Saki Akai, who inherited the DNA of "Naniwa Rocky" Hidekazu Akai, will face Saori Anou! [5.16 DDT TV SHOW #3]
DDT Pro-Wrestling has been holding "DDT TV SHOW" every Saturday since May, without an audience. This is the best fan service for fans who cannot watch sports during the state of emergency. Saki Akai will be competing in this tournament on May 16th. She has currently played five matches in the "Okibariyasu 7-match series" with two wins and three losses. Her next opponent is the "Absolutely Unyielding Girl," Saori Anou. In the preliminary tag match on May 9th, Akai lost to Anou's German Suplex. We spoke to Akai, who cannot afford to lose consecutive matches in her home ring.
Satoshi Dairaku
|
2020/05/14
-Can you tell us what made you become interested in professional wrestling?
Akai:When I was little, I was familiar with boxing thanks to my parents, but I never had any contact with professional wrestling. It wasn't until I entered the entertainment industry and was given the opportunity to host a program called "Radio New Japan Pro Wrestling," where I had more opportunities to interact with wrestlers.
Looking back, I think I asked some pretty rude questions, but it was there that I discovered the joy of professional wrestling.
Did you have any experience in sports?
Akai:When I was little, I used to go to the boxing gym just like any other kid would go to the park. The gym was a playground, and I would hit the punching bag and punching ball. I wasn't actually training though (laughs).
I was not good at sports. I have always hated loud noises, and even at sports days, I couldn't stand the sound of the starting pistol, so I covered my ears. So, after the starting sound had gone off and everyone had started, I was the only one who started running late. (laughs)
To be honest, I still don't like the sound of guns. When I hear the sound of a cannon that shoots silver streamers at big matches in places like Ryogoku, I get so startled that I jump up in surprise. (laughs)
--In professional wrestling, there are loud noises like body slams and the like when someone is slammed into the mat. Are those noises okay?
Akai:I don't really mind it. I guess the pain and excitement outweigh the noise. (laughs)
--I see. What prompted you to make your professional wrestling debut?
Akai:It was 2013. I had just started to get interested in professional wrestling and had begun going to watch matches, but the "Radio New Japan Pro-Wrestling" program was going to end.
Around the same time, I received a call from Sanshiro Takagi, president of DDT Pro-Wrestling, who said, "DDT will be holding two consecutive days of shows at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. On the first day, there will be a tournament in collaboration with other genres, and I would love to walk the runway and in the ring at the fashion show."
Then on the second day, they said, "We want you to debut"... (laughs)
―Did you decide to debut right away?
Akai:For me, I want wrestlers to be "stars." So I was worried about whether I was worthy of the role. When I talked to my mother about it, she was strongly against it. I have no experience in martial arts up until now...
However, I realized that I had never really been passionate about one thing until the end, so I decided to step into the ring.However, what ultimately made me decide to debut was my pure love for DDT.
It's like a toy box turned upside down, with wrestlers of various characters, various match formats, surprising ideas... I think it's a wrestling organization that's packed with a lot of different things. So before my debut, I used to watch the Korakuen Hall events every time.
I didn't have a particular favorite unit or wrestler, but I gradually became captivated by the charm of DDT.
Even after my debut, there were still many things I didn't understand. I didn't think the rope would be this hard. (laughs)
--It's been seven years since your ring debut in 2013.
Akai:People are surprised and ask me, "Saki-chan, you've been doing this for seven years already?" (laughs) I'm slowly becoming a big sister, and I have more juniors now.
Up until now, I've had not only good experiences, but also a lot of bitter experiences. I have juniors who are juggling professional wrestling with their entertainment activities, so I try to convey to them as much as I can about how to behave on set and other things that I think are important.
--Akai-san, you are the only female wrestler affiliated with DDT. The main events are mixed matches, but do you find it difficult to fight against men every day?
Akai:I fight so hard that I forget that I'm a woman, so I don't really feel it. (laughs) When it comes to wrestling, I think there's no need to distinguish between men and women.
Compared to other martial arts, there are only two weight classes, heavyweight and junior heavyweight, so I don't think gender matters once you're in the ring.
--Please tell us about any "gear" you are particular about, such as costumes for use in the ring or shoes you wear when training.
Akai:When I'm playing, I wear five-toed socks. (laughs)
I've decided to keep my costume simple. As I progress through my career, some people start wearing colorful costumes or adding more accessories, but I want to keep it simple.
Even when I choose clothes for my private life, I tend to choose simple things. I feel like the simpler the clothes are, the more the material stands out. So I try to keep things simple, while also being conscious of costumes that don't seem to belong in the world of pro wrestling.
I get a new costume once a year, and my current one includes a scarf around my neck. I've also been getting more and more scarves from fans, so sometimes I enter the venue wearing one.
-Do you have any routine you always follow before a match?
Akai:I always get my nails done and go to the hair salon right before a match. I don't have much confidence in myself, so if my nails are ruined or my hair is damaged, it can distract me during the match. So I always get my nails done and go to the hair salon to concentrate on the match.
--Due to the state of emergency, people are being asked to stay home, but are there any easy exercises that your fans can do?
Akai:I think stretching and bodyweight exercises that don't hurt your body are good. If you're used to using equipment, that's fine, but if you're not, you'll end up hurting yourself instead.
Lifting and lowering your legs while lying down is also effective if you do this slowly, without vigorously.
--Currently, you are in the middle of the singles match "Okibariyasu Seven Matches" (five matches completed), but could you tell us how this event originally came about?
Akai:One day, the company told me, "We're going to do a seven-game series," and since there was no reason for me to refuse, I said, "I'll do it!" A little while later, I was surprised to hear, "The ones who will do the seven-game series are the young guys or the mid-career guys who are still simmering." (laughs)
--Akai, this is your seventh year since your debut. You're not young, are you?
Akai:Since mixed matches are getting a lot of attention worldwide, I think they chose me as their only female wrestler in DDT to gain some experience (laughs).
I don't have much experience in singles matches myself. DDT has many wrestlers. With so many wrestlers, including from group companies, I'm grateful that I've been given the opportunity to have a singles match.
In other organizations, you have a lot of single matches when you're young. In my case, I was able to have a lot of experiences that other wrestlers couldn't have when I first debuted. I think that the order has been reversed. It gives me a fresh feeling, so I enjoy stepping into the ring every time.
- You have completed five of the seven matches, with two wins and three losses. Is there any player that made a lasting impression on you?
Akai:All the wrestlers you've faced so far have been very unique. They all have different fighting styles, and they've all left a lasting impression on me.
I don't think anyone would have a bad word to say about Tsukasa Fujimoto, my first opponent. She's such a "person of great generosity and character," so I'm glad I got to face her in the first match.
Q: What did you think of your second match against Sakura Hirota (maiden name)? Her wrestling style was comical, so it seemed like it would be difficult for her to wrestle.
Akai:Even though they were outsiders, they managed to capture the hearts of the DDT fans. (laughs)
When a woman does something comical, the atmosphere in the venue can sometimes become a little strange, but Hirota-san had the audience under his control. (laughs)
DDT has a variety of wrestlers and match formats, and sometimes we are asked to do comical things, so fighting against Hirota was a great experience for me.
--Yamashita Rina seems a bit different from other female wrestlers, doesn't she?
Akai:My third match with Rina-chan (Yamashita) is a classmate. Even if I hit her with all my might, she has the capacity, skill, and guts to accept everything. We were friends who fought at the same time, but from different angles, so I respect her. But (the loss) is frustrating, so I don't want it to end like this.
When I faced Rina-chan in the ring, I didn't feel like I was fighting a woman, I felt like I was fighting a man.
If I were to compare him to a male wrestler, he would be like Shigehiro Irie, who keeps going even after getting beaten up and damaged. That's why I think Rina-chan gets support from her peers (laughs).
--And finally, on May 16th, you will face Saori Anou in the 6th match. Unfortunately, you lost to her in the preliminary match with a German Suplex.
Akai:At first, I thought there was no need for a "preliminary match" for this seven-match series.People inI wondered if he wanted to meet Saori. (laughs) But, looking back, I'm glad there was a preliminary match.
--After the preliminary tag match, it's finally time for a singles match.
Akai:Previously, I've been involved with her at "DDT LIVE! Majimanji" in Shinkiba, in street wrestling at Saitama Super Arena, and recently in a tag match... I'm honestly happy to finally be able to fight her in a singles match. I've always thought she was a gorgeous and beautiful wrestler, so I've been paying attention to her.
- I think of Anno as a wrestler who is very strong-willed, and Akai as a wrestler who suppresses his emotions and fights coolly. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the two of them meet in the ring.
Akai:I'm the type of person who gets turned on when I get hit. Even when I'm training boxing, if I get punched in the face, I wake up and go "Owwwww!", but I can't change unless I get punched. (laughs)
As a female wrestler, I think she is strong-willed, but in her case, it's more like a hidden strength. Saori is from Shiga and I'm from Kyoto. We're neighboring prefectures, both in the Kansai region. I can't lose! (laughs)
--It's a Kansai showdown (laughs). By the way, do you have any strategies for fighting Anna?
Akai:If I had good athletic ability like Tetsuya Endo, I think I would be able to rotate in the air and land on my own after receiving a German suplex, but even if I can visualize it, my body doesn't react. (laughs)
But, I faced her in the preliminary battle and learned a lot, though not everything, so next time I'll be careful not to fall victim to the same trick. I'll keep going no matter what.
-Finally, please give a message to your fans as people are currently practicing self-restraint following the state of emergency declaration.
Akai:The other day we played a game without spectators, and although it can't be helped given the circumstances, somewhere in my heart I found myself longing for the support of the crowd.
I realize that for a professional wrestler, the presence of the audience is important. Little by little, I've been given the opportunity to stand in the ring in this way, and I want to deliver professional wrestling to the audience through the screen.
When I was a customer, I supported the wrestlers by superimposing myself on them, so I want them to see me standing up. Once the self-restraint period is over, I will be able to convey my support directly to the venue, but for now I want to convey it through the screen.
"DDT TV SHOW" has its own unique fun, so please enjoy it. I hope to see you again in good health at the venue in the near future.
<Information>
Saki Akai will face Saori Anou in the sixth match of the "Okibariyasu Seven-Match Series." The match will take place on "DDT TV SHOW! #3" at 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 16th.
You can watch the game on the video streaming service "DDT UNIVERSEFor details, please see the followingDDT Pro-Wrestling Official WebsitePlease refer to the.
Saki Akai Instagram
Saki Akai Twitter
Akai:When I was little, I was familiar with boxing thanks to my parents, but I never had any contact with professional wrestling. It wasn't until I entered the entertainment industry and was given the opportunity to host a program called "Radio New Japan Pro Wrestling," where I had more opportunities to interact with wrestlers.
Looking back, I think I asked some pretty rude questions, but it was there that I discovered the joy of professional wrestling.
Did you have any experience in sports?
Akai:When I was little, I used to go to the boxing gym just like any other kid would go to the park. The gym was a playground, and I would hit the punching bag and punching ball. I wasn't actually training though (laughs).
I was not good at sports. I have always hated loud noises, and even at sports days, I couldn't stand the sound of the starting pistol, so I covered my ears. So, after the starting sound had gone off and everyone had started, I was the only one who started running late. (laughs)
To be honest, I still don't like the sound of guns. When I hear the sound of a cannon that shoots silver streamers at big matches in places like Ryogoku, I get so startled that I jump up in surprise. (laughs)
--In professional wrestling, there are loud noises like body slams and the like when someone is slammed into the mat. Are those noises okay?
Akai:I don't really mind it. I guess the pain and excitement outweigh the noise. (laughs)
--I see. What prompted you to make your professional wrestling debut?
Akai:It was 2013. I had just started to get interested in professional wrestling and had begun going to watch matches, but the "Radio New Japan Pro-Wrestling" program was going to end.
Around the same time, I received a call from Sanshiro Takagi, president of DDT Pro-Wrestling, who said, "DDT will be holding two consecutive days of shows at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. On the first day, there will be a tournament in collaboration with other genres, and I would love to walk the runway and in the ring at the fashion show."
Then on the second day, they said, "We want you to debut"... (laughs)
―Did you decide to debut right away?
Akai:For me, I want wrestlers to be "stars." So I was worried about whether I was worthy of the role. When I talked to my mother about it, she was strongly against it. I have no experience in martial arts up until now...
However, I realized that I had never really been passionate about one thing until the end, so I decided to step into the ring.However, what ultimately made me decide to debut was my pure love for DDT.
It's like a toy box turned upside down, with wrestlers of various characters, various match formats, surprising ideas... I think it's a wrestling organization that's packed with a lot of different things. So before my debut, I used to watch the Korakuen Hall events every time.
I didn't have a particular favorite unit or wrestler, but I gradually became captivated by the charm of DDT.
Even after my debut, there were still many things I didn't understand. I didn't think the rope would be this hard. (laughs)
--It's been seven years since your ring debut in 2013.
Akai:People are surprised and ask me, "Saki-chan, you've been doing this for seven years already?" (laughs) I'm slowly becoming a big sister, and I have more juniors now.
Up until now, I've had not only good experiences, but also a lot of bitter experiences. I have juniors who are juggling professional wrestling with their entertainment activities, so I try to convey to them as much as I can about how to behave on set and other things that I think are important.
--Akai-san, you are the only female wrestler affiliated with DDT. The main events are mixed matches, but do you find it difficult to fight against men every day?
Akai:I fight so hard that I forget that I'm a woman, so I don't really feel it. (laughs) When it comes to wrestling, I think there's no need to distinguish between men and women.
Compared to other martial arts, there are only two weight classes, heavyweight and junior heavyweight, so I don't think gender matters once you're in the ring.
--Please tell us about any "gear" you are particular about, such as costumes for use in the ring or shoes you wear when training.
Akai:When I'm playing, I wear five-toed socks. (laughs)
I've decided to keep my costume simple. As I progress through my career, some people start wearing colorful costumes or adding more accessories, but I want to keep it simple.
Even when I choose clothes for my private life, I tend to choose simple things. I feel like the simpler the clothes are, the more the material stands out. So I try to keep things simple, while also being conscious of costumes that don't seem to belong in the world of pro wrestling.
I get a new costume once a year, and my current one includes a scarf around my neck. I've also been getting more and more scarves from fans, so sometimes I enter the venue wearing one.
-Do you have any routine you always follow before a match?
Akai:I always get my nails done and go to the hair salon right before a match. I don't have much confidence in myself, so if my nails are ruined or my hair is damaged, it can distract me during the match. So I always get my nails done and go to the hair salon to concentrate on the match.
--Due to the state of emergency, people are being asked to stay home, but are there any easy exercises that your fans can do?
Akai:I think stretching and bodyweight exercises that don't hurt your body are good. If you're used to using equipment, that's fine, but if you're not, you'll end up hurting yourself instead.
Lifting and lowering your legs while lying down is also effective if you do this slowly, without vigorously.
--Currently, you are in the middle of the singles match "Okibariyasu Seven Matches" (five matches completed), but could you tell us how this event originally came about?
Akai:One day, the company told me, "We're going to do a seven-game series," and since there was no reason for me to refuse, I said, "I'll do it!" A little while later, I was surprised to hear, "The ones who will do the seven-game series are the young guys or the mid-career guys who are still simmering." (laughs)
--Akai, this is your seventh year since your debut. You're not young, are you?
Akai:Since mixed matches are getting a lot of attention worldwide, I think they chose me as their only female wrestler in DDT to gain some experience (laughs).
I don't have much experience in singles matches myself. DDT has many wrestlers. With so many wrestlers, including from group companies, I'm grateful that I've been given the opportunity to have a singles match.
In other organizations, you have a lot of single matches when you're young. In my case, I was able to have a lot of experiences that other wrestlers couldn't have when I first debuted. I think that the order has been reversed. It gives me a fresh feeling, so I enjoy stepping into the ring every time.
- You have completed five of the seven matches, with two wins and three losses. Is there any player that made a lasting impression on you?
Akai:All the wrestlers you've faced so far have been very unique. They all have different fighting styles, and they've all left a lasting impression on me.
I don't think anyone would have a bad word to say about Tsukasa Fujimoto, my first opponent. She's such a "person of great generosity and character," so I'm glad I got to face her in the first match.
Q: What did you think of your second match against Sakura Hirota (maiden name)? Her wrestling style was comical, so it seemed like it would be difficult for her to wrestle.
Akai:Even though they were outsiders, they managed to capture the hearts of the DDT fans. (laughs)
When a woman does something comical, the atmosphere in the venue can sometimes become a little strange, but Hirota-san had the audience under his control. (laughs)
DDT has a variety of wrestlers and match formats, and sometimes we are asked to do comical things, so fighting against Hirota was a great experience for me.
--Yamashita Rina seems a bit different from other female wrestlers, doesn't she?
Akai:My third match with Rina-chan (Yamashita) is a classmate. Even if I hit her with all my might, she has the capacity, skill, and guts to accept everything. We were friends who fought at the same time, but from different angles, so I respect her. But (the loss) is frustrating, so I don't want it to end like this.
When I faced Rina-chan in the ring, I didn't feel like I was fighting a woman, I felt like I was fighting a man.
If I were to compare him to a male wrestler, he would be like Shigehiro Irie, who keeps going even after getting beaten up and damaged. That's why I think Rina-chan gets support from her peers (laughs).
--And finally, on May 16th, you will face Saori Anou in the 6th match. Unfortunately, you lost to her in the preliminary match with a German Suplex.
Akai:At first, I thought there was no need for a "preliminary match" for this seven-match series.People inI wondered if he wanted to meet Saori. (laughs) But, looking back, I'm glad there was a preliminary match.
--After the preliminary tag match, it's finally time for a singles match.
Akai:Previously, I've been involved with her at "DDT LIVE! Majimanji" in Shinkiba, in street wrestling at Saitama Super Arena, and recently in a tag match... I'm honestly happy to finally be able to fight her in a singles match. I've always thought she was a gorgeous and beautiful wrestler, so I've been paying attention to her.
- I think of Anno as a wrestler who is very strong-willed, and Akai as a wrestler who suppresses his emotions and fights coolly. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the two of them meet in the ring.
Akai:I'm the type of person who gets turned on when I get hit. Even when I'm training boxing, if I get punched in the face, I wake up and go "Owwwww!", but I can't change unless I get punched. (laughs)
As a female wrestler, I think she is strong-willed, but in her case, it's more like a hidden strength. Saori is from Shiga and I'm from Kyoto. We're neighboring prefectures, both in the Kansai region. I can't lose! (laughs)
--It's a Kansai showdown (laughs). By the way, do you have any strategies for fighting Anna?
Akai:If I had good athletic ability like Tetsuya Endo, I think I would be able to rotate in the air and land on my own after receiving a German suplex, but even if I can visualize it, my body doesn't react. (laughs)
But, I faced her in the preliminary battle and learned a lot, though not everything, so next time I'll be careful not to fall victim to the same trick. I'll keep going no matter what.
-Finally, please give a message to your fans as people are currently practicing self-restraint following the state of emergency declaration.
Akai:The other day we played a game without spectators, and although it can't be helped given the circumstances, somewhere in my heart I found myself longing for the support of the crowd.
I realize that for a professional wrestler, the presence of the audience is important. Little by little, I've been given the opportunity to stand in the ring in this way, and I want to deliver professional wrestling to the audience through the screen.
When I was a customer, I supported the wrestlers by superimposing myself on them, so I want them to see me standing up. Once the self-restraint period is over, I will be able to convey my support directly to the venue, but for now I want to convey it through the screen.
"DDT TV SHOW" has its own unique fun, so please enjoy it. I hope to see you again in good health at the venue in the near future.
<Information>
Saki Akai will face Saori Anou in the sixth match of the "Okibariyasu Seven-Match Series." The match will take place on "DDT TV SHOW! #3" at 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 16th.
You can watch the game on the video streaming service "DDT UNIVERSEFor details, please see the followingDDT Pro-Wrestling Official WebsitePlease refer to the.
Saki Akai Instagram
Saki Akai Twitter
