Actress and wrestler Mia Asako

2025.02.10

I want to be Sailor Moon! The story of my challenge as a dropout!

■ Profile
She has an otherworldly presence as a member of the professional wrestling entertainment group "Actwres girl'Z," which is based on the concept of "professional wrestling by actresses." Her age is unknown. She loves sparkly things.

■What did you focus on during your student days?

Ever since elementary school, I've been bad at sports, couldn't fit in with the others, and was the kind of student who would walk circles around the schoolyard during recess, watching everyone else play from afar. The only thing I was able to persevere with was lacrosse, which I played in college. At first, I joined the club casually, but the practice was very tough. I had morning practice and devoted myself to lacrosse all day. However, even though I practiced in the same way, I wasn't able to improve as well as the others, and I was the only one in my year who couldn't play in official matches, so I thought about quitting many times. In my last official match as a senior, I was so frustrated and despairing that I couldn't stop crying. But thanks to the support of the people around me, I was able to continue until the end.

■What made you become a professional wrestler?

I had wanted to act since I was in elementary school, but I gave up on the idea because I thought it would be difficult in reality. After graduating from university, I started looking for work and got a job at a food company, but I couldn't let go of my passion for acting, so I decided to quit my job and pursue acting. At that time, an acquaintance told me about a project to create a team like Sailor Moon, and as I loved Sailor Moon, I immediately decided to do it if I could become Sailor Moon, and started practicing. That team was "Actwres Girls," where actresses wrestle. I think I was able to jump into it precisely because I had known nothing about professional wrestling up until that point.

■What is the appeal of professional wrestling?

I started out with the sole desire to become Sailor Moon, but then I calmed down and remembered something. I had zero athletic ability. While the other members who started practicing at the same time as me were making their debut, I still couldn't do basic ukemaki moves and received the same criticism over and over again. Because of me, everyone's practice was falling behind, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't even reach the same level as the others. Add in the trauma of my university days, and I felt increasingly cornered, like I was in a tunnel with no way out. I loved sparkly things and dreamed of becoming that kind of person, but before I knew it, I had become the complete opposite.
However, a turning point came after my debut. Since I wasn't being put on the cards for a while, I decided to give 120% and expressed my frustration with all my might. Someone noticed my funny expression and suggested that I change my personality to be more unique to Actress Girls. To be honest, that wasn't the direction I wanted to go, but contrary to my expectations, that character became far more popular than I was, and as a result, my matches increased rapidly.
While most athletes make their debut in six months, it took me about two years. My growth was slow, it hurt, and there were many times when I wondered why I was still doing it. But even though I was a dropout, I didn't give up and kept trying, and now I think the appeal of it is that through that pain, I can make people laugh and convey emotions.

■Please tell us about the Korakuen Hall event in March.

My next big match will be at Korakuen Hall on March 16th. Actress Girls is a glamorous team of actresses and idols wrestling, so I'm sure even first-timers will enjoy it. Personally, people have told me they want to see my special moves, so I'd like to hone my skills and win.

■Message to university students

I'm sure there are many times in college when you wonder what to do. I wanted to be Sailor Moon, but when I joined Actress Girls, I was in pain and suffering, and there were times when I was worried. I still am. But it's definitely Actress Girls that brightened up my life. It wasn't the dream I was aiming for, but a more enjoyable future than I could have ever imagined was waiting for me. Worrying doesn't have to be painful. Depending on your attitude, there are many fun things waiting for you down the road. I hope you will believe in that and do your best at what is in front of you. I too would like to continue taking on exciting challenges.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on June 4, 2024 by Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University