Because I experienced those 4 minutes and 48 seconds in my debut match, I was later able to have fierce battles lasting 30 minutes or 60 minutes. [Kenta Kobashi Serial #3]

The day before the WBC World Heavyweight Championship match, Wajima, who was undergoing professional wrestling training, gave encouragement to Mike Tyson (October 1986, Las Vegas, Nevada).

I joined Kyocera... But after seeing Tyson, I made my decision.


Original source

Thanks to the recommendation from Professor Takahashi, I eventually decided to join Kyocera Corporation. My employment and moving to Kyoto City also made my mother happy. My workplace was in Yokaichi, Shiga Prefecture. I had some connections with Shiga Prefecture. It was the place where I debuted, and also the place where my wife (Mrs. Mayuko) grew up. I always went in and out through Kintetsu’s Omihachiman Station, and even now, we often talk about, “Perhaps at that time, we might have passed by each other.”

My first choice was the General Affairs Department. Because I had decided to temporarily set aside my dream of becoming a professional wrestler, I wanted to throw myself into the life of an office worker. I wanted to do office work, and I thought that a department where steady effort was required suited me best. However, I was assigned to the most difficult department, the one that everyone disliked. It was a job handling the dust generated during the manufacturing process of copy machines. At first, I complained for a while, but doing so felt somewhat disgraceful. So I decided to silently devote myself to the work while clenching my fists.

The dormitory room was shared by four people. Other than eating, there was almost nothing enjoyable. I was once recruited by the rugby team and participated in a few matches. I bought a car, got a driver’s license, and carried a debt of about one million yen. However, a certain feeling of dissatisfaction continued. During this period, I saw a news article about Mike Tyson in the dormitory’s living room. He was the same age as me. He had grown up in an orphanage, but he was working hard to become the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion in history. I was greatly shocked. “Ah, compared to him, what am I doing?” I instinctively thought so. At that moment, I don’t know why, but I decided once again, “Yes, I’m going to become a professional wrestler.”

Around my second year, I also experienced a transfer to work in Kagoshima for about half a year, but by working overtime endlessly, I finally paid off my debt. I had nothing else to think about, only going to Tokyo to become a professional wrestler. I submitted my resignation to the company. Naturally, they tried to stop me, and my mother, with tears in her eyes, said, “You finally got into a good company, so why are you leaving?” But I could no longer turn back. I left Kyocera, stayed at my mother’s house, and then sent my resume to All Japan Pro Wrestling. That was in February 1987.


Striking a fighting pose in the company dormitory. That was the summer when I was 19.

Although I was once rejected in the document screening, thanks to the chairman of the gym I was attending at that time, I was given the opportunity to have an interview at the Otsu match in May. Of course, I thought there would be a test, so I nervously headed to the venue. It was my first time seeing Mr. Baba, and sure enough, he was a very tall person. Seeing me so extremely nervous, Mr. Baba only said one thing, “I understand.” Then he said, “Go greet everyone.” I thought, “Does this mean I passed?” I felt somewhat caught off guard.

It was my first time entering the professional wrestling dressing room. I didn’t know anything about the situation and just kept greeting everyone. There were cold responses like “hmph” and people who completely ignored me... Only two people responded to me — Mr. Tsuruta and Mr. Misawa. I will never forget that.

Mr. Tsuruta said, “Okay, okay, do your best.” At that time, Mr. Misawa was the second-generation Tiger Mask, so he smiled at me through his mask. Those who know will understand — that unique smile where his eyebrows would move. Finally, Mr. Baba said to me, “The office will call you, so wait for it.” I didn’t quite understand, but in any case, it seemed that I had become a professional wrestler. After waiting at home for about two weeks, in June 1987, I arrived at Tokyo Station with only a backpack.

After my debut, Mr. Baba praised me for the first time.

With only a backpack and a big shaved head. Wearing loose jeans, no matter how you looked at me, I was a complete novice. I didn’t even know how to ride the subway or the direction to Roppongi. To get to All Japan Pro Wrestling’s office in Tokyo, I called out to my junior from the Fukuchiyama High School judo club and somehow managed to find Roppongi.

Although this story has become quite famous, when I arrived at the All Japan Pro Wrestling office, the media people told me to “take off your clothes and strike a fighting pose,” and then they took a series of photos. People mistook me for former sumo wrestler Juryo Tamakirin (Akira Taue). Looking back, from that time, I already had a connection with the name Taue...

At the office, I received a map of Setagaya, the Kinuta Dojo, and the dormitory, and temporarily headed west. They told me, “You don’t need to send your futon from home.” That’s because many people would leave soon after joining, and they didn’t want the trouble of sending it back. I guess I was also regarded as one of those people at that time.

At that time, the dormitory had Yoshinari Ogawa, Takeshi Kikuchi, and Isao Takagi. There were only shabby cushions in the room, and they told me, “Use them as you like.” There were rats running around on the ceiling. Honestly, it was dirty and messy. But I was excited. This is awesome, awesome, awesome. I had entered the dojo of professional wrestling. I could become a professional wrestler — that was my honest feeling as I stood at the starting line.

Training began. It was harder than I imagined. Even with simple basic exercises, I could only desperately keep up. Sure enough, the professional level was different. My weight dropped from 105 kilograms to 90 kilograms. Even after the joint training ended, I was never idle. I had to take care of the seniors’ meals, take turns on duty, and there was never a moment to relax. But I was filled with hope. In my heart, I never considered quitting as an option.

The salary was 50,000 yen per month. It was a bit strange — odd-numbered months were 50,000 yen, even-numbered months were 100,000 yen. But I had no time to spend it. Because I couldn’t leave the dormitory all day long. From training days, I transitioned to the tour. After a Battle Royale match, on February 26, 1988, at the Ritto Town Gymnasium in Shiga Prefecture, I was going to have my debut match against Mr. Genichiro Tenryu.

In debut match in February 1988 at Ritto Town in Shiga Prefecture, Kobashi threw a punch at Genichiro Tenryu.

According to the records, “4 minutes and 48 seconds.” In reality, that time felt like a lifetime. From the beginning, I kept attacking without any rhythm. Even though I had done thousands of squats before that day, my heart was almost exploding. Although I was able to use moves like a body slam and dropkick, I felt like I was completely toyed with by Mr. Tenryu. I couldn’t remember anything, but in the end, I think I was defeated by some kind of head blow.

But precisely because of the experience of those 4 minutes and 48 seconds, it paved the way for future matches lasting 30 minutes or 60 minutes. When I reported to Mr. Baba, “I have debuted, thank you very much,” he said, “I’m waiting for you at the hotel upstairs.” After the match, I went to the restaurant on the top floor of the dormitory. Although I was Mr. Baba’s attendant, I had never been invited to dine with him.


In the scene after my debut match, I looked very immature. Being praised by Mr. Baba for the first time was the greatest honor.

At that occasion, he praised me for the first time, saying, “You did well.” I was almost moved to tears. I had finally become a professional wrestler. Awesome. I made it. Even though I wanted to shout out those feelings, I just clenched my fist under the table and kept eating silently. (To be continued)