TV Anime "Tiger Mask W" Arrives with Interview with Pro Wrestler Togi Makabe!　He will appear in the 5th episode airing on October 29th!

An interview with professional wrestler Togi Makabe from the TV animation "Tiger Mask W" has arrived.

Tiger Mask W" is one of Toei Animation's 60th anniversary productions, and is a new TV animation series based on the "Tiger Mask" manga (original story: Kajiwara Ikki/illustration: Tsuji Naoki) that supported the professional wrestling boom in the past. It depicts "New Tiger Mask" Naoto Higashi and "Tiger the Dark" Takuma Fujii fighting to defeat the revived "Tiger Ana". With the full cooperation of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the appearance of real-life pro-wrestlers is also a highlight of the series.
⇒ 2016 Fall Anime List

We have just received an interview with professional wrestler Togi Makabe, who will appear as himself in the fifth episode "The Mystery of the Fukurawara Mask," which will air on October 29. He talks about his passion for this work.
The following is the interview.

(Interview)
─ How did you feel when you heard that the sequel to "Tiger Mask" has been decided?

Of course I was happy. It's that "Tiger Mask! The sequel to "Tiger Mask," which thrilled the boys of the Showa era, is coming back after 47 years! At the same time, I think this is a serious responsibility. I believe that we can learn about life from animation, because we can understand as adults the meaning of things we watched when we were small without knowing what they meant. I wanted the animation to nurture that kind of mentality in children.

─ What are your feelings about Makabe's participation as the character himself?
As someone who watched reruns of the original "Tiger Mask" and thought "pro wrestling is interesting," I am honestly happy to be able to participate in "Tiger Mask W" as an actual pro wrestler in the anime. I think the influence that pro wrestling has on people will always be the same, so I am very grateful to be able to play a part in helping to boost the excitement of the sport!

─ ─ What were your first impressions when you saw the animated version of your picture?
I feel that you are more fearless than I actually am. And my legs are long (laughs)! I thought, "This is what it looks like when it's expressed in a drawing. There are wrestling games that have characters that look like me, but this time it is unquestionably me. The image fits perfectly!

─ How did you feel when you experienced the postrecording?
I was very nervous. But I think you can make a better film if you are nervous. It's the same with wrestling matches; the more tense you are in the match, the better the match will be. Also, voice actors are amazing. In real life, there are expressions that make you think, "I don't use that kind of language! In real life, there are expressions that make you think, "I wouldn't use that kind of language! but in anime, it's just so much more convincing.

─ ─ Do you have a message for the viewers?
In this day and age, I think there are many people who are unable to express their honest feelings and are stifling their opinions. If you watch "Tiger Mask W" at such a time and find something welling up inside of you, I hope you will make use of it in your current situation. If you are a sportsman, I want you to think, "I will work harder! or if you are on the verge of giving up at work, I want you to take up the challenge again in order to get it.It would be great if theywatch "Tiger Mask W," get a boost of power, anduse it as a source of inspiration fortheir ownlives!