gordi 64 Posted October 27, 2013 So... as I was saying when we were so sadly interrupted, life in Japan is pretty much a never-ending series of events so hilarious, awesome, improbable, amazing, and/or insane that you actually have to tone down your stories so as not to make everyone who hears them think you're full of shit and/or hate you because of justifiable envy. OH!saka Pro Wrestling (the kinda toned-down version): So my friend Yuji Tsuruta came out from Kobe to meet me in Umeda and go to his first-ever Osaka Pro Wrestling show. I was talking to him about how Osaka Pro Wrestling is different from AJPW: How it's less violent and not as hard-hitting, much more focused on entertainment, comedy,good-vs-evil, and fast action... and how it's a real family-type atmosphere where you don't just show up with a friend or two and sit in a hall full of strangers, but instead show up and say hello to all of your friends... I was just explaining how we sometimes bring drinks for each other, when my gorgeous friend "California Girl" showed up with a shopping bag full of beer and gave me one, thus perfectly illustrating my point. She offered Yuji one, but he turned it down, thinking he might be expected to pay for it... When I explained that, no, we just often bring bags of drinks and snacks and hand them out to our friends at the show, like a picnic or something... I think at that point Yuji understood what's so special about Osaka Pro. Yuji met Kenji and Kae and AZ and some of my other friends. Driving the point home, Kenji brought beer, too, in giant cans. I was so happy to see my old friends talking happily with my relatively new friend. That wasn't the bizarre "Oh, really, Life In Japan?!?! You're going to go there, now?" moment, though. That was all everyday-awesome stuff, the kind of thing I just about take for granted by now. What knocked this one out of the park in the only-in-Japan department was that Yun Gang Chul, the Korean wrestler who often works for Osaka Pro, chose today to debut his new comedy character: Jumbo Tsuruhashi. So, yeah: On the day my friend Yuji came to his first ever Osaka Pro show, one of the wrestlers worked his whole match as an affectionate tribute to my friend's late father. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyle Casey 90 Posted October 27, 2013 Yay! I missed being able to live vicariously through Gordi's stories of how awesome life in Japan is. Great story, too! Do you know if Yuji ever gave wrestling a shot himself, considering who his father was and all? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordi 64 Posted October 27, 2013 Thank you Kyle. Yuji's tall and naturally strong (he could hang-clean 130 kilos in high school) but he's a basically gentle person. He's more into music and film-making than fighting. I'm sure if he was into it, the guys at AJPW would bend over backwards to make it happen. From the sound of things, he's actually the only one of Jumbo's kids who is even into watching pro wrestling these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J.H. 1,621 Posted October 27, 2013 Oh thank God gordi is back!I've really missed this thread more than any other! James 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BAHU 57 Posted October 30, 2013 I didn't get to post this cause the site was down but I stayed 10 days in Japan and got to meet Megumi Kudo for the first time overr the Summer.My trip is at http://fmwwrestling.us/Japan13.html 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,915 Posted October 31, 2013 Jeez, does she age? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NikkySan 4 Posted November 1, 2013 Japanese women never age. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J.H. 1,621 Posted November 3, 2013 Yeah but Kudo actually looks YOUNGER!Who knew Hido was the equivalent of the fountain of youth! James 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KidKash202 268 Posted January 20, 2014 I want to visit Japan. But I don't know where to start in terms of looking for airfare/hotels/where I should go etc. I know it is a broad question but where the hell should I start? At least for airfare. Should I hire a travel agent? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rzombie1988 299 Posted January 20, 2014 I want to visit Japan. But I don't know where to start in terms of looking for airfare/hotels/where I should go etc. I know it is a broad question but where the hell should I start? At least for airfare. Should I hire a travel agent?I could do a full guided tour and be your travel agent if you like. PM me. I've been there 5 times or so and lived there for a brief period and I know conversational Japanese. Assuming you want to see wrestling in Tokyo, most people do the Korean YMCA - ymcajapan.org/ayc/jp/eng/index.html It's cheap, you can book it through email and its only a few blocks away from Korakuen and The Dome. There's really not much to worry about. Fly to Narita Airport, get the limousine bus or the express train to your destination, get a taxi to your hotel. Feel free to ask me anything or PM me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordi 64 Posted January 27, 2014 About a year ago, Harada moved to NOAH, Kuuga left the company, and Osaka Pro moved to their new arena in Umeda. I am far from the only Osaka Pro hardcore fan who stopped going regularly this past year. Now there has been an announcement that they are closing up the new arena and will only be doing occasional shows. It's hard for me to express how sad I am to hear this news. Osaka Pro Wrestling was such a huge part of my life for the first three years I lived here. I will always treasure the many happy memories I have of the shows and parties and events... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,915 Posted January 27, 2014 The exoduses really did a number on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyle Casey 90 Posted January 27, 2014 Sucks about Osaka Pro. Hopefully they will still be around once I can finally afford to take a trip to Japan. Hey, Gordi, have you been to Okinawa to check out that promotion that Apple went to after leaving Osaka Pro? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordi 64 Posted January 28, 2014 Ryan, you are right about that. They survived the loss of Zero and Gaina and MA-G-MA and by the time I had moved here they were thriving again... But the loss of JOKER (Their heel stable) and Kotoge and Harada (Their best young workers) just took too much out of the promotion. Also, the new Arena simply lacked the charm and appeal of the old one. For me in particular, the move from a convenient (for me) location in party central to a less convenient location in a busy shopping area really hurt as well.Kyle, I have been to Okinawa twice. It's REALLY far from where I am (It's a whole other archipelago - you have to take a plane to get there). I LOVE Okinawa. The food, drink, flora, fauna, music,fashion, atmosphere, climate, and pace of life are all completely different from Kansai. First time I went, Okinawa Pro was closed for their annual one-week vacation. Second time, they were in transition from Okinawa Pro to Ryuukuu Dragon Pro Wrestling or whatever it is they are called now. Hopefully, they will be in business and hopefully Apple will be in town the next time I go to Okinawa (Maybe this year, and if not this year definitely next). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordi 64 Posted March 1, 2014 It is official: Osaka Pro Wrestling will disband on April 20th. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLIK 322 Posted March 1, 2014 keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/post/78207225308/osaka-pro-update-after-their-latest-event-today they're still running their anniversary show on 4/29 and this post atleast makes it sound like some new splinter group will start up afterwards because.....well fuck, it's forbidden for their to not be a splinter group formed any time a company closes in Japan... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan4L 40 Posted March 1, 2014 very sad to hear that. They created alot of great memories. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyle Casey 90 Posted March 2, 2014 Aw, that sucks! Hopefully something else will come in to fill the void before long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A.M.B. 19 Posted December 7, 2014 I'll be studying abroad at Aoyama Gakuin next semester in Tokyo, really looking forward to catching some puroresu and meeting fans. My dorm is gonna be on the outskirts of Yokohama but my school is in central Tokyo, about 20 minutes from Korakuen, so I'm definitely gonna be hitting up a lot of Big Japan shows, plus the occasional DDT and NJPW. Planning on hitting up some wrestler bars and joining a college pro wrestling circle if my school has one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,915 Posted December 7, 2014 Got to Stanley's and try not to get molested by Shinobu. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rzombie1988 299 Posted December 7, 2014 Yokohoma to Tokyo is gonna be a fun commute...Don't know which part but it took me 60+ mins to go see a girl from the Korakuen area. Also cost like 800-1000 Yen a trip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ohtani's jacket 25 Posted December 8, 2014 Yokohama to Tokyo is normal! It will suck going home though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A.M.B. 19 Posted December 8, 2014 They said the commute to school which is by Shibuya station is about 40 minutes, not much worse than what I do in SF. On the bright side, I'll be closer to a lot of the Big Japan events and bars in Yokohama. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ohtani's jacket 25 Posted December 9, 2014 That commute in the morning is one of the most hellish in all of Tokyo. For a long time I used to take the opposite route and see the crush on the other side. Hopefully, you don't have too many morning classes. It can be pretty packed on the last trains as well. It also goes underground in Shibuya now because it connects to the subway. It's a bigger hassle getting out of the station than it used to be, though on the flipside you can take the train to Shinjuku or Ikebukuro without transferring to JR. You should always use the train finder website when commuting. When I first moved to Japan I would always stick to the routes I was familiar with. It took me a long time to be able to zig zag across the rail system and take the fastest route. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KidKash202 268 Posted January 2, 2015 Not sure if anyone is in this FB group but apparently dude lives in Japan. The owner of the Group. Posts some good stories here and there. Wonder if he is one of you. LOL - https://www.facebook.com/groups/434091433279753/?fref=nf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
