Yuma Anzai's "Promise To Me", part 24 (English)

English translation

Yuma Anzai's "Promise To Me" (part 24)

Weekly Pro-Wrestling

No.2365, 2025/7/30 issue, p.67

"Which junior am I supporting?"

☆The junior league's starting, but do you still think of AJPW as heavyweights?

Anzai:

Yeah. I think AJPW's bread and butter is absolutely big wrestlers fighting it out. But, as a result of that, I think the juniors are starting to stand out more. The more that keeps going, the more we can bring out the best in each other.

☆Is there a sense of rivalry towards the juniors?

Anzai:

There is. When I watch the junior matches, there's a sense of speed. Heavyweight matches are like "Bang! Bang!", but junior matches are like "Tatatatata". We heavyweights can't copy that even if we wanted to, and even when people watching for the first time see high-flying moves, they think stuff like "That's amazing", or "That's beautiful", don't they?

☆It's fascinating.

Anzai:

I really want people to get excited about that side of AJPW, but, on the other hand, if (the Junior Festival) gets more popular than the Champion Carnival, I'll think, "Ah, shit!".

☆We'd like to hear your prediction for who's going to win (the Junior Festival).

Anzai:

Before that, I just want to say that I don't want Atsuki Aoyagi to lose.

☆Why?

Anzai:

The Aoyagi brothers took the All Asia Tag titles, and if he didn't do so well in the junior league right after doing that, it would make me and HAYATO look bad... wouldn't it?

☆As someone who took the All Asia Tag titles from you, if he doesn't show his power as a champion, it's not good for you.

Anzai:

Yes, as someone who was one of the champions before him. Having said that, I feel the same about HAYATO. Although ELPIDA's split up, I don't want him to lose.

☆In other words, you expect to see Atsuki and HAYATO in the finals?

Anzai:

I really wanna see that! When I saw their World Junior Heavyweight title match at Korakuen Hall, I was so excited, I felt like a fan again for the first time in a while. They've had all kinds of experiences since then, so they've become even stronger as wrestlers, right? If they both make it to the finals, it'll be even better than that match. But, the freelance wrestlers, like (Seigo) Tachibana, (Fuminori) Abe, and (Naruki) Doi, wherever they go, they have people cheering for them, especially Tachibana. Isn't that right?

☆Aniki's incredibly popular.

Anzai:

Yeah. Wrestlers who get cheered like that have the strength to keep going even when they're under pressure.

Of course, there are some really strong wrestlers taking part, and we were talking with the fan club, trying to predict who'll win. Looking at all the participants, it wouldn't be strange for any of them to win, and no matter who wins, I think everyone's going to be so excited about the Junior Festival.

☆So, who was your prediction to win?

Anzai:

Ahh, it's gonna look like I'm beating around the bush... I just said, "That's difficult", and I didn't give a clear answer (wry smile).

☆Right then, tell us now, without hesitation.

Anzai:

Eh, Wait a minute. Hmmm... That's right... Errr...

☆You're giving this a lot of thought. Just tell us what you really think!

Anzai:

OK then, Tachibana.

☆Why?

Anzai:

Put simply, he's big and strong. He's big compared to the others, but he can do high-flying stuff with no problems. He has an amazing amount of fan support, too. I want to see HAYATO and Atsuki, too, but I'm cheering for Tachibana!

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.

Rising HAYATO interview translation (ShuPro)

English translation

Rising HAYATO interview, "The Accomplice of Summer"

Weekly Pro-Wrestling

No.2365, 2025/7/30 issue, p.68ーp.70

The evening of the hottest day of the year in Tokyo. Rising HAYATO is in a different world. He has a fresh excitement that's different from usual. "Zennichi Jr. Festival 2025" starts soon. 

What does HAYATO think of the AJPW junior battles of the summer? 

"Atsuki and I have the most history, right?"

☆It looks like this is Tokyo's hottest day of the year.

HAYATO:

To be honest, I really hate summer. I hate getting suntanned, too, so I'm only outside for as long as it takes me to get to the bar.

☆Are you making any preparations for the junior league matches this summer?

HAYATO:

Like, not drinking beer and stuff? I'll only drink one beer instead of my usual two beers.

☆So, you're cutting down on your drinking?

HAYATO:

I'm drinking lots of highballs, though. Gaining weight directly affects your stamina. I'm really going through it, but it's so good for my condition. When I don't have matches, I can completely heal from any damage, so I can be in my best condition. On the other hand, I can't make any excuses.

☆Your opponent in the openers (on July 17th at Korakuen Hall) is World Junior Heavyweight Champion.

HAYATO:

To be honest, I'm not feeling so good about it. I'm a junior who focuses on speed, and so is (Seiki) Yoshioka. I think we're pretty evenly matched when it comes to high-flying moves, but I think he's about 1.5 times faster than me. When we had that All Asia Tag Match before, I thought, "I didn't know there was someone this fast in the wrestling business". I'm confident with my own speed, but I thought, "He's so fast!". That being said, I don't think Yoshioka's going at top gear. I think he's just warming up, but he's so fast  already.

☆You need to pay attention to his speed.

HAYATO:

But, I think the thing you most need to be aware of is his craziness. You've seen his Quebrada, right? He does them even though the barrier fences are so close to the ring, and he goes flying over them, and ends up hanging off them like laundry. There's a chance you could break your ribs doing something like that (wry smile). He does that every time without hesitation, so he must be crazy.

☆But, you're pretty crazy yourself, aren't you?

HAYATO:

Everyone in AJPW is sane. Outside of the ring, nowadays things are regulated but you can do what you want. We're not criminals or anything. I won't lose to Yoshioka's craziness or his high -flying techniques, but I know he's faster than me. So, I have to beat him in everything but his speed.

☆Which areas (do you have to beat him in)?

HAYATO:

I wonder... I wonder how I can win. This first match seems like the biggest obstacle... Yoshioka's faster than me, so I'll definitely take a lot of damage. But, an unexpected attack is strong. Can't do much about that... Yoshioka has a lot going for him, so I'll have to win with my toughness. No matter how much I'm hit, I can hit back, and that'll be the turning point of the match.

☆Which participant stands out the most to you?

HAYATO:

It's gotta be Atsuki (Aoyagi). It'd be ideal to meet him in the finals and beat him there. Atsuki and I have the most history, right? When I joined AJPW, the first person to charge at me was Atsuki, and I was like, "Who the hell is this guy?", and we had a bit of back and forth, and then the two of us joined NEXTREAM and stuff. We fought with the World Junior Heavyweight Championship on the line. A few years ago in the Oudou Tournament, when I injured my leg and I couldn't walk, it was at Shinjuku FACE, and Atsuki lent me his shoulder and took me all the way back to the dojo.

☆Just like a three-legged race.

HAYATO:

Haha. That's what I thought, too.

☆He took the All Asia Tag belts from you recently.

HAYATO:

Of course I've got to get him back for that, but I've already decided to make it to the finals, so I'm thinking about watching all the B Block matches, too. 

☆You're focusing on the Junior Heavyweights series, but there's also the Triple Crown and the World Tag titles. In AJPW, the heavyweights are indispensable.

HAYATO:

It makes me kinda anxious. Wondering if we can attract enough of an audience. Up until now, AJPW's been dependent on their heavyweights. So, the Champion Carnival is held every year, but this is the first junior league we've had in two years. The heavyweights do really well, and there are lots of stars, such as the Saito Brothers and Yuma Anzai, as well as Kento Miyahara and the others. These stars have a track record of getting an audience. Now the juniors have been given an opportunity.

☆Maybe AJPW doesn't have so much faith in their juniors...

HAYATO:

Maybe. If AJPW is going to overcome their tendency to rely on their heavyweights, I think it all depends on this junior league. Depending on the kinds of matches the juniors can do, the position of the juniors

will change, and maybe I'll start to feel bad for the heavyweights.

☆Meaning?

HAYATO:

I mean, there's generally more of a burden on the heavyweights. But, I always want what I don't have. When I don't have a title match, I'm like, "I want a title match", and when I have a lot of title matches and I'm getting more and more beat up, I think, "This is tough".

☆So, the Triple Crown Champion must be an amazing person.

HAYATO:

Yeah. The junior league was announced, and the heavyweights had been going all in, so I guess they thought they could take a little break. But, if the juniors can't win them over, then we'll just have to go for the Triple Crown and the World Tag titles. If we can make the Junior Fes a success this time, maybe from next year we can be like, "The heavyweights are taking a break", and it'd be great to be able to take the Junior Fes all over the country.

Written by Kenji Takao for Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine (Japanese).

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.

Yuma Anzai's "Promise To Me", part 23 (English)

English translation

Yuma Anzai's "Promise to Me" (part 23)

Weekly Pro-Wrestling

No.2363, 2025/7/16 issue, p.44

What's the reason for my two-month absence?

"It's like going on a little business trip from the pro-wrestling village to a different village"

☆At Korakuen Hall on June 18th, you suddenly announced you wouldn't be taking part for a while. I've had a million ideas about your reasons why, but now we're in a place where we can talk about it, please tell us why.

Anzai:

First of all, I just want to say it's absolutely not because I'm transferring or leaving or injured or sick or any kind of negative thing like that. I will be coming back to AJPW, and it'll be like I'd never left.

☆You're not gonna give us any concrete details, are you.

Anzai:

... As far as making AJPW more exciting is the objective, there's more than one way to do that. Everyone has different assets, so I can't do things like the Saito Brothers or Miyahara-san, because we all have different ways of doing things. So, I want to be known by everyone, I want to be loved by everyone, I want to be seen by everyone. That kind of thing!

☆This time, in a place separate from pro-wrestling.

Anzai: 

It's like going on a little business trip from the pro-wrestling village to a different village. Other than that...

☆I get it. I think everyone gets the general picture.

Anzai:

Yeah. I think everyone remembers what I've said and my attitude towards things up until now.

☆So, ELPIDA disbanded at the Korakuen Hall show, but does that mean you'll continue ELPIDA by yourself?

Anzai:

No, ELPIDA was the four of us together, so we're done.

☆So, when you return in two months, is it inevitable that you'll join the main unit of AJPW?

Anzai:

Well, you never know what's going to happen in pro-wrestling. I could end up in Hideki Suzuki's Romero Special while he yells at me to join Baka no Jidai, or I could end up standing next to Talos. 

☆There are lots of options.

Anzai:

Yes, because ELPIDA's come to an end, I've had a lot of crazy ideas. Up until now, with ELPIDA, the only choices I've had are which of the other three to team up with, but now, I don't even know who I'll be teaming up with for the Real World Tag League or anything like that.

☆For the time being, nobody comes to mind?

Anzai:

I guess it wouldn't look good if I teamed up with HAYATO or Honda now...

☆While you're out, the other three will be working on their own things.

Anzai:

Well, it'd be too bad if they didn't. Honda's already stepped up with his Triple Crown challenge. But, whether or not people think of the four of us as ELPIDA, it doesn't change anything, because our roots started with the belief that "We're going to be the ones who liven up AJPW the most", so I think we all have the same goal.

☆Will you be rivals from now on?

Anzai:

I felt that way during the Champion Carnival, but when Honda-san and Ayabe-san ended up fighting in the main event, I thought, "We're not side by side". The thought crossed my mind that maybe it's more fun when we're fighting against each other. It's fun when you're fighting guys who are from the generation above you, but fighting someone from your own generation is even more fun. Fighting with HAYATO-san, and making the junior and heavyweight scenes more exciting could also be a thing.

☆That reminds me, at that Shin-kiba show, Yuma Aoyagi said he'd try his best as "the other Yuma". Are you OK with that?

Anzai:

Well, he sure did say that, haha. He did the promise pose and the jumping knee, but in terms of height, my jumping knee is maybe the best in the business, so it's gonna be hard to take my place.

☆You've gotta entrust someone with your coolness.

Anzai:

I can't really leave that to anyone, so I want everyone to keep thinking about me for these two months while I'm gone. I'll be back soon!

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.