Terry Funk and Masanori--"After 28 years, Terry hasn't been able to speak Japanese yet"
From the end of December 1998 to the first week of January 1999, it will be one of the best times for you, gaijin (foreign) fans, to come to Tokyo to experience "Nippon no puroresu" (Japanese pro-wrestling). I have seen many gaijin fans in this season for years. By the way, a total of 30 offices and groups will have 105 shows all over Japan in December 1998. We don't have Christmas holidays, and we usually work until 12/28, then we have New Year holidays until 1/3 and start to work from 1/4.
The world famous Korakuen Hall
12/23 (Wed) New Japan 6:30 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
12/23 (Wed) IWA 2:00 Isehara, Kanagawa
12/23 (Wed) SGP 7:30 Ota Ward Plaza, Tokyo
12/23 (Wed) All Japan Women 12:00 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
(12/23 is a public holiday--"Japanese Emperor's Birthday")
12/25 (Fri) Battlarts 6:30 Tokyo FM Hall
12/26 (Sat) Woman All Star 5:00 Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo
12/27 (Sun) JWP 12:30 Korakuen Hall
12/27 (Sun) GAEA 6:30 Korakuen Hall
12/28 (Mon) Neo Ladies 6:30 Korakuen Hall
12/29 (Tue) Jd' 6:30 Korakuen Hall
1/2 (Sat) All Japan 12:30 Korakuen Hall
1/3 (Sun) All Japan 12:30 Korakuen Hall
1/4 (Mon) New Japan 3:00 Tokyo Dome
1/5 (Tue) FMW 6:30 Korakuen Hall
1/6 (Wed) Fuyuki 6:30 Korakuen Hall
1/7 (Thu) Arsion 6:45 Korakuen Hall
(Big Japan and All Japan Women haven't announced their date yet.)
Masanori (center) with wrestlers from Arsion--(l-r) Yumi Fukawa, Jessica Soto, Rie Tamada, and Mika Akino
I have been to 16 states in the U.S.A. for attending wrestling shows. I always feel very comfortable there. My English is so broken and my vocabulary is so poor, but I have been helped by so many "extra copies of myself in the U.S.A." We have a common language (wrestling), and we can have sympathy for each other. You, gaijin (foreign) fans, can feel free to approach and talk to us Japanese fans at Korakuen Hall. We will help you, and we will enjoy communicating with each other.
Is "Nihongo" (Japanese language) a difficult language for you to learn? This is certainly tough for those of you who are foreign to Japan. I think the most difficult part of "Nihongo" is its writing system. It takes you a few years until you can understand "Weekly Pro-Wrestling" or "Weekly Gong" (http://www.effect.co.jp/~gong/index2.html) or "Tokyo Sports" thoroughly, unless you are already familiar with "Kanji" (Chinese characters). We Japanese learn several thousand "Kanji" during our whole school career. The two-syllable based writing systems "Hiragana and Katakana" (only about 100 signs), which is the Japanese alphabet / general term for a number of syllabic writing systems developed in Japan, all based on "Kanji," however, can be memorized easily and within a short period of time. Take a look at Dory Funk Jr.'s "Learn to speak Japanese" (http://www.dory-funk.com/language.html). In the wrestling business, two of the best Japanese speakers I've ever seen are Dory and Esther Moreno. Esther is almost perfect.
You will arrive at Narita Airport, then you can check out "Transportation In Tokyo" (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html). Where will you stay in Tokyo? Korakuen Hall is 3 minutes from Suidobashi Station (JR Line) and Korakuen Station (Subway [Marunouchi] Line). You can search 5 train routes with total cost, distance, and traveling time on "Expert Travel Planner" (http://www.vallab.com/expcgi/exp.cgi), and there is the "Big Egg Web Site" (http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/english.htm). Everything is really expensive in Tokyo. The cheapest balcony ticket at small Korakuen is around 3,000 yen. You can find the Japanese prices on "Price Check Japan!" (http://www.typhoon.co.jp/pricechk.html)
"Youkoso Nippon e!" (Welcome to Japan, How good of you to come and see us in Japan !) "Douzo Nippon no puroresu wo otanoshimi kudasai!" (Enjoy Japanese Pro-Wrestling !)
All Japan's Johnny Ace and Masanori
You may contact Masanori at masa_h@mail.goo.ne.jp
Visit the American Pro Wrestling Message Board (Japanese language only)
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~dnak/
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