TV animation "Tiger Mask W," a dialogue between professional wrestler Hiroshi Nagata and voice actor Masaki Terasoma!　Talks about his thoughts on "Tiger Mask

A dialogue between professional wrestler Hiroshi Nagata and Masaki Terasoma 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.
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We have just received an interview with New Japan Pro-Wrestling pro-wrestler Hiroshi Nagata, who also appears in the anime, and Masaki Terasoma, who provides his voice. In the interview, Mr. Nagata talks about his impressions of himself in the anime and Mr. Terasoma's role and thoughts in playing the real character, which is very interesting for both pro wrestling and anime fans.
Below is the interview.

Interview

Q: How did you create the role of Mr. Nagata?

Terasoma: I watched how the real-life Mr. Nagata looks like in the ring and what he says, and I tried to incorporate that into my own work and see how I could do it without being too caught up in it. I try to see what I can do without getting too caught up in it. In the beginning, you seem to be more of a GM than a wrestler.

Nagata: I really hope so, because I can handle a lot of things by myself (laughs).

Terasoma: Today is the first time I have met you, Mr. Nagata, and I am doing a little research while talking with you (laughs), and I am wondering how I can digest the information and bring it into the animated film. I am looking forward to receiving various extracts today and seeing how I can bring them to the fiction part. I thought that you are a very clever person who also produces. I am thinking of bringing that out in the film as well.

Q: How do you see yourself in the anime?

Nagata: I see myself as a fan. However, they have captured the facial features well, and even the moles are drawn correctly. The shirt is light blue and the tie is blue. I thought he captured their features well. For my part, I am looking forward to seeing what kind of Hiroshi Nagata will be like (laughs). (Laughs) I am looking forward to the story of "Tiger Mask W" and how I will appear in it.

Q: You appear in a lot of episodes, don't you?

Nagata: Episode 2 was amazing. You suddenly went to a press conference of another organization and negotiated a match in front of the media. I thought that was very aggressive (laughs). Negotiations with other organizations in reality are difficult, so I thought it would be nice if it went this well (laughs). (Laughs.) And to top it off, they are bringing the world-class GWM organization into the New Japan ring. However, although I was ostensibly putting my head on my shoulders and making a request, I actually thought that they were probably laughing inside when they gave me the OK (laughs). (Laughs) I was also enjoying watching Miss X, thinking that I was in the palm of Hiroshi Nagata's hand.

Q: Have you already filmed the wrestling scene?

Terasoma: I went into the ring. I think that is the most important point. I have only used it once, but I did use the key line. Zeaaaat! (laughs). The scene where he applies the technique and peels his eyes back has yet to be shown.

Nagata: I only make a grunting sound. If you want to express it in the animation, I think it would be better if he makes a "uuuu" sound, like he is straining. Well, that depends on the voice actor's skill (laughs).

Terasoma: Why do you put such pressure on him?

Q: What does the animation "Tiger Mask" mean to you two?

Terasoma: For our generation, it had a huge impact on us. It gave me many things when I was a boy, and I never thought I would be involved in such a great masterpiece. In that sense, I feel that I have been involved in this project for a long time and that I can receive such gifts and souvenirs from it.

Nagata: I also like to watch wrestling all the time. I learned about professional wrestling through "Tiger Mask," and I got to know Baba and Inoki. I didn't know that he was a real person, but when I saw an All Japan Pro-Wrestling commercial on TV, I thought that Baba was really there. That's how I got interested in wrestling. So I was happy when I heard that the animation was going to start again, and I never thought I would be a part of it.

Q: What are your expectations for "Tiger Mask W"?

Terasoma: To be honest, it is hard to do the voice of a real person. But I enjoy the fact that I know the real Mr. Nagata and how to take that into account. I think that if I can play the role of Mr. Nagata because it is a fiction, he will be satisfied with my performance, and in that sense, I am looking forward to it a lot more. If Mr. Nagata also uses this animation and gets excited about it, it can also make other things more exciting in various ways. I think it would be interesting if we can influence various things borderlessly.

Nagata: If Mr. Terasoma could create a Hiroshi Nagata with various faces in the animation, I would be able to be attracted to myself in the animation (laughs). (Laughs.) He is not trying to make him look like me, but rather, he is playing the role of Hiroshi Nagata, the character of Mr. Terasoma. That is what I am looking forward to. I am looking forward to seeing the animation and thinking, "This is the kind of Hiroshi Nagata that exists. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of Hiroshi Nagata will appear in the future.