(NOAH) Kuniko Yamada gives a pep talk to Kaito Kiyomiya, who lost his title, "I want you to smile at all times".

Tokyo Sports

9th January 2025

 A unique conversation has happened. 

 The Tokyo Sports Awards 2024, was held in Tokyo on the 8th, and Kuniko Yamada (64), a talent who is known as the biggest wrestling fan in the entertainment industry, attended. As the presenter for Kaito Kiyomiya (28) of Noah, who was awarded the Fighting Spirit Award, she is a long time friend of his, and teased him about his "scandal" on stage. Furthermore, in the talk, Yamada gave a pep talk to the disappointed ace, who lost the GHC Heavyweight title on New Year's Day. 

Q: Since the end of last year, OZAWA has been exposing Kiyomiya's private life, attracting attention, and at the awards ceremony you read out the award certificate, saying, "The leak of scandalous photos destroyed your image of good behavior..."

YAMADA: That's terrible, I've been framed! The certificate said "scandal", and I said it out loud...

KIYOMIYA: I was really surprised (awkward laugh). OZAWA said a lot of things that are not true.

Q: You were crowned GHC Heavyweight Champion in May last year, and defended the title seven times, but you lost to OZAWA in the showdown on New Year's Day, and lost the belt. 

YAMADA: At parties like this, it's cooler to dress up in a suit and wear the belt. If you'd done it here, you'd be on Tanahashi's level. 

KIYOMIYA: Yes, as you say...

Q: Kiyomiya, you were booed during the match. 

KIYOMIYA: It was the first time I'd ever been booed so much during a match, so it was frustrating, and I am sure the fans had expectations of OZAWA. I was really depressed that day. 

YAMADA: I did see something like that for a moment, but what was it? What did the fans slam you for? 

KIYOMIYA: I still don't know the answer...

YAMADA: You are the "sun" and the face of Noah, so I want you to smile at all times. Even at times like this, don't be down, but remain cheerful as Noah's sun*, saying "I'm lost! I'm sorry!". The fans are probably saying, "Give it another go!" and "Can't you just destroy OZAWA?"

KIYOMIYA: Yes, thanks to Kuniko, I'm feeling much better. 

Q: There will be three matches at Korakuen Hall on the 11th between ALL REBELLION, the team you belong to, and TEAM 2000X, the team OZAWA belongs to. 

KIYOMIYA: In this all out fight, I want to settle once and for all, who is right. I will punish OZAWA in front of all the fans. 

YAMADA: That's a promise. I'm looking forward to it.

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports

Notes

Noah's sun: This fits into Kiyomiya's "Shining Prince" imagery, which contrasts strongly with the dark, wild and somewhat elemental, OZAWA.