By: Jeff Brown

Photos courtesy of Masahiro Kubota

TJPW’s Nao Kakuta will be retiring from both pro wrestling and stage acting on July 25th. Her final opponent will be Mizuki at Shin-Kiba 1st ring, which is fitting as Kakuta began her career at the same venue on May 31, 2015. On this road to retirement, Kakuta has chosen to team up with or face a number of wrestlers from her past and present, from Yuki Kamifuku, Yuna Manase, and Yoshiko Hasegawa to younger stars like Shino Suzuki, HIMAWARI, and Haru Kazashiro.

Her career began in AgZ, where she debuted alongside a who’s who of modern joshi, including Tae Honma, Maika Ozaki, Saori Anou, and Natsupoi (Natsumi Maki). She was initially trained by Manase, with a cat-themed persona similar to Neko, and then later by Yumiko Hotta, where she honed the aggressive style seen in TJPW. Her time in TJPW was often spent as a very dependable and versatile veteran who could wrestle tags, singles, or chaotic three-way matches. Her friendship with Hikari Noa led to them forming Free-WiFi, a formidable duo and fan favorite. She would go nearly a decade without a championship, but that all changed when Free-WiFi won the Princess Tag Titles at Wrestle Princess IV. The team ultimately vacated the belts with Hikari’s leave of absence and eventual graduation from TJPW. Even though that was her lone title, she will be remembered as a fierce competitor (though at times mischievous), including the Princess of Princess Title challenge against Mizuki and the wars she had with Kamiyu. She was also an accomplished stage actress and started her own production company, KKT. 

Her journey had a special stop when she held her produce show CROSS at Shin-Kiba, which saw involvement from STARDOM, who sent Natsupoi and Anou to face Kakuta and Honma. The show also included TJPW members as well as fellow AWG alumni Maika Ozakai, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Himeka, Aina Aiba(Yuuki Harima), Cherry (who has a striking resemblance to AWG’s Sakuran Bonita), as well as the aforementioned Poi, Anou, and Honma. While the Rat Chaser will likely only have a sole title run to her name, the fact she was able to get TJPW to cooperate with STARDOM as well as having AWG Representative Keiji Sakaguchi in attendance speaks volumes to her influence in the industry. The noted military buff pulled off a modern-day Christmas Truce as everyone set aside differences for one evening to celebrate a special career. Prior to that show, Kakuta took time out of her very busy schedule to discuss with RESURA a wide variety of topics about wrestling, acting, and her thoughts on TJPW as she prepared to close the book on that chapter of her life.

RESURA: What or who inspired you to start wrestling? Is it correct that you were also contemplating retiring from stage acting at the time, in 2015? If so, what changed your mind?

Kakuta: At one point I quit my job as a stage actor and then I worked behind the scenes.

I was still working as I loved the stage, but I had a strong desire to act again, and when I was struggling with this, I was invited to join Actwres girl’Z as a founding member.

I thought it was a chance to be on the stage again, so I started wrestling.

Q: Who has been your biggest influence in wrestling?

A: It is very difficult to choose one person as “the biggest”.

The match with Yumiko Hotta made me stronger as a professional wrestler.

The match with Mizuki is the one that has stayed in my heart the most.

Q: What drew you to TJPW, and what makes the company special in your opinion?

A: I thought there was something about wrestling here that I didn’t know.

Everyone is sparkling, very cute, and full of individuality.

I strongly wanted to live here as a pro-wrestler!

Q: You have your own production company as well in KKT; what made you want to be a stage actress, and who has inspired you?

A: I got my start on stage acting when an entertainment agency I belonged to offered me a job to give it a try.

I had never seen a stage before, but as I actually performed as a stage actress, I fell in love with it!

So there was no particular stage actress I was aiming for.

Q: Do you feel there are many similarities between stage acting and pro wrestling?

A: In stage acting, I rehearse for about a month, learn the lines, and then go to the show.

But that is not the case with pro wrestling.

The tension of standing in front of an audience is the same, but the emotions before getting into the ring for stage and pro wrestling are completely different.

Q: Who was your strongest rival in TJPW, and do you have a favorite opponent?

A: I have fought a lot of tournaments and on big events with Yuki Kamifuku.

We are good friends once we get out of the ring, but I think we are rivals as pro wrestlers.

It is difficult to say who my favorite opponent is……, but Mizuki is a good friend of mine in private, and I respect her as a pro wrestler, and I was happy to hear her say “I am your rival”.

Q: You have traveled the world with TJPW; do you have any fond memories or stories to share?

A: I have been to China three times and was surprised at how different the food, culture, and language are in each place!

It was a moment when I realized once again that China is a big country.

I was surprised to see so many meats that I had never seen or eaten before.

I was too scared to eat them lol.

Q: What is your favorite match from your TJPW career?

A: The title match against Mizuki!

Also, the tag team match when we won the belts.

Q: Can you describe your feelings when Free-WiFi won the tag titles? Was it an important milestone in your career?

A: I had not won a championship for eight years, so it was a long-cherished dream.

I remember my hands shaking when I held the belt in my hands.

I thought that the belt was very heavy.

Q: You’ve worn a range of ring gear, including cat and military-themed pieces. What has inspired your gear designs throughout the years, including your newest?

A: I have always used purple without fail in every design.

I’ve also always thought, “I just wear what I like and design what I like!”

For military-themed pieces, I was especially concerned about the colors and the detailed decorations.

It actually took me quite a long time to decide on a design.

Q: Your road to retirement has some very special matches involving Yuna Manase and SAKI, but also TJPW members Kamiyu and your final opponent Mizuki. What do each of those matches mean and represent to you?

A: I am spending my time now carefully, thinking that each match is my last.

Actually, it’s hard for me to really feel like I’m retiring……every time I play a match with the seniors and juniors I have been involved with, I sometimes feel sad because I realize that I am retiring.

This retirement road is the culmination of the nine years that I myself have walked.

Q: You have also chosen to face many of the rookies in TJPW; what are your impressions of the new era rising up in TJPW?

A: What is my impression of the term “new era”……?

I think it is great that we have new members and that we can put together such a big card with just TJPW members.

The juniors today are growing remarkably because of the environment and skills that the seniors have created.

I think they are very fortunate juniors.

I believe that if the younger ones grow even more, TJPW will be able to excite the audience even more.

Q: Your CROSS show is a special celebration of your entire career. How did that come about? Did you think you would be able to get participation from STARDOM by sending Natsupoi and Saori Anou?

A: My precious colleague, my former group mates who are also good friends in private life, my seniors who have taken care of me, anyway, this show is filled with all my favorites.

There is a view that only Nao Kakuta can show you! I believe so.

I believe that STARDOM lent me their support because of my retirement!

I sincerely thank TJPW and STARDOM for making my wish come true.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the history behind the CROSS main event? For example, Tae Honma and you made your debuts against each other, which was also the first match in AWG history. Also, you four are all members of the inaugural AgZ roster.

A: These four members are the most important friends I have ever had in my life as a professional wrestler.

They are my colleagues who built up the organization together as the first generation, and although we are now fighting in different places, we are still good friends as ever.

Whenever I had a title match, they always sent me messages of support in the morning.

We are friends who have supported and enhanced each other.

I definitely wanted to have a match with the four of us before I retire.

Q: Lastly, thank you for a wonderful career in the ring and on stage. Do you have any final thoughts on your career or a message to your fans worldwide?

A: Thank you so much for meeting me and for all the support you have given me!

Your support has made it possible for me to do so well.

Even though I am retired, I will always love TJPW.

From now on, I will be a fan and a friend of TJPW just like you all.

So it’s not goodbye!

Wish our friendship would last forever!!