Eki 【Oh Hi】

Unagi Sayaka held a formal press conference for her June 21st Korakuen Hall show rather than her usual YouTube announcement. The reason was simple: she knew what she was about to reveal would divide opinion, and she wanted to face it head-on. The partner she introduced for the 3rd anniversary of Unagi Kabuki was Hikari Noa, formerly of Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling. The reaction, as anticipated, was not universally warm. Hikari had debuted on 4 January 2018 at Korakuen Hall as a first-generation member of the wrestler-idol group Up Up Girls (Prowrestling), won over audiences with her commitment to deathmatches and hardcore wrestling, and captured both singles and tag titles during her time in TJPW. Then, in 2024, following a hiatus, she graduated from both the promotion and the group. The specific reasons were never officially disclosed. An incident involving her private life had caused distress to those around her, and Hikari felt she had no choice but to disappear entirely from the industry. Unagi and Hikari had been close friends - close enough, reportedly, to share bubble tea three times a week. When the scandal broke, Unagi was finding her own footing as a freelancer and held back from reaching out. By the time she felt ready, Hikari's contact details had changed. They had lost touch completely. The reunion came through an unexpected channel. Fan information reached Unagi last year that Hikari was working at a head spa. She found her. Hikari had no intention of returning to wrestling. But she had been watching Unagi's career from the outside - the freedom, the enjoyment, the self-produced shows - and something had stayed alive in her. Unagi persuaded her with what she described simply as relentless passion. After clearing the necessary hurdles with relevant parties, the return was set. Unagi's framing of what this opportunity represents was characteristically direct. "If you feel sorry, do it through pro-wrestling. I want you to win back that trust through wrestling." She offered Hikari something she had never experienced in her TJPW career - a main event at Korakuen Hall. At the press conference, Hikari apologised. Unagi handled the reporters' questions, taking full responsibility as the promoter for a decision she knew would be controversial. There were no announcements about long-term management or Hikari joining Unagi's company. What happens next is entirely Hikari's to decide. Hikari, for her part, has rediscovered her hunger. There are matches she wants to have, opponents she wants to face and dreams she had quietly abandoned that she is no longer willing to leave behind. "I never want to do anything half-hearted ever again." Unagi knows something about rebuilding. She has been fired from Stardom, accumulated 16 million yen in debt from her Ryogoku Kokugikan show and fought her way back regardless. She spent the past year in a five-month consecutive singles series against retiring legends. Now she is sponsoring a comeback for someone she refuses to leave behind. "I want you to fall in love with pro wrestling all over again." Unagi Sayaka may come across as self-centred and eccentric inside the ring. However, the actual evidence suggests differently away from the ring. @unapi0902