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"You!! Yes you Kenny. You're the best in Japan, no, the world. I want to give you another shot. Just you. If you're not interested, head on back, otherwise, get in here!" Later... "I want to say three things. First! Wow. Fale. Wow. That was something. Second! Next is Osaka-jo Hall. The company hasn't set anything yet, the company hasn't decided, but I know what I want. Kenny. Kenny, you're next! Third...nothing in particular." harperdc fucked around with this message at 12:52 on May 3, 2017 |
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May 3, 2017 12:48
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If - IF - the crowd is as big, and as knowledgeable as some here expect. Meanwhile, Osaka-Jo Hall is one of their big shows of the year -- arguably their biggest outside Tokyo, and crowds in Osaka are always hot for NJPW. As well, we can't assume there will be a title defense at the G1 Special in Long Beach, but we *know* there will be one at Dominion. Also, didn't realize quite the gimmick going on with the NEVER Trios belt. The sports/popular media commonly refer to national sports teams as [BLANK] Japan, e.g. Samurai Japan is the team that was in the World Baseball Classic, Nadeshiko Japan is the women's soccer team, and the men's soccer team is commonly referred to by the coach's name. Therefore, having Taguchi Japan is a wonderfully goofy gimmick for the floating group of faces. In the entrance, they were even talking about Ricochet being the foreign star striker.
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May 3, 2017 15:18
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SatoshiMiwa posted:Another bit from the Observer is that with Shibata out New Japan is looking at making a new star. Wonder if that means they'll also up the money they'd offer Kenny or even offer him a long program with Kota. Kota Ibushi, perhaps Marufuji if NOAH keeps on as a small-time gig, or even luring Itami/KENTA back for a Japanese reunion tour after the difficulty of his WWE stint. But even Ibushi is 34 years old, and has 13 years of wear on him. Okada is all of 29. One to watch? Hiromu Takahashi. "Oh but he's a junior" his billed height and weight is almost identical to Shibata (Takahashi 185 cm/92 kg, Shibata 183 cm/95 kg). And he's 27 and getting over.
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May 5, 2017 06:07
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Yeah probably meant to say he had his skull opened up once more. I mean, good he's got a reason to fight back and get to normal once more, but dude needs to never wrestle again.
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May 5, 2017 14:24
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SLUM KING posted:I'd be ok with a Yujiro push if they brought back his old music. I spent months enjoying Yujiro after getting back into pro-graps and it was entirely cuz of his old theme. His pre-Bullet Club porn music is an absolute treasure.
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May 6, 2017 05:49
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Super No Vacancy posted:actually the intercontinental title is a smaller thing by virtue of being the second-tier belt of its division whereas the junior heavyweight title is the top belt in its Make Hiromu into the new Nakamura actually plz thx
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May 10, 2017 11:55
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Jenkem Delivery posted:I love AJ and yes for a while he was #1 but right now Okada is just on a different level. THATS WHAT GEDO HAS BEEN TELLING YOU FOR FIVE YEARS レベルが違うぞ！
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May 13, 2017 11:52
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SatoshiMiwa posted:I'm guessing the tournament will take the place of the lower card multiman matches so they don't have to fly in low card guys while the top of the card should be typical main event stuff Don't have to fly in and get visas and hotels for things like Yano Toru's two spots in a multi-man.
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May 17, 2017 01:13
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C. Everett Koop posted:Need to build that wall in the south of Japan Why you gotta do that to Kyushu, that's rough. Seeing some good NJPW singles matches at the top of the card will be completely worth it. Maybe you miss some of the "greatest hits" multiman stuff, but the beauty of all that is it'll come around again. And most guys you'd want to see from that should be around whenever NJPW gets a second show going in the States.
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May 17, 2017 07:51
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Jubs posted:Did they have someone from Long Beach City Community College make this power point presentation at the last minute? Most Japanese business powerpoints absolutely suck eggs, this is canon.
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May 19, 2017 01:27
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I still have a guide drafted up, it's not as heavy on Japan tourism as much as locations/details for wrestling. The one missing part is tickets, because it's hard to say "learn how to use the Loppi machine or ask somebody else to," but that's really it.
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May 29, 2017 05:02
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Phenix Rising posted:I remember last year or the year before there was a livestream of someone exploring the city and they were in some insane wrestling store with old programs, records, etc. It sounds like one the places mentioned above (Toudoukan) and I will definitely want to hit that place up. it's most likely Toudoukan. and if I'm in Tokyo at the time I'll try to organize something.
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May 31, 2017 23:21
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Super No Vacancy posted:thats apparently the s.o.p. in japan It's getting better but it's entirely within the "JAPAN!!!  " realm that so many foreigners deal with on a daily basis. At least you don't have to fax your request in.
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Jun 2, 2017 05:34
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ThatWhiteGuy posted:Sorry if this has already been asked, but how quickly does NJPW World usually post pay per views on demand? I want to watch Dominion spoiler free but won't be able to watch Live. I was hoping to be able to watch it 12 pm EST time on Sunday, is that realistic? Basically immediately. I don't think there's much of a delay.
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Jun 7, 2017 01:52
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GoutPatrol posted:oh gently caress oh gently caress I think I'm gonna get tickets to the 8/12 show. As somebody who tried looking for G1 tickets last week: nah, you probably aren't.  Finally caught up with Dominion and all I have to say is PUSH YOSHI HASHI
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Jun 28, 2017 11:04
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MotU posted:in n out is overrated burgs so the west coast can pretend they have value This is an awful take. West coast best coast 
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Jul 1, 2017 12:00
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I need this shirt Fale's got on https://twitter.com/TOKSFALE/status/881634913169977345
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Jul 3, 2017 01:49
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abraham linksys posted:extremely agreed but i do give people outside the us a bit of leeway for it I also kinda really love that it was Fale wearing a shirt referencing being a jobber more than anything.
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Jul 3, 2017 11:08
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Catching up on Night 1 of G1 USA, I wonder if the AXS TV showing messed with their technical people. I know they probably have a different setup than they're used to as well (and may be down a few people) but there have been a bunch of uncharacteristic technical issues throughout the show. I still also love how dissonant the image of LIJ and current character of Naito is versus his entrance music.
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Jul 4, 2017 00:03
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That looks like a Google Translate failure to me.
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Jul 7, 2017 04:12
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coconono posted:japanese commentary for a japanese product. only way to keep it authentic. Japanese chain store Loft is doing a crossover with NJPW, I might go pick some stuff up. Tanahashi appeared as a promotion at the main Shibuya Loft location on Saturday. online shopping list of the LOFT x NJPW goods
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Jul 9, 2017 14:07
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Thrifting Day! posted:I have wanted to buy the NJ tracksuit from the official Japanese site for agggggges but haven't quite worked up the courage to use a third party seeing as it works out at like £100+ yeah, very little of the merchandise is cheap, and the young boy tracksuits add up pretty quick. also pro tip for American sized goons that just want some kind of NJPW merch: the classic Lion Mark t-shirt has larger sizes (XXL) and are also pretty tall compared with other shirts of theirs. I'm too big for Japan sizes but at least that XXL fits, and it's been a high quality shirt too.
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Jul 10, 2017 23:05
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Super No Vacancy posted:okada v naito - iwgp hw I like this but still not sure Honma is going to come back by the Dome.
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Jul 18, 2017 23:47
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oatgan posted:the finish of his match against mutoh is hysterical by my count Muta forgot to kick out, ref counted three but said two, OR it was supposed to be moonsault -> mist on the first one. almost sounds like they rung the bell after a two-count, too. yikes.
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Jul 22, 2017 02:17
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https://twitter.com/TOKSFALE/status/888891430822793216 Observer 2017 Best Heel Heat goes to Bad Luck Fale
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Jul 23, 2017 01:35
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Straight savage https://twitter.com/toksfale/status/889152907194454016
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Jul 23, 2017 23:50
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CVagts posted:I should really get NJPW World and just have it on in the background every single minute I am at the computer to catch up on watching these shows. Yep, he's learned and improved a LOT in his time in Japan. Which is testament to what working a different style/location can do, and what experiences you can get as well. Easiest thing to do is input a Tokyo time zone clock on your smartphone clock app. If you want to input things into your calendar, just need to calculate the time difference.
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Jul 28, 2017 10:21
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I've been working on this for a while and hopefully we can add more to it too, hopefully by October or so when it's Wrestle Kingdom Planning Time. Goons outside of Japan: Let me know what else you really need to know, either in general or specifically about coming to see wrestling. Goons who have come here/live here: Let me know if you have any other advice you'd like to add! -------------- A Wrestling Fan’s Guide to Tokyo and Japan  With the increase in popularity of King of Sports, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and a forty-plus year legacy of fantastic wrestlers and promotions, it’s no wonder that many wrestling fans want to visit Japan. As a Japanese speaker/reader, a resident for six-plus years, and a wrestling nerd myself, I want to help combine the various posts I’ve seen into one concise guide -- light on “travel to/inside” Japan and Tokyo, but with a focus on wrestling fans traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun. Getting There, Getting Around, and Where to Stay In most cases you will be taking a flight from overseas to Japan. Please ensure your visas yourself, but if you’re from the U.S.A., all you require is your passport. From overseas, you are likely to arrive at one of the following airports: Narita (outskirts of Tokyo), Kansai International (outside Osaka), Haneda (closer to Tokyo). There are other airports, but are away from the major Tokyo and Osaka regions. In any case, decide the best method for you to travel from airport to your hotel/motel/hostel/Airbnb/etc. A quick comment on staying and getting around: Tokyo and Osaka have tons of hotels from cheap to expensive, but a name to check is Toyoko Inn. Lastly, there’s a simple question to ask yourself with regards to the JR Japan Rail Pass: Will you go from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto, or vice versa, in your trip? If the answer is yes, look into the Rail Pass. If no (ie staying only in one metropolitan area), then you can skip on it and use a PASMO/SUICA card only instead. Oh Wow, I’m in Japan! ...uh, how do I Japan? Congratulations, welcome to the metropolis. I’m sure you’ll want to get around and see the sights. Here are some simple tips to Tokyo/Japan in general. The aforementioned SUICA/PASMO cards are your best friend. Purchased via train ticket machines for a 500 yen (~$5) deposit, they’re rechargeable NFC cards that work at all train/subway stations, most buses, many taxis, and a growing number of businesses (especially convenience stores like 7-11). There aren’t group/family SUICA/PASMO, so each person in a traveling group older than a toddler needs one. If you have the JR Pass, you don’t need one for JR trains, but -- as an example -- if you want to go to, say, Roppongi, you have to get there via a Tokyo Metro subway line, which is not covered by the JR Pass. So having one for train changes will be useful. If you don’t have a Rail Pass, just get a card ready and load it with yen. Top it up at stations when you need to. As a tourist, trains are your friend. Most train/subway lines are well marked and signed in English, and Google Maps/Apple Maps/paper maps will help you figure out which way to go in most cases. Buses are much tougher, and only recommended in certain circumstances (if you have to go somewhere into the suburbs/countryside). However, most train lines are closed between 12:30 am and 4:45 am on weeknights and weekends. Last Train is A Thing, like the much, much drunker version of any of those “shoving people into trains” videos you’ve seen online. If you’re a long way from where you’re staying (like drinking in Shibuya while your hotel is in Yokohama), keep that in mind. If you’re a shorter distance and in a group (like drinking in Roppongi while staying in Shinjuku), pile into a taxi, or find a karaoke room for the night. Again, just like the locals! General pro-tip for all travel: Hotels have business cards which often include address and directions, which should make your taxi rides much simpler. I'm using Tokyo examples but the same goes for all the big cities. Last two tips: If you want to use your phone/tablet while in Japan, my recommendation is getting a Japanese pocket wifi rental. I’ve had good success with Wi-Fi Rental Store. As well, if you’re traveling over and running short on cash, 7-11 is your friend. Most convenience stores have ATMs (look for the letters ATM on signs outside) but 7-11 is the friendliest to overseas cards/bank accounts. You might have to pull 10,000 yen out at a time (~$100), but it’s a lifesaver if it’s late and you’re short on cash. The other good choice is Japan Post (JP, orange signs) but they close earlier. In general, Tokyo is a major world city and Japan a majorly industrialized nation where most everything is available, people have experienced tourists, and if worst comes to worst, they're still people. Forget a toothbrush? You'll find one. Luggage lost and need to get clothes? It's possible, even for those lovingly goon-sized gents out there. Lost in the countryside trying to find the My Neighbor Totoro house? Some kind old guy or lady will smile and nod and help get you back to civilization. As well, I've joked that whatever you want in the world, Tokyo has two of. There's a lot to see even just in Tokyo, but the countryside is great, Osaka is fun, and there are even better, further places to go too. An underrated wrestling trip would be coming in early May and going to Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka, because that's a great time of year to see that awesome little city. Or do the same with Dominion in June in Osaka. Official Tokyo travel guide | WikiTravel Tokyo | WikiTravel Japan Rasslin in Japan! Now it’s the real stuff. You’re here to see sweaty men full of fighting spirit knock the hell out of each other. These are some of the locations you need to know if you’re coming to see matches, or just want to see where they happen. Tickets and match guide! One of the toughest questions to answer is, “So how do I get tickets?” The easiest answer? “Have somebody else arrange that for you.” Online ordering can be tricky, and sometimes even requires payment at a Japanese convenience store. Useful for me, not so much if you’re a third of the world away. But I’ll use NJPW as an example and look at how tickets can be acquired online. There are two main ways to buy tickets in Japan: Online and at ticket locations, primarily convenience stores. Note that if you go to njpw.co.jp (New Japan's Japanese website) and click on the individual event schedule, they will include ticket purchasing information for all the relevant methods. You can either get links to online shops (which will require some translation to complete the order on) or get the "ticket code" for convenience store purchasing. Convenience stores are useful if you're in Japan and want to get tickets for an event in a more spur-of-the-moment way. (Note that I've bought walk-up tickets to Wrestle Kingdom before!). Along with ATMs, most convenience stores will have a purchasing machine usually right next to the cash machine. Lawson, 7-11 and FamilyMart - the big three chains - all have their own take on the idea. At the purchasing machines you can find the tickets, select the seats and area, and take a small receipt to pay for your tickets (usually within 30 minutes of reservation on the machine). The staff at the 7-11 will scan the small receipt, confirm what tickets you're buying, and you pay. After paying, they print out the tickets for you on the spot. Yes, I've gone to baseball, soccer and wrestling with 7-11 branded tickets in the past! If you want to see more details, follow this link about concert tickets (the same ideas apply!). Now, you've got tickets - how about the show?
Match Location Guide Within Tokyo, there are three places that hold extra meaning to wrestling fans: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Dome, and Sumo Hall (aka Ryogoku Kokugikan). Luckily, two of them are incredibly close together: Tokyo Dome and Korakuen Hall. The Dome, built in the 1980s, has hosted major shows since then - currently, NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom in January. Adjacent to Tokyo Dome and easy to miss, Korakuen Hall will be very familiar to anyone who’s watched puro - it’s been called the Madison Square Garden of Japan, not for size or scale but simply for importance. In reality it’s a quaint little place, accessible by elevator and opening into a small hallway. Almost every promotion in Japan runs at Korakuen because it's very cheap to do so, so even if it’s not NJPW, I recommend finding a show there on your trip. Some weekends even have early and late shows (e.g., a small indie from 11 am - 3 pm, and New Japan from 6 pm). Nearby to Tokyo Dome and Korakuen in the district of Suidobashi are a number of pro wrestling-related shops and sites. New Japan has their main shop there, though it’s not terribly big. There’s also the restaurant run by Yano Toru and seen in many of the videos he’s produced for NJPW. You can also find a number of small hobby shops specializing in wrestling goods, cards, action figures, and more, but one name ranks above them all: Toudokan. With everything from masks and actual ring-worn gear old and new, classic T-shirts and action figures, and all forms of wrestling media, it’s a treasure trove for puro lovers. It’s a must-see for your Japanese puro pilgrimage, if only to look around and ring the bell. Another recommended shop is Piledriver, the brand/shop run by Minoru Suzuki, which is in the Harajuku district. Further east in Tokyo is the other major event location in Tokyo: Ryogoku Kokugikan, better known as Sumo Hall. Besides being the host location for Tokyo’s tri-annual sumo wrestling tournaments, Sumo Hall is also home to many big events in the pro wrestling year, including major shows for NJPW, AJPW, NOAH, DDT, WWE, and more. It’s located right next to Ryogoku Station not far from Tokyo Station and the downtown area, and also features a Sumo Museum if you’re interested. A few other locations to mention in quick order:
Jerusalem’s WK Ticket Guide With your permission I'd like to add your write-up about Wrestle Kingdom tickets from last year! Let me know and I'll chase the details down.
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Aug 6, 2017 13:23
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Yep that name tag at the top of the image says Takahashi Daryl. Commitment to the gimmick.
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Aug 7, 2017 11:31
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Yeah, there was a standoff earlier in the summer (Dominion?) where Yoshi-Hashi was the real brave one to stand up to the opposing faction leader. I don't remember if it was CHAOS vs LIJ or Suzuki-gun, probably Suzuki. I just remember thinking "PUSH TACOS!!!" immediately after that. He's also been good in the G1 this year. Also, amazing how NJPW can keep guys relevant such that, even when they're the designated jobber of the group, they can be pushed at a moment's notice.
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Aug 10, 2017 01:05
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triplexpac posted:How could Tanahashi ruin the greatest G1 ever like this they're filming a movie on the 45 years of NJPW and (based on that haircut and the casting of Okada, Makabe and Taguchi along with Tanahashi) that they might get some of the current wrestlers to play some of the older guys, and in the '70s they weren't exactly going with super long not-black hair like that. the Twitter link goes to details on signing up to be an extra for some shooting too.
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Aug 14, 2017 13:30
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「生きています。 以上！」 loving CHILLS
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Aug 14, 2017 14:21
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SLUM KING posted:Fale is good and YTR is great. Agreed. I think the comedy matches and "off" matches were some of the most entertaining as well. Yes YTR has three moves and none are wrestling holds, but some of the best moments of the G1 were Sanada just walking by after the Paradise Lock on the entryway and him and Tama Tonga both under the ring for a 20-count. The tournament matches were awesome, no doubt, but the brevity and variety was fun.
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Aug 18, 2017 00:11
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You nailed the economic/demographic issues, and they're not to be underestimated. The "bubble era" ended in the late 1980s technically, but the echo lasted through the mid-90s. And the 1997 crash was the final nail. Meanwhile, the previous generation looooved wrestling (including the guys with money or control of money), but the next generation wasn't allowed to grow. Add that to bad booking and promoting and you can see how Inoki almost killed his creation. From the view of somebody living here and gathering anecdotes and snippets through everyday life, the only wrestling thing I saw immediately after I moved to Japan in 2011 was Kobashi's retirement. But the last couple years, NJPW stars have been more and more out there - on TV and in pop culture. That TV show clip of the female comedian impersonating EVIL would not have happened even five years ago, both through "fewer people liked wrestling" and "wrestling wasn't in the zeitgeist." We're in a great time for Japanese wrestling.
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Aug 18, 2017 11:13
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Artelier posted:My friend's been showing me NJPW matches and so many are great, but I have to ask. Does the DVD guy who RVDs himself and shrugs have a single legal attack? What's his finisher? He's hilarious I think his finisher right now is a low blow and roll-up. He wrote an (auto?) biography and the title loosely translates to "I don't know anything about pro wrestling." His gimmick is as a merch shill and producer of special comedy DVDs starring the other guys in his stable (Okada, Gedo, Ishii, Yoshi-Hashi, etc).
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Aug 18, 2017 14:09
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Jerusalem posted:Watching wrestlers try to cope with Yano or play him at his own game is always so wonderful. I expected Tama to just fly into a rage at Yano's antics and was so pleasantly surprised when he tried to make use of all the same techniques, which of course backfired spectacularly because Yano is the master of them. Tama vs Sanada was great for him turning to the announce table "WHERE'S MILANO? MILANO-SAN WA DOKO DESU KA? DOKO?" and then Sanada tying him up in the crowd, the Bullet Club stooges not knowing how to undo it except just to kick him. I appreciate 6* classics and also Wile E. Coyote bullshit too.
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Aug 19, 2017 05:06
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alongside a victorious posing Okada after their match 
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Jack Anderson posted:How long does it usually take NJPW World to divide up individual matches for their shows? It would make it easier for me to catch up on the G1 matches I missed. It's usually been quick in the past, so if they haven't done it yet, they might now. Usually you can go to the 1:30 or 1:45 point in the show and find the first block match of the night (he says, after doing that for almost all the G1 nights).
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Aug 24, 2017 11:22
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Jerusalem posted:So from the comments, he was showing him the Young Boy Tights to remind him of back in his Young Boy days when Taichi used to make his life a living hell? I'm not sure what Hiromu was singing in the beginning, but think back to the G1 Finals when Taichi had his full pop star-ish entrance - it reminds me of that, plus the next day was/is the Hiromu vs Taichi match. And then Taichi pulls out the young boy tights and "bullied" isn't quite the right word. Looks like Hiromu got two barrels of PTSD from that - he's sitting down going "NO NO NO STOP STOP STOP IT NOW!!!" basically. Almost unnerving to be honest.
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Aug 25, 2017 11:10
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MassRafTer posted:They ran one on their shows in North Korea but other than that it doesn't make sense. Historically you had very popular women's promotions it made no sense on any level to run both. Yeah but in North Korea that was in association with one of the women's groups at the time if memory serves (much like the Americans came over as part of WCW). So no real tradition at all and only even recently have their been women as valets as well.
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Aug 29, 2017 05:23
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| # ¿ May 13, 2024 01:07 |
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Spermgod posted:they're funded by a car dealership run by a money mark Oh my god you're right. (Plus probably some money from their video/TV deals, but still). If it didn't have the AJPW name attached you'd think it was an indie.
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Aug 30, 2017 00:40
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