(NOAH) "Donmai, Donmai" ~ Mitsuharu Misawa's diary ~ 9th March 2007

9TH MARCH 2007

Cheers. Even though the Budokan is over, Misawa is still struggling to sleep as he battles pain in his neck and lower back*. As usual, please feel free to check out the site for any comments regarding the match. It was a tough match, and as my neck hurts when I put in too much force, I couldn't use the strength to lift my opponent up. I wonder how Sugiura* fared. Lately, Sugi has been unrestrained in his diary*, but I'm worried that he's okay.

Now that it's getting a lot warmer, I've been wondering if I should turn on the air conditioner in my room*. But I've already turned on the air conditioner in my car. Speaking of cars this time I'll start by answering Ippei's question from last week. I'm sorry, but I don't understand the meaning of the answer or the question, I'm sorry, but it's boring. I haven't been able to make enough memories of graduation, or rather, I don't have a punch line. I could have just said, "I handed out all the buttons and left without any*", but that is too harsh. Those of you who are reading this will definitely not understand the meaning. I also didn't understand what was interesting about it. 

So, what was Ippei's question...yep that's right, he was talking about cars. I love cars*. My first car was a red Silvia, which I bought with my parents'* help as I had just returned from a trip to Mexico and had no money. Tiger Mask's red sports car!* Moving around like Naoto Date*! (<-- Only those who know, will know). Next is the Black Z. It may be frustrating for some people who don't immediately recognize the letter "Z", but it was the "Fairlady Z". I grew up in the supercar boom era*, so I loved sports cars, and after that I became a BMW fan. First I had a 5 series, a 7 series, then an Alpina, and then my current X5. Red was my favorite color when I was younger, but now it's navy blue or black, and if I were a little older it would probably be white. Dark colors will show off dust, and white will show off water stains, so it's a good idea to have both. When I first started, I used to go to car washes and wash my own car. After my High School National Athletic Meet finished, I moved out of the dormitory and went to a driving school, I skipped a few classes, but I was able to get my driver's license in no time.   

What are some of my fondest memories of cars?

Ippei's question was quite tense. I wish Ippei-chan would have pulled off this much. Ah, it's impossible...

The calendar has entered March, and Cherry Blossoms are already starting to bloom in Tokyo, but I haven't seen them yet. Cherry blossoms mean cherry blossom viewing, and Cherry blossom viewing means drinking alcohol. This is a bit of a semi forced manner, but the other day I was drinking with Kotaro and Ippeu, the subject came up of, do you all take a shower after drinking??? Women find it difficult because they have to remove their makeup. 

When I'm on tour and the next day is a day off and I really need to unwind, there are a few times when I just lie on the bed without changing clothes...but at the very least, I want to wash and dry my face. I have an oily face. Kotaro likes to take a shower before going to bed. It seems Ippei goes to sleep without showering. Ippei is already an asshole, so he would be well served by taking a shower. By the way, speaking of Kotaro, the other day he gifted me the 1st prize Ultraman from the FamilyMart lottery. I was so happy. Thank you, Kotaro.     

Now, in the next navigation, we will go to Shuhei-chan*'s hometown Kurayoshi. Next time Shuhei-chan is in charge, if there is anything you would like to appeal about Kurayoshi, please let me know *grin*. 

It's suddenly getting warmer, but everyone, please take it easy and try not to catch a cold. That's all for today.  

Notes   

*Misawa uses "Doesu" here instead of "Desu". This is what is known as a "dead word", it is hard to translate, but it basically means a pause. This is also the first time he complains about pain in his lower back, after he died it was later revealed that he was suffering bone spurs.  

*Yes. This is Takashi Sugiura. 

*Considering that Misawa wrote that Sugi's diaries were full of "sex stories". I don't want to know the details of his being "unrestrained".

*Misawa's room: By the end of his life, Misawa and his wife, Mayumi, had seperate rooms. I don't think this was due to any marital strife as she loved him until the end, and the evidence (although sparse) seems to indicate that their marriage was a happy one, I think it was probably due to his accumulated injuries. Kotaro Suzuki remembers Misawa's wife showing him Misawa's room (Kotaro paid a curtesy call after Misawa's death), and he said it was like a giant toy box with Misawa's figures crammed up almost against the bed.

*After graduation, male students would give a second button on their school jackets to a girl. Misawa is implying he gave all the buttons away.  

*Cars: Misawa and Kobashi used to drive around Tokyo and spot the cars they wanted to drive. Misawa's last car was his beloved BMW X-6. He was so attached to it that when his wife pointed out a bigger car would fit more suitcases (he did not travel light), he said "Even so, it will do". On his last journey, she imagined herself cradling the car as he drove away. After his death, one of the roster (I believe it may have been either one of the referees or Tamon Honda), drove it home. 

*Parents: After divorcing his drunken violent father, Misawa's mother married again. Misawa (whose legal surname was "Kaede"), reverted to his mothers maiden name, "Misawa" in a final separation from his hated father, who he swore if he "ever saw that asshole again", he would "knock him on his ass." 

*Tiger Mask drove a red sports car in the anime. 

*On December 25, 2010, a school bag was given to a children's home in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture in the name of Naoto Date (a character from the Tiger Mask anime), which following other mysterious donations, came to be known as "Tiger Mask Movement Support Project". The man behind it was revealed to be an office worker called Seigo Kawamura, who due to early experiences (early death of mother, shuffled between relatives, no money for food which caused him to suffer malnutrition), who supported charities and nursing homes as an adult. 

*Supercar Boom Era: The period from the late 1980s to the early 1990s was the bubble economy. 

*Shuhei: Taniguchi, or "Tani" as he is usually known in Noah.