TV animation "Tiger Mask W", Tiger Mask W and Tiger the Dark have a real confrontation!　Official Report Arrives!

An official report from " Sengoku KIZNA- Presents WRESTLE KINGDOM 11 in Tokyo Dome " has arrived from the TV animation "Tiger Mask W" currently airing.

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 pro wrestling boom of 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.
⇒Autumn 2016 Anime List

This time, we would like to share with you the official report of the special match between Tiger Mask W and Tiger the Dark that took place on January 4, 2017 at the biggest pro wrestling event organized by New Japan Pro-Wrestling , "Sengoku Enbu -KIZNA- Presents WRESTLE KINGDOM 11 in Tokyo Dome," and and comments from the cast members who came to support the event.
The comments from Mr. Yashiro, Mr. Umehara, and Mr. Mimori convey the highlights of this work, which will enter its second season on January 7, so be sure to check them out.

Official Report
■Two Tiger Masks go head-to-head in the traditional Ittenyon!

Last October, "Tiger Mask W" was revived as a TV animation after 34 and a half years. Tiger Mask, aka Naoto Higashi (voice: Taku Yashiro), and Tiger the Dark, aka Takuma Fujii (voice: Yuichiro Umehara), appear in the main anime this time. Naoto, as Tiger Mask, fights GWM wrestlers in order to defeat GWM (Global Wrestling Monopoly), the professional wrestling organization that drove Zipangu Pro Wrestling, which they both once belonged to, to collapse. Tiger the Dark" from the inside. Tiger Mask W," which has been developing the battle between these two fighters with the involvement of actual New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers, finished its first season last December, and will enter its second season in January 2017, entering a new phase in its story.

Along with the excitement of the anime's broadcast, on October 10, 2016 (national holiday Monday),a special match was held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo for New Japan Pro-Wrestling's "Sengoku Enbu -KIZNA-Presents KING OF PRO-WRESTLING," featuring "Tiger Mask W vs Red Death Mask. This dream match was realized. Tiger Mask W performed the same spectacular moves in the ring as in the anime and won the match.

Tiger Mask W vs Tiger the Dark" was held as a special match in the first match of "Sengoku KIZNA Presents WRESTLE KINGDOM 11 in Tokyo Dome" on January 4, 2017. Yashiro and Umehara, Suzuko Mimori as Haruna Takaoka, the manager of Tiger Mask W, and Izumi Tachibanada as Hikari Kushima, a reporter for a pro wrestling magazine, came to support the "match-up of the century".

Mimori entered the ring with Tiger Mask W as Haruna! The spectacular aerial battle was a surprise!

Tiger the Dark appeared in front of a huge Tokyo Dome crowd. The entrance of Tiger Mask W, who jumped over the ropes in a spectacular manner, was already greeted with loud cheers from wrestling fans. Tiger Mask W then appeared on stage to the theme song "Go Tiger Mask," sung by Shonan Nofu. Moreover, this time, Mimori entered to lead Tiger in the same costume as manager Haruna. Tiger Mask W entered the ring in the familiar pose of holding his index finger high above the corner post, and Haruna's voice introduced Tiger. The world of the "Tiger Mask W" anime was recreated in the Tokyo Dome ring.

The two Tigers from the anime went back and forth from the beginning of the showdown. While Tiger Mask W tormented Tiger the Dark with his spectacular aerial kills, Tiger the Dark caught up with Tiger Mask W with his joint techniques and Tombstone Piledriver. Such a high-level battle drew a surprised "OOOH! were the cries of amazement from even the most discerning pro wrestling fans.

Yashiro and Umehara watched the showdown between the two characters they portrayed. Tiger Mask W, Tiger the Dark, and the two Tigers were so satisfied and excited by their splendid battle that they applauded loudly at the end of the show.

Comments] (*Honorifics omitted)
Naoto Higashi (Tiger Mask): Taku Yashiro

"I was very happy that Tiger Mask W will be in the first match on the big stage of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the 1.4 Tokyo Dome. I was excited at the Ryogoku event, but this time I was even more excited because Tiger the Dark was my opponent. I was surprised when Mimori-san entered the arena with me (laughs). But I thought that Haruna-chan from the anime would be able to do it with such aplomb. Today, Mimori-san was truly Haruna-chan, a wonderful Haruna-chan.
After watching the match today, I hope to be able to express the power of live wrestling in anime as well. I thought that today's Tiger Mask W and Tiger the Dark were starting to resemble the techniques and movements of the characters in the anime. I am really looking forward to the future.
In today's match, they showed an aerial killing technique like the Interdimensional Killing Technique, and I am hoping that the same thing can be expressed in the anime. I hope everyone can see the appeal of such wrestling in the anime as well.

Yuichiro Umehara as Takuma Fujii (Tiger the Dark)

Not only the mask, but also Tiger the Dark's long hair was recreated and felt very realistic. I couldn't help but look at it from Dark's perspective during the match, and I was really on edge when he got in a bit of a pinch (laughs). I thought about taking some pictures, but I didn't have time. Since Dirk is a villainous wrestler, the audience was cheering for Tiger Mask W. It was very hard for me to fight in such a situation. I could understand firsthand how difficult it was to fight in such a situation. There are many scenes like that in the anime, so I could really feel that feeling.

I was glad that I could hear the real sounds and voices during the fight, and I really learned a lot from watching it live. We have to perform only with our voices, so I think that what was only in my imagination will be more convincing in the future because I was able to experience it in real life.
The first episode ended on a difficult note for Tiger the Dark/Takuma, but I wonder how he will move on from that point and reach his goal. I think you will enjoy the show even more if you pay attention to the way Takuma progresses and his gradually changing relationships with the people around him.

Suzuko Mimori as Haruna Takaoka
This was my first time watching a Tiger Mask W match, and when I heard that we were going to enter together, I was scared to death before we did it (laughs).
(Laughs.) I wondered if it was okay for me to enter a pro wrestling match that I usually watch as a fan. But today, I pretended to be Haruna and did it thinking that I was Haruna (laughs). (Laughs) I thought, "If I were Haruna, I'm sure I would do it with dignity. It was still a valuable experience.

I was not able to go to the last Ryogoku event, but this time I was able to see it up close, and I was moved to see the real wrestlers replicating the techniques and moves that I am used to seeing in anime. I was almost in tears.

The year 2017 started with Tiger and Tiger the Dark fighting in "Ittenyon. I am sure that "Tiger Mask W" will become even more exciting this year, and I, as a member of the cast, will do my best to follow the trend.