A JOURNEY WALKED HAND IN HAND:
NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING AND ITS FANS
By Jasmine Olan
One of the many unique things about professional wrestling in general is the connection between wrestlers and their fans. Every promotion around the world has its segment of loyal and very passionate fans. New Japan Pro Wrestling is a prime example of this and not just through its home grown fans who attend live shows and even go as far as cosplaying their favorite wrestlers. Fans from all over the world and all walks of life follow the promotion on social media and subscribe to its streaming service New Japan World. Some even make the trip to Japan to be in attendance in the Tokyo Dome for NJPW’s biggest night of the year, WRESTLE KINGDOM.
New Japan’s approach of complex and intelligent story telling and relatable characters makes the bond between its wrestlers and their fans particularly special. The company’s roster is filled with examples of this. One of the best examples is eight time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi. The bond between the Ace Of The Universe and his fan base goes back an extraordinary two decades. At the core of that bond is a love and respect for everything Tanahashi has done for NJPW and the Japanese wrestling culture. There is never a New Japan show where chants of “Go Ace!” and “Aishitemasu (I love you)!” don’t echo through the arena. This particular connection shows no sign of slowing down, and fans will no doubt always love and protect their Ace.
In the wrestling world, one would be very hard pressed to find a fan base more protective than that of the Golden Lovers. The ground breaking and beautifully told story of Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi has led to a powerful decade long bond between the duo and their fans. When either of them win the people win with them, and when they hurt we hurt with too. Anytime some thing happens, shows of love and support for Kenny and Ibushi are seen all over social media. When anything or anyone threatens to come between the Golden Lovers, fans instantly make their feelings known. In the end, their most loyal fans just want to see their boys happy and thriving as they continue their mission to change the world. While Kenny and Ibushi are on separate paths for the time being, one thing will always surround them. Love.
As the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon, Tetsuya Naito has emerged as one of the industry’s most beloved antiheroes. The bond between the former Stardust Genius and LIJ fans is particularly unique. Naito in many ways has become a voice of the people. They can relate to his journey and have been with him through many highs and lows. It took a while to get to that place, but a powerful connection was built nonetheless. Naito’s fans will without question continue to be in his corner as he works toward his ultimate goal of becoming a dual champion.
Another shining example of the connection between NJPW’s wrestlers can be seen in the Young Lions program. As these young, talented, and hungry young men go through their learning process, fans watch excitedly and with great pride. It feels very much like a parent watching their child grow up. Fans celebrate their milestones and eagerly await their return from excursion. Every new thing the young lions learn is like taking another step in learning to walk. When Shota Umino and Ren Narita recently debuted newly learned moves during the 2019 NEW BEGINNING tour, the crowds completely erupted. The best part of it all is that the fans get to be right there with them for each new step they take.
Connections like these are built over time and play a major role in NJPW’s storytelling. They are part of why so many of their matches and storylines have such big emotional payoffs. The bond between wrestlers and their fans is at the heart of what makes wrestling such a unique and special art form that continues to evolve. As New Japan’s incredibly gifted roster take new steps in their careers, that bond will be a vital part of a long journey walked hand in hand.
