of them just came back from overseas training and appeared suddenly. I also have experience of training overseas, and I can only think that Umino and the others are finally experiencing the path that I travelled. 

Q: In 2016, the first year of your debut, you participated in "LION'S GATE", which was held by New Japan as a show centered on youngsters. At that time, Umino and Narita were still trainees before their debut, so there was no point of contact in the ring. 

KIYOMIYA: However, around that time I was allowed to participate in New Japan's practice, and there were several trainees with shaved heads. I think that Umino and Narita were among them. 

YOTA TSUJI

Q: Tsuji, who you will face in Sapporo on July 15th, visited Noah at Korakuen on June 22nd, to observe your match. What about, "Kiyopi*" is the hottest man in New Japan right now, but he's not interested in me, right? You've gone into the G1, but you're only interested in SANADA, right? Please do your best to prepare for the SANADA match, this is the difference between me and you".

KIYOMIYA: Like I said backstage, "I don't care about petty tactics". 

Q: Have you ever seen Tsuji's matches? 

KIYOMIYA: I have. However, it's not because I'm in the G1 that I checked it, I try to watch matches in different promotions on a daily basis, but considering that he's not even in my sight. Tsuji is in good spirits, isn't he? That's really how much of an impression I have. 

SHOTA UMINO

Q: Umino, who you will be fighting in Nagaoka on July 21st, is also burning with fighting spirit towards you, who treats him as an inferior.

KIYOMIYA: Umino sent me a long message on social media, but I couldn't read it until the end. I kind of wondered if he had something in mind (laughs) But, if there is something he is building up, then I will take it in the match. 

Q: After Umino returned home triumphantly, there were high expectations from the company and the fans, and at this years Tokyo Dome event on January 4th, he formed a trio with Mutoh and Hiroshi Tanahashi, who have a close relationship with you.

KIYOMIYA: But, my impression of Umino is the same as Tsuji's, it's just "Good spirits", but I don't think it's particularly relevant. The image of long sentences is stronger than a match.  

REN NARITA

Q: You will clash with Narita, another man in the Reiwa Three Musketeers, in the final match on August 5th in Osaka, what kind of impression do you have?

KIYOMIYA: Was that the Suzuki Army? 

Q: No, it's STRONG STYLE, not Suzuki Gun. 

KIYOMIYA: Sorry, I made a mistake because he's working with Minoru Suzuki. Isn't he in the middle of coming up too? But, compared to Umino and Tsuji, he doesn't speak much, so I'm really looking forward to the match. 

OKADA, CHASE OWENS & OTHER OPPONENTS

Q: In addition, you will face Chase Owens in July 18th in Yamagata, Gabriel Kidd on July 27th in Ota Ward, and Hikuleo on August 1st in Takamatsu. 

KIYOMIYA: In regards to foreign wrestlers, Noah is competing against wrestlers from all over the world. However, there are wrestlers of various types, who I want to fight on occasion. How tall is Hikuleo? 

Q: He is 203cm. Amongst the wrestlers you've fought so far, isn't he one of the tallest? 

KIYOMIYA: It's true that he's tall, but I've met wrestlers that big during my overseas training, so he's not particulary scary. 

Q: Owens and Gabe are in BULLET CLUB, and your first encounter with BULLET CLUB is also interesting. 

KIYOMIYA: It's a unit with Ishimori (Taiji), who was my senior in Noah, so in that sense I'm interested. However, although they are a unit who have an image of using heel tactics, I don't think there is anything to be afraid of. 

Q: Well, and I am asking this intentionally, but are there any wrestlers from other blocks who who are likely to be in the finals, or who you are interested in? 

KIYOMIYA: That's really Kazuchika Okada. The only way to fight Okada is to win, and I want to defeat him at the end and win the championship. 

Q: At the Tokyo Dome on February 21st, you were the GHC Heavyweight Champion and Okada was the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Is there anything dragging out of losing the champion showdown?

KIYOMIYA: No, there is nothing dragging. I think the past is the past because Noah's fights are steadily progressing in the ring. However, there is no doubt that this time is a chance for revenge, so I want to settle it myself. But the most important thing is to win the G1, and I believe that if I can do that, all sorts of paths will open up for me. 

Q: Finally, could you give a message to the New Japan fans? 

KIYOMIYA: I want you to see the Kaito Kiyomiya of now. I can show you a fight that New Japan doesn't have, and I would be happy if you could feel that "Noah's wrestling is interesting". New Japan has always been number one in the industry, and I will fight with the intention of overturning that in this G1. 

Picture credit: Njpw.co.jp

Picture credits: Njpw.co.jp

NOTES

Kiyopi: A nickname given to Kaito Kiyomiya by Noah fans. I think this probably relates to the community group that was called "Kiyopi & Tomato" (they have now changed their name), which supported the elderly, children etc with food. This is a play on Kiyomiya's name by Noah fans, and his well known love of tomatoes.