Hiroshi Tananashi States His Plans & Goals as NJPW’s New President

As noted before, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced this past Friday that they have named Hiroshi Tanahashi as their new President and Representative Director for the company.

NJPW held a press conference earlier today in Japan featuring Tanahashi giving his first official statements as NJPW’s new President. During the press conference, Tanahashi outlined his current goals and plans for NJPW.

“I always carried a dream and ambition to be President as well as an active wrestler. I’m happy to be able to make that happen, and I’m grateful for all the kind words of support that I’ve gotten since my appointment. That’s also given me a lot of expectations that I have to live up to here on out.

I have some key goals that I would like to meet in my time as the President. First of all, I want to sell out the Tokyo Dome. This has always been the goal for me. For a wrestler to walk down the ramp in front of a sold out Tokyo Dome crowd is something to be proud of forever, and something that will live with you for the rest of your career, as well as something the fans themselves will carry with them for a long time to come.

I also plan on having more title matches outside of major cities. In the 2000s when I worked with out promotion and sales staff, the goal at first was to put 500 people in the buildings, and then 1000 and then on and on. I feel that selling out the Tokyo Dome only becomes possible when the towns all around Japan are sold out as well. I want to unite all of Japan’s wrestling fans in their passion and carry that to the Tokyo Dome.

I also want to further increase our work with sponsors. Our sponsors are the best tag partners that we have, and as an active wrestler as well as President, I’m in a completely unique position to strengthen that relationship. There is a lot that I want to do in this role, as well as a lot I know I still need to learn. I look forward to your support.”

Tanahashi also stated that he currently intends to continue his in-ring career and be on the road for NJPW but he will be in the office whenever they are in Tokyo.

“Well, I plan on being on the road with NJPW, but when the company is in Tokyo then I plan on being in the office. I do want to be heading up promotion as much as I can be, but we also have a lot of wrestlers on the roster. In between tours, training and preparing for the next matches is very important, but promotion is also crucial, and I’d like our wrestlers to take up that workload, absolutely.”

Tanahashi also stated that he still has the goal of winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship since that is the one notable title he has yet to win in his career.

“I’m obviously thinking about the rest of my active career. Obviously as for everyone, within that the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is a key goal. This is probably the only business where guys can freely beat up their boss, so that might make me an even bigger target, but I hope to make all the boys angry with how hard I’m fighting (laughs).”

English translation via NJPW1972.com