September 17, 2026
On the 17th, a press conference ahead of the October 3 EBARA WAVE Arena Ota event was held in the “Reiwa Room” on the 4th floor of the Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Center in Tokyo. Hosted by ring announcer Rise Shirai, contract signings were conducted for the Princess of Princess, Princess Tag, and Pro-Wrestling: EVE International championship matches. Following the signings, each competitor shared their thoughts on the upcoming bouts.
Princess of Princess Championship Match ◎ Yuki Arai vs. Suzume
Suzume: I am challenging for the Princess of Princess belt at Ota Ward on October 3. This summer, I won the Princess Cup tournament with my sights firmly set on this belt. It is a very greedy choice, but Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling taught me that you can have as many dreams as you want, no matter your age, so I am not going to give up on either of my dreams; I plan to make them both come true.
Yuki-chan and I have clashed many times, and I believe we were the opponents we both needed to grow. I love that everyone in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling found professional wrestling from entirely different walks of life, yet we are all moving forward in the exact same direction. I feel like Yuki-chan and I met here from completely opposite ends of the spectrum. The other day, I actually looked up how long Yuki-chan has been performing in front of people. She has been active as an idol since her third year of middle school. When I thought about what I was doing back then… I was doing absolutely nothing. I wasn’t even going to school; I was a total shut-in.
And after that, while I was constantly picking up and abandoning different dreams, I think Yuki-chan just kept on shining. She kept working hard and kept putting smiles on so many people’s faces. At the end of all that, she found professional wrestling, and I started chasing my own dreams here in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. That is how we met. Now, I believe we share the same dream, standing here as rivals fighting for the very same belt. Yuki-chan has always shined brightly. She’s a hard worker, and there are so many things only she can do. But I’ve kept moving forward believing that there are feelings I can convey through the way I fight, precisely because of who I am. I believe there is a match that only Yuki-chan and I can create in that ring. Let’s have the greatest match possible at Ota Ward on October 3.
Yuki Arai: This summer, every time Suzume advanced through the tournament, I watched her grow larger and larger—cloaked not just in strength, but in radiance and confidence. To be able to monopolize the Suzume who is shining her absolute brightest right now, one-on-one at Ota Ward, is something I am incredibly grateful for. Being able to fight her at her strongest is going to be a challenge for me, even though I am the one holding the championship belt.
Suzume holds the International belt, she won the tournament this summer, and now she is challenging for this belt on top of it all. From my perspective, watching her push forward so aggressively, there are times I think, ‘She’s being a little too greedy,’ to the point where I almost feel overwhelmed. That is exactly why what I need to do—what only I can do—is obsess over this belt, protect it, keep holding it, and make it shine even brighter. I want to go much, much further with this title.
And when I watched Suzume’s momentum this summer and asked myself what I wanted to do about it, I realized that stopping her momentum wasn’t the answer. I am not here to put a stop to Suzume. Instead, I want to blow my own wind—a storm strong enough to soar even higher than her momentum. Because we share the same goals and the same dreams, I believe the two of us together can whip up an incredible storm, and my heart is pounding just thinking about it. But the one winning at Ota Ward will be me, so I fully intend for Yuki Arai to continue running front and center in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. Let’s do this at Ota Ward.
—— You mentioned blowing an “Arai wind.” How exactly do you plan to stir that up?
Arai: I won the belt in March and have run all the way here as champion, but I’ve been so entirely consumed just getting through each individual match. I feel like I haven’t actually accomplished anything yet that was only possible because Yuki Arai is standing in the center as the champion of Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. That is the most frustrating thing for me. Even now, there are people who tell me they came specifically to see me fight as champion, but I want to reach far more people, and I believe I can be the catalyst for that. It might not quite be an “Arai Whirlwind,” but I want to become the spark that reaches an even larger audience. I believe that by continuing to defend this belt, I can become that presence.
—— Suzume, what aspects of yourself right now do you believe can surpass Arai?
Suzume: I have refined my own way of fighting ever since I started wrestling, and that is an area where I truly believe I won’t lose to Yuki-chan. But like I said, Yuki-chan has been shining this entire time. Even as a professional wrestler, I’ve always genuinely admired her and been the one chasing her. So I want to win here, take this belt, and show everyone a Suzume who refuses to lose to Yuki Arai.
—— Arai, what is the number one thing you need to watch out for against this version of Suzume?
Arai: There are a lot of things, but the biggest one is the way she flies through the air. I will be careful.
Pro-Wrestling: EVE International Championship Match ◎ Miyu Yamashita vs. Arisu Endo
Arisu Endo: Yamashita-san is the person who gave me so many of the catalysts I needed to become strong. She has saved me so many times. During the tournament last year, I won, but when Yamashita-san told me, “I’m not losing next time,” I couldn’t help but feel she was still so far above me, and that was incredibly frustrating. That made me want to become even stronger.
Recently at Ryogoku Kokugikan, when I lost my match and was sobbing, Yamashita-san scolded me and gave me a harsh wake-up call. I felt so happy having such a powerful senior close by. She gave me the stimulus to seek strength. Before I officially announced my challenge, there was a moment where I got to hold this Pro-Wrestling: EVE belt in my arms. It was the exact same feeling I had when I held my dog for the very first time, and I just couldn’t help but think, “I want this belt.” Up until now, I’ve always said going on an overseas excursion by myself was impossible and totally off-limits for me. But if I’m with this baby, I know I can absolutely get on an airplane. I am definitely boarding that flight.
Miyu Yamashita: I am incredibly excited to put the Pro-Wrestling: EVE International belt on the line and fight Arisu. I already know how strong Arisu is because I’ve lost to her once before. When we were at Shin-Kiba and she told me, “I want to surpass Yamashita-san, I want to win,” I saw her resolve. I think we are going to see a version of Arisu that surpasses anything we’ve seen before.
I’ve wanted to defend this historic Pro-Wrestling: EVE belt in Japan, here in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, so I am thrilled to fight Arisu at this exact moment. But since we are doing this—and considering I defeated Kris Statlander and Kay Lee Ray over in the UK—I fully intend to crush Arisu and continue my title defense road. And since this Pro-Wrestling: EVE belt is a British belt, a vital part of this match is deciding which of us can truly become a British woman. In that regard, the battle has already begun today. Do you understand? Your fashion. Did you dress with the UK in mind today? Stand up for a second.
Endo: (Stands up) I guess my fashion just shows my desire to stand out even more than the British people do?
Yamashita: It’s lacking. Have you even seen the streets of the UK? Do people look like this? Well, I think Arisu’s fashion is consistently great on its own, but when you consider how well it blends into the streets of London… Look at my chic, coordinated brown outfit. And my silver accent accessories. This watch is also set to London time. Even though I’m in Japan, I am living on a British timeline. It is currently 7:39 AM in London. Early morning. We may be fighting in Japan, but this is a British belt, so you have to mentally prepare yourself. In that sense, I think you’re a bit lacking today.
Endo: Wait a second. Can you calculate the time properly on the day of the show? There’s a time difference, right?
Yamashita: I don’t need to do any calculations or anything like that.
Endo: You better show up on time on the day of the match.
Yamashita: I’ll adjust my condition accordingly. I will become a woman worthy of the UK, and I will defend my title.
—— Endo, are you planning to learn more about the UK?
Endo: Of course. In the UK, dogs are allowed pretty much everywhere, right? How about it?
Yamashita: You do see them quite a bit.
Endo: You do, right? I looked it up!
—— Yamashita, what is the appeal of the UK to you?
Yamashita: Just walking down the street elevates your mood. I don’t usually make breakfast, but over there, I find myself making it, or walking down the street holding a coffee. Even the dogs walk elegantly; it’s very smart. I think it’s reflected in my fashion today, but living smartly is what makes a woman worthy of the UK.
—— Do you feel you have become a smart champion?
Yamashita: Um, can’t you tell just by looking at me? I think I’m smart, and that’s exactly why I hold the International belt.
—— Endo, what do you think of facing an opponent who is matching British time while in Japan?
Endo: It is completely ridiculous. She’s definitely going to get jet lag. If she doesn’t come in at peak condition, it won’t be worth beating her, so she needs to switch back to Japan time. Seriously, make sure you show up on the day of the show.
—— Yamashita, what do you need to watch out for with Endo, and how do you plan to crush her?
Yamashita: When we fought together at Ryogoku, I realized that Arisu’s true strength comes out after she takes a beating. She gets attacked, attacked, and then her strength bursts out. I have that same kind of strength when pushed into a corner, and hers is seriously incredible. I need to make sure I don’t let her seize the momentum all at once in those moments. That is exactly how she took the match away from me the last time I lost. I am heavily guarding against that. I felt Arisu’s absolute resolve when she challenged me, so I have to go in to thoroughly crush her. As long as I carry this Pro-Wrestling: EVE belt, I have to formulate a bulletproof strategy. I believe my match with Arisu will be a masterpiece.
—— Arisu, what do you think of Yamashita’s fashion?
Endo: Ugh, it’s so plain! If you walked around at night wearing that, you’d get run over! It’s drab! It’s unbelievable!
—— What should she fix?
Endo: She needs to change the colors. There are so many colors in this world—tons of them! She should use them!
—— Yamashita, your thoughts on hearing that?
Yamashita: Arisu is too loud. It actually hurts my eyes to look at her. She’s loud from head to toe, and it’s exhausting. That’s exactly why she should tone her colors down. Fashion is all about addition and subtraction. Just adding, adding, and adding is not very smart at all.
—— As a “woman suited for the UK,” what score would Yamashita give Endo’s fashion?
Yamashita: Fashion is subjective, so it’s fine, but judging strictly by UK standards… let’s see. Out of 100 points, I’ll give her a generous 43. There is one good element: her hair. It’s a little too flashy, but she has a shaved pattern shaved into the side. I used to do that too back in the day, so I can see her fighting spirit. I think that part is cool.
Princess Tag Championship Match ◎ Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe vs. Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro
Yuki Aino: I am Yuki Aino of Shunrai Rekka!! Prism Greed, and we will be challenging Hakuchumu. We survived the challenger determination match to earn the right to challenge for the belts held by Hakuchumu. Hakuchumu, alongside Kyoraku Kyomei, is a tag team that has fought long and strong, and I truly think they are incredible. But because I respect them, I want to fight them. And I believe that if I am with Haru, we can grasp anything. That is why we are challenging for Hakuchumu’s Princess Tag belts at Ota Ward on October 3.
Haru Kazashiro: I am Haru Kazashiro of Shunrai Rekka!! Prism Greed, and we will be challenging for the Princess Tag belts at the 10.3 Ota Ward event. I share Yuki-san’s feelings; I have a strong desire to challenge and hold those belts. However, just last week in our very first prelude match… the fact that Kazashiro currently doesn’t even come close to matching Hakuchumu… it turned into a match that starkly exposed my own weakness. (Looks down for a moment). The Kazashiro standing next to Yuki-san is just… so weak. I wonder if challenging for the belts is even…
Aino: Haru, I told you when we formed this tag team, didn’t I? Believe in yourself, and believe in me. They said it in Kamen Rider Hibiki too. In Episode 29. If you don’t train your heart to be strong, you’ll lose. You have to live believing in what you believe in. Right?
Kazashiro: Kamen Rider Ghost also said that no matter how strong the opponent is, as long as you don’t think you’ve lost, you haven’t lost.
Aino: Exactly. So we have to believe. We have to believe that we won’t lose to Hakuchumu, this continuously evolving, formidable enemy. You know what I realized? Hakuchumu is exactly like the final boss of Kamen Rider Build—the extraterrestrial lifeform, Ultimate Form Evolto.
Kazashiro: That’s true.
Aino: Wait a second… (pulls out a piece of paper) Here it is.
Kazashiro: Oh, they look alike.
Aino: So that makes us…
Kazashiro: We’re Build and Cross-Z.
Aino: Exactly! Down with Hakuchumu! Down with Evolto!
Kazashiro: Yes!
Rika Tatsumi: Watching the dynamic between the two members of Shunretsu, I genuinely think it’s nice. They act exactly like a newlywed couple, constantly flirting, and I watch them feeling quite jealous. On the other hand, look at us… right? It’s not like we don’t walk home together or hang out. We get along great, but we aren’t clingy, and we don’t flirt. But seeing the two of them makes me think it’s so nice, and it makes me wish Miu would be a little sweeter on me. Sometimes with advice or consulting each other, we have this attitude of “We already get it, so it’s fine,” and we end up leaving things unsaid. I realize that’s not good, and watching them made me realize I want the two of us to rely on each other a bit more affectionately.
Anyway, we had our prelude match, and my main takeaway was that it was a total breeze. I fully understand that they are completely infatuated with each other, but when it comes to a match, affection alone isn’t enough. We have fought and defended these tag belts while constantly bearing their weight. Honestly, the current Shunretsu are just zako [small fry]. But we are aiming for the all-time defense record, and crushing small fry is a necessary step to breaking that record, so we will gladly let them become a stepping stone for it.
Miu Watanabe: As Rika-san just said, we are a tag team destined to break the all-time defense record. We consider ourselves the undisputed, strongest tag champions, recognized by both ourselves and everyone else. Experiencing that prelude match gave us a taste of the passion they showed in the challenger determination tournament. But actually fighting them… well, we saw a bit of Haru’s lack of confidence again today. Maybe she’s only able to stand here with us as a foursome because Yuki-san is beside her. I am genuinely looking forward to seeing just how much fire Haru can show, and if she’ll be able to look us in the eye in the short time we have left. Rather than offering harsh criticism, I simply mean I am looking forward to it. I have high expectations, so I am very excited for this match. However, Hakuchumu will be the ones defending, and we plan to show everyone an even stronger, fiercely sparkling and glaring Hakuchumu moving forward.
Tatsumi: (Looking at the drawing of Evolto) You compared us to an extraterrestrial lifeform, but is this what it looks like?
Aino: I think the top half is Miu and the bottom half is Rika-san.
Watanabe: No, no, no, no, no, no.
Tatsumi: There’s only one body. Well, an extraterrestrial lifeform, huh? I am a human being. Miu is the alien, so this is Miu.
Watanabe: Wrong! This is Rika-san. You are mistaken.
Tatsumi: It looks exactly like Miu.
Watanabe: Seriously, Rika-san makes this exact face sometimes. This is Rika-san’s face.
Tatsumi: It has like three heads.
Watanabe: No it doesn’t! But it really resembles how tiny Rika-san’s face is. Look! Look, look, look, look!
Tatsumi: Miu has a small face too.
Watanabe: No, I do not have a small face. I don’t have a small face at all. Rika-san is the one with the small face.
Tatsumi: No, no, no, this is definitely Miu.
Watanabe: The hair looks exactly like yours. Look. It’s so silky. It looks like Rika-san. I am not a monster like this. (To the reporters) Right?
Tatsumi: It’s Miu.
Watanabe: It’s Rika-san.
Aino: I am calling you Evolto with the utmost respect! I am referring to both of you as the extraterrestrial lifeform.
—— How do you plan to overturn words like “breeze” and “small fry” by the title match?
Aino: It’s incredibly frustrating, isn’t it?
Kazashiro: Yes. But as long as we don’t think we’ve lost, we haven’t lost.
Aino: We only have a little time left, but there are still matches before the big day. We are going to level up at hyper-speed from here on out. Together.
Kazashiro: Yes!
—— What exactly makes them feel like “small fry” to you?
Watanabe: Simply put, the word “zako” just fits them perfectly right now. She herself said she doesn’t even come close to us, but honestly, she doesn’t even reach the tip of my pinky fingernail. My pinky fingernail is already tiny, and she doesn’t even reach the tip of it.
Tatsumi: I feel the exact same way, but Miu… do you actually know how to write zako?
Watanabe: Wait, isn’t zako written in two characters?
Tatsumi: Do you not know the kanji?
Watanabe: I don’t know the kanji. Wait, there are kanji for it?
Tatsumi: There are.
Watanabe: …Okay.
Aino: You absolutely have no idea, do you?
Watanabe: I know!
Aino: Are you just saying words without knowing what they mean?
Watanabe: I know them!
Tatsumi: I know it.
Watanabe: But Miu is more of a katakana person.
Aino: Then please write zako right here.
Watanabe: In kanji? Give me a second, I just need a little time to remember.
Aino: But I thought you already knew it?
Watanabe: I do know it!
Aino: Write it in 10 seconds. (Watching Miu start to write) Wait, that’s definitely wrong. The very first stroke is completely wrong.
Watanabe: Here you go! (Holds up a paper with a slightly botched version of the single kanji “雑” [Zatsu/Rough])
Tatsumi: Wait, just one character?
Aino: Ladies and gentlemen, this is Hakuchumu.
Tatsumi: Please stop. Do not lump me in with her. (Tatsumi writes the correct two kanji for Zako: “雑魚”) It’s zatsu-zakana, right? You guys are zatsu-zakana!
Aino: Considering we think of this Evolto as Hakuchumu… does that mean you are the zako?
Tatsumi: You two are the zako.
Aino: Does this mean you guys are the zako?
Watanabe: No. You two are the zako.
Aino: Actually, there is a Japanese saying that the one who calls someone zako is the real zako.
Watanabe: Shut up, you zatsu-zakana!
Aino: Call us zako all you want, but we will be the ones winning at Ota Ward. We will defeat this ultimate extraterrestrial lifeform.
Tatsumi: We’ll be fine. We’re totally fine.
Translator’s Notes:
- Tokusatsu References: Yuki Aino’s promo heavily references the Kamen Rider television franchise to psych up her tag partner. She directly quotes Kamen Rider Hibiki and Kamen Rider Ghost, and then compares the dominant Hakuchumu team to “Evolto,” the ultimate alien lifeform and primary antagonist of Kamen Rider Build. She correspondingly dubs her own team “Build and Cross-Z” after the show’s heroic protagonists.
- The “Zako” Kanji Pun: Rika Tatsumi insults the challengers by calling them zako (雑魚), a common slang term for “small fry,” “scrubs,” or “jobbers.” Miu Watanabe attempts to back up the insult but accidentally reveals she doesn’t know how to spell zako in kanji, writing only the first character. Tatsumi attempts to correct her by writing the proper two characters (雑魚) but completely undermines her own insult by misreading the kanji literally as zatsu-zakana (miscellaneous fish) instead of the phonetic zako.
- Unit Names: Proper tag team names such as Hakuchumu (Daydream), Shunrai Rekka!! Prism Greed, and Kyoraku Kyomei are retained as proper nouns rather than direct English translations, in accordance with standard industry formatting.