The social round-up is normally a light-hearted look at the week in New Japan online discourse, but sometimes shocking news breaks online and when it does, we have to be there with the hard-hitting journalism you deserve.
We can’t independently verify this shot posted by Satoshi Kojima (with a looming threat no less) but it does seem to portray a Hiroshi Tanahashi, having returned from the UK Monday afternoon after his match with Zack Sabre Junior at Royal Quest, possibly, dare we say, A Bit Tired.
たったいま確認して、震えが止まりません💦。
完全に「疲れてます」！
ご協力ありがとうございました😊。 https://t.co/p06YJmxytT
— 小島 聡【SATOSHI KOJIMA】 (@cozy_lariat) September 2, 2019
When Tanahashi asserted that he was not in fact tired on his return to Japan (not having been tired for a moment since his birth), Kojima posted the shocking candid snap, stating that ‘If this gets 1000 retweets, that’s proof that you’re tired’. Having more than doubled his goal, the scandalous baked goods booster went on to taunt ‘Checking up, and I can’t stop shaking. He is absolutely, certifiably ‘Tired’! Thank you for your co-operation’.
One might forgive SHO for being on the tired side after a demanding couple of weeks. The Roppongi 3K star went from Super J-Cup appearances on the west coast straight to London, where a Powerbreaker to Ren Narita gave the win to himself, YOH and Rocky Romero. Just before Royal Quest, SHO marked his 30th birthday, tucking into a salad in his hotel room. This prompted Kazuchika Okada to announce a major party for his CHAOS compatriot. He even picked a venue:
誕生日おめでとう！
パーティーしにSHO君の家後で行くよ！ケイオスみんなで！ https://t.co/nWIxx3I7ws— オカダ・カズチカ (@rainmakerXokada) August 27, 2019
‘Happy birthday! All of CHAOS for a party at SHO’s place later!’
Hirooki Goto declared he was definitely up for the house visit, but SHO’s current abode isn’t quite ready yet:
来て欲しいです！
でも前回同様、まだ人数分座るところがないので
帰国して椅子を買ってからでお願い致します！ https://t.co/msImkkRCOw— SHO Roppongi3k (@njpwShowT) August 27, 2019
‘I’d love you to come! But this happened before, and I still don’t have places for everyone to sit. I’ll buy some chairs when I get back to Japan!’
The NJPW stars are now back in Japan for the Road to Destruction. The Young Lion Cup is a major part of the Destruction tour, and the Tokyo based Young Lions are all preparing in their own ways. Yuya Uemura is hitting the waves:
おはようございます。
本日は波乗りです。
溺れないように今日も頑張ります。— 上村優也 Yuya Uemura (@YuyaUemura_njpw) September 1, 2019
‘Good morning. I’m surfing today. I’ll do my best not to drown’
Yota Tsuji is hitting the protein:
トレーニングを終えて今日の食事はマッスル麺！
ひと玉でタンパク質が20g！#林製麺所#マッスル麺 pic.twitter.com/XYU41f6gyO— 辻陽太 (@tsuji_njpw) August 30, 2019
‘These Muscle Noodles for dinner after training today! One pack has 20g of protein!’
And Shota Umino is hitting some sweet sightseeing pic poses:
私は今イギリスにいます🇬🇧#石原裕次郎さん pic.twitter.com/GdmSd1J3up
— 海野 翔太〈Shota Umino〉 (@njpw_shota) August 29, 2019
It all gets serious starting Wednesday however, as eight Young Lions start a grueling league running up to Destruction in Kobe on September 22. Who will emerge on top?
『SUPER J-CUP 2019🇺🇸（シアトル・サンフランシスコ・ロサンゼルス）』
『NJPW Royal Quest🇬🇧（ロンドン）』
での試合が終わり、無事に帰国しました。2日後には『ヤングライオン杯』が開幕するので、全勝優勝目指して全力で戦っていきます。
応援よろしくお願い致します。 pic.twitter.com/4o9RR1kUXv— 海野 翔太〈Shota Umino〉 (@njpw_shota) September 2, 2019
‘I’m back in Japan after Super J-Cup and Royal Quest. Next is the Young Lion Cup. I plan on giving it all I have to go undefeated. I’m looking forward to your support’.
