Hiroshi Tanahashi Says NJPW Is Working On Strategy To Maintain Their Number Of Shows While Reducing Burden On Talent

‘The Ace’ opens up about the NJPW schedule.

Tanahashi is aware of how tough the schedule is.

In addition to his role as an active in-ring performer, Hiroshi Tanahashi serves as the President of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

He’s been making the media rounds promoting the company, and one of his stops was a chat with Shūkan Bunshun.

During the extensive conversation, Tanahashi stated that NJPW is working on a way to maintain the number of shows they present every year while reducing the burden that it has on wrestlers. He said they need to schedule around 150 events per year. Without that quota, they are not able to maintain wrestlers’ salaries.

“Once I moved to the management side, I realized the practical reality that the company needs to schedule around 150 (shows) a year to generate revenue, and without that, we can’t secure the athletes’ salaries. I understand the athletes’ burdens, but I also understand the company’s need to secure revenue. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place (he laughed).

When I talk to the athletes, I think, this schedule is tough, but on the other hand, when the organizers say, ‘President, we want to hold this many shows this year,’ I have to say, ‘Let’s do it!’ We are currently considering a new strategy to maintain the number of shows while reducing the burden on the athletes.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, Tanahashi shared that he put up a sign that had to do with not getting tired. He was scolded for it because it does not acknowledge employees’ fatigue, so he took it down.

“When I became (NJPW) President, I posted a sign that said, ‘Don’t get tired,’ but I was scolded for not acknowledging the employees’ fatigue, so I took it down right away (he laughed).”

Tanahashi is competing on the New Japan Soul tour, and on July 4th, he’ll be challenging Gabe Kidd for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

On June 29th, Tanahashi will be presenting his self-produced ‘Tanahashi Jam’ show, and the full card can be viewed here.