(BIG JAPAN) "The Astronauts", Takuya Nomura and Fuminori Abe, who are establishing their own position

Puroresu Weekly

7th July 2018

The best tag of the year from the strong block are "The Astronauts", Takuya Nomura and Fuminori Abe, who are establishing their own position.

When giving the story, Abe did most of the talking. Takuya Nomura hardly said a word until the end, but it was an intense one. 

So, who are the Astronauts? The team name was announced by Takuya Nomura and Fuminori Abe at The Best Tag League. They have in common the UWF and BattleArts match, both organisations they have not been in, are they lonely because of this? Are they sad? Is this momentary?.

The list of words gradually becomes specific. Their relationship is to fight I guess.

"People will pay money, like when they go to see fireworks don't they? They live fast as they are heading somewhere quickly, I don't know where...but I like it.  Big Japan smiles on these things and accepts it, and I must say that I think there is an abundance of that" (Abe).

Abe has also been watching the situation of the Big Japan affiliated Takuya Nomura being taken up by the media, and felt jealousy. The point he is trying to make is that he wants to be friends, and bring feeling to the modern era. 

Stemming from the two of them, the strong word of "puroresu", considered old or passe, has risen up. The image of the wrestler pursuing the ideal has appeared. 

The team name "Astronauts". 

At first glance it is abstract, and I don't know what it signifies, but Abe explained it to me.

(His explanation doesn't really translate well, but I think he is saying it is more than just the universe (i.e space), the moon and Takuya Nomura. I think he says that their name also incorporates the limitless possibilities of space, and he too would be as dangerous as Nomura if he kicked as much as he did. So its really about exploring the limitless). 

When I think of their style and how similar they are in styles of wrestling, I realize they are both two polar opposites. If Abe is the sun, then Nomura is the moon. Abe is the one burning with intense heat, while Nomura is watching and nodding quietly. Even so, Abe says he does not want to give in to emotion, and being the one who is upstaged is bad. 

There are fourteen rival teams participating, and when I think of teams deep down inside several combinations do come to mind, but I feel that the Astronaughts will not be defeated. 

"Regarding the juniors and the heavyweights, I have never thought about it. In Big Japan, everyone is brawny, and on the contrary, I feel it. I think we will be able to win. Probably, I think that it will be the Yankee Double Guns who will stand out, but I will put my middle finger up at them"*

Someday on a big stage, Nomura and Abe also want to face each other in a singles match. For that purpose both of them have to raise their value.

I asked Nomura (who had been almost silent during the interview) about what he would like to say about this. A reply came that exceeded my imagination.

(Nomura's response doesn't really translate well, but its very violent, basically he says he wants to do a match to the death that will exceed all expectations).

Contrary to the clear ideal image portrayed in my head, as the team name "Astronaut" suggests, the two professional wrestlers are still abstract. However, if things are not clear, then they are still in interesting form in the world of professional wrestling. Even though it is abstract, the hue of victory is here, and the form may come out at once. The opening match is against Daisuke Sekimoto and Hideki Suzuki. The wonders of wrestling and evaluation will guarantee victory.

*This is known as "the middle finger in the hole of the dead". "Hole of the dead" is the nose, which was traditionally stuffed with cotton or guaze on the dead."  Why it should be the middle finger is that some Japanese people (mainly elderly these days) use their middle one to scratch their nose. It should be remembered that "flipping the bird" or "giving the finger" is a Western thing, and didn't reach Japan probably until the 1940s during the American Occupation after WW2.