New Japan Pro-Wrestling Co., Ltd.
“The Festival of Juniors” is just around the corner!
We sat down with Kōsei Fujita, who made history last year as the youngest-ever winner of the BEST OF THE SUPER Jr. tournament, for an exclusive interview.
Interviewer: Yu Suzuki | Photography: Yoshifumi Nakahara
— Last year, you became the youngest champion in SUPER Jr. history. Now you’re aiming for a second straight victory. Does this year feel any different emotionally compared to previous tournaments?
Fujita: Not really. Honestly, I hate wrestlers who act like “Oh, it’s SUPER Jr., so I gotta step it up.” Whether there’s a broadcast or not, whether the venue is in a remote area or somewhere else, what I do doesn’t change. I just prepare with the same intensity and wrestle the same way I always do.
— No pressure from the possibility of a two-peat?
Fujita: None at all. I’m aware of it, but it’s not pressure. I have confidence, so it doesn’t bother me. Of course, I think it’s important to chase records. But I’m starting to see something more important than that.
— What’s that “something more important”?
Fujita: Well… the current junior division is a bit—how should I put it? I need to choose my words carefully here.
— Feel free to speak your mind.
Fujita: Last year, after winning SUPER Jr., I challenged El Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and lost. Now DOUKI is the champion, doing whatever he wants. Also, Hiromu Takahashi left the company. I think the junior champion is hugely important to the promotion. When I think about the state of the junior division, I feel like I have no choice but to win SUPER Jr. again this year. That’s about as much as I can say.
— So you have concerns about the current junior scene.
Fujita: It’s not good, no matter how you look at it. Of course the level is high, but I feel like not enough wrestlers are thinking about what’s best for the junior division.
— You see yourself as one of the top guys and feel a sense of crisis. DOUKI, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, recently declared a boycott after defending his title against Tiger Mask in Saga on April 29, saying, “You guys decide who’s worthy to challenge the strongest.” What’s your take on that?
Fujita: His boycott doesn’t surprise me given his past actions. But what bothers me is that by doing this, he’s tarnishing the “New Japan Junior” brand. It’s a cliché thing to say, but I really feel that way.
— You’re angry?
Fujita: I think other junior wrestlers feel the same. But the fact that the company allows it—I really wonder about that. Hiroshi Tanahashi became president, and he was supposed to understand wrestlers’ feelings better than anyone. It’s disappointing.
— After DOUKI’s withdrawal, Daiki Nagai stepped up and Tanahashi approved his entry on May 1 in Kagoshima.
Fujita: I have no problem with Nagai speaking up. He seized an opportunity on his own terms. I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings if we end up in the same block.
— Did winning SUPER Jr. last year change anything for you personally?
Fujita: I think my colors became more vivid. Not new ones—just the ones I already had started to stand out more.
— Your rebellious spirit certainly seems more convincing now.
Fujita: Probably because the experience of winning opened up new ways of thinking.
— Let’s talk about your opponents in Block A. Your first match is on May 14 at Korakuen Hall against Francisco Akira. Interestingly, you also faced him in the first round last year and won with a newly unveiled Thrill Ride. But I heard you didn’t originally plan to use that move.
Fujita: Yeah, Akira’s explosiveness exceeded my expectations, so I had no choice. Akira’s demeanor has changed since last year. I’m not sure why.
— When Akira returned on January 5 at Ota Ward Gymnasium, he told fans, “I cared so much, but you guys didn’t care about me. There’s no love left in my heart—only hatred. My dream of being a hero is dead. I was reborn as a villain.”
Fujita: So he’s sulking? That’s so lame (laughs). I think wrestlers who expect something in return from fans are pathetic. Akira right now is not worthy of respect.
— His aggressive new style—what do you think?
Fujita: If he wants to come at me like that, I’ll match his intensity. I’m going to use him as a stepping stone again, just like last year.
— On May 16 in Hachioji, you’ll face AEW’s Nick Wayne. He made his SUPER Jr.
