Female professional wrestler Tenrei Kouki

Amethyst butterfly dancing in the sky
"Career advancement" to a world where you can make the most of what you have

Female professional wrestler Amareikouki

■ Profile　
She made her professional wrestling debut at Korakuen Hall in May 2024. Despite struggling against more experienced opponents, she finally made a winning debut with the Amethyst Butterfly (a spinning body press from the top of the corner). She remained undefeated since the company's inception, and in August she challenged Aono Miku for the Marigold United National Championship, but was defeated by Styles Clash and was unable to win the title. However, in November she became the first champion of Pro Wrestling Noah's GHC Women's Championship, continuing her unprecedented winning streak.

■What was your student life like?

I've been playing music since junior high school, and in high school I played the electric guitar in the light music club. After graduating from high school, I attended a music vocational school for six months. After dropping out of vocational school, I formed a dance team with friends and performed while working part-time.
 

■What made you start professional wrestling?

I was invited by one of the members of a dance team to join an idol group, and while I was doing a little bit of idol work, I happened to have the opportunity to go see a play, which sparked my interest in theater and led me to start acting. There, I met someone who invited me to take part in a project where we would do pro wrestling on stage. I had always wanted to do action, so I decided to appear in the play.
That was the first time I learned about professional wrestling. At first, I was just doing professional wrestling as an actor, but I decided to become a professional wrestler to further my career.
When I was an actor, I sometimes felt like my size made me stand out compared to the people around me, but as a professional wrestler, I felt that being bigger was an advantage and that I could accept my physical characteristics. I thought that being a professional wrestler would allow me to move to the next level, so I became a professional wrestler six months ago.
 

■What is the appeal of professional wrestling?

I've always loved the extraordinary feeling and emotionally moving moments in plays and dramas, and I felt the same way when I watched professional wrestling. What's more, I think the appeal of professional wrestling is that it gives off a stronger sense of humanity and moves you in a different way than a play.
During a match, a smaller wrestler may defeat a larger one, and the refreshing moment that occurs is one of the great attractions of professional wrestling.
 

■ Enthusiasm for the tournament on January 3rd

I won the GHC single belt in November, about six months after becoming a professional wrestler. The match was a bit unusual, so it was met with mixed reactions, but I'm still very inexperienced as a professional wrestler, and I want to grow bigger and bigger with this belt. I want to become a champion that everyone can agree on.
On January 3rd, I have a title defense scheduled against my former tag teammate, Goto Chika, and of course I have no intention of losing, but this is my first big match as champion and the venue is in my hometown of Ota Ward, so I feel like I can't afford to lose in any way other than winning or losing.
 

■Message to university students

I think there are many things that worry you as a student. For example, you may hear various things from the adults and friends around you. If you are troubled by those opinions, they may be one opinion, but you don't know if they're correct, and even if they are correct, there may be other correct answers. So I think it's okay to accept them for a moment and put them aside. Even if you have worries, I hope you believe in yourself and take care of yourself. I hope that when you're feeling frustrated, watching us wrestle will help you feel better. We'll be waiting for you at the Ota City General Gymnasium on January 3rd.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on December 4, 2024 by Aoyama Gakuin University freshman Aoi Kuwayama

Aoi Kuwayama, 1st year student at Aoyama Gakuin University / Yurie Watanabe, 1st year student at Josai International University