By: Jeff Brown

Translations: Kyosuke Nomura; Cover graphic: Hart Editing; Photos: Masahiro Kubota

Yuna Manase is one of the architects of modern joshi, having trained and guided countless wrestlers for nearly a decade. In contrast to her boisterous in-ring persona, she is quite humble about her influence and instead is focused on bettering herself and the talent around her in Ganbare Pro (including the sub-brand Pocchari Joshi Pro Wrestling, which celebrates large body types) and in promotions such as Ice Ribbon and Evo. She began her career as a hard-hitting striker, but over the years has morphed into an imposing power fighter that uses her size to her advantage. Her contributions are vast, but not simply demonstrated in a tweet or GIF; it’s the ability to act and emote in ways that transcend language barriers with a knack for weaving together long-term stories.

She debuted in STARDOM in 2014 against Kairi Sane (Kairi Hojo), and after about a year of facing the likes of Act Yasukawa, Koguma, and Takumi Iroha, Yuna took on the task of coaching a young roster of actresses at the formation of AgZ (what is now known as AWG). She guided the emergence of numerous modern-day pillars, including Tae Honma, Nao Kakuta, Saori Anou, Natsumi Maki (Natsupoi), and Makia Ozaki. The storyline of the first season of AgZ featured the teams of MArZ (Anou and Yuna) against Turtle’Z (Ozaki and Yuuki Harima, aka Aina Aiba), while she was known as the “Queen of AgZ.” In 2016, she took Tam Nakano under her wing and helped her make her first steps in wrestling. Afterwards, Yuna joined TJPW and was a veteran presence on cards, where she also guided the early days of Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka. While in TJPW, she defeated her former AgZ trainee Natsumi Maki for the International Princess Championship. The dramatic main event battles between Yuka Sakazaki and Mizuki bear Yuna’s fingerprints, echoing a lot of what she did in 2015 with Ozaki and Anou in AgZ. Over in modern-day STARDOM, she is indeed the godmother of the Cosmic Angels, as Tam, Poi, and Anou (along with former members Mina and Unagi) use that template for their magnificent storytelling, which has a direct line back to Yuna.

Yuna enters the arena with Nanase Aikawa playing over the speakers, becoming the actual flag bearer for Ganbare (which is an expression similar to “do your best”), using her strength to challenge all adversaries, man or woman, from Hartley Jackson, Ken Ohka, HARUKAZE, and Yoshiko Hasegawa. She is still shaping the future as she guides YuuRi to greatness. Yuna often visits Ice Ribbon, where she is a two-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion with Totoro Satsuki as BIG DEKAI. When people enjoy a joshi card, they are sitting at the table that Yuna helped build. Prior to traveling to America for Kitsune’s YABAI!, where she will challenge for the Kitsune World Championship, she talked with RESURA about her career, influence, and what it means to fight body stereotypes.

RESURA – What drew you to Ganbare?

Yuna Manase – The reason that I was drawn to Ganbare Pro is that when I announced that I will be stepping away from Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, the first promotion that reached out to me was GanPro. But now that I think about it, another key factor was when I was competing in “Pocchari Pro Wrestling”. Ken Ohka was there cheering for a Yuna Manase unknown by the world, along with Yumehito Imanari who told me “You are amazing the way you are” when I was in denial. Ganbare Pro is a place where I am proud to be the pro wrestler Yuna Manase.

Q – What are the goals for Ganbare in 2024 and beyond?

A – I believe that Ganbare Pro is a place where you can be who you want to be. So more than making Ganbare Pro a bigger promotion, I believe it’s important to have people be who they want to be through pro wrestling. As a result, Ganpro will be able to get more eyes on the product. I also want Ganbare to be a “Universal Language”. Many have told me that “Ganbare” isn’t properly interpreted into English. Therefore, I want to be able to spread the spirit of Ganbare to the world and share the power of working hard.

Q – Is there a particular wrestler you are looking forward to facing in 2024?

A – My debut opponent Kairi Sane.

The cheerful Willow Nightingale whom I love.

And the person who drew me into becoming a pro wrestler, The Rock.

Q – Does your entrance theme, “夢見る少女じゃいられない” (Can’t Be a Dreaming Girl) by Nanase Aikawa have a special meaning to you?

A – I chose this song when I established GanJo because I didn’t want to lose to the men in Ganpro. Back in my Stardom days, we all used to sing and dance along to this, so it always gets me pumped up. Also, I think that Nanase Aikawa and Yuna Manase are similar.

Q – How did you become interested in pro wrestling?

A – It was honestly the last few years that I really got locked into pro wrestling. The reason for that is when I joined Ganpro and met Keisuke Ishii. He would always be so excited to talk about pro wrestling and would always give me advice for the ring. Because of him, I was able to discover the lariat. From that point, my viewpoint of professional wrestling changed from being painful and wearying to something fun and interesting.

Q – You have influenced the joshi world for years, from STARDOM to AgZ to TJPW to Ganbare. What would you say inspired your dramatic and emotional style of wrestling that seems to have begun when you were the “Queen of AgZ”?

A – I think of professional wrestling as a story. And I am one who’s really keen on love. I believe that everyone who I’ve had any sort of connection with is important, it doesn’t matter if I was involved with them once or many times. It’s not just fighting in the ring I think about, I also think about the story that me and the opponent have composed and can compose leading up and after the match. I want to be able to tell dramatic stories with all the wrestlers I have faced in the past and the treasure trove of wonderful wrestlers that I will meet in the future through the power of pro wrestling.

Q – You have mentored and trained countless wrestlers over the years. Do you feel a sense of success when they continue to grow?

A – I was able to get their momentum going by having their confidence go from 0 to 1, but it’s their dedication that got that 1 to 100. I am happy for their success as if it was my own and I am very proud of how much they have come.

Q – YuuRi is someone you are currently mentoring; what about her stood out and seemed special?

A – Yuuri is someone that suddenly caught my eye. I don’t know if it’s because of how we were raised but I often got angry at her and gave her lots of guidance. But, she gave me lots of respect and took good care of me. She’s basically like a family member, so I taught her everything I learned throughout the road. I want to be able to take her all over the world and showcase the spirit of Ganbare globally.

Q – You have mentioned body image and being a plus-size model before. Would you care to share your thoughts on the topic?

A – I’ve often been criticized about my body in Japan, which was very painful for me. However, when I established “Pocchari Pro Wrestling”, I realized that I am okay the way that I am. Therefore, I want to help out people who have gotten through the same obstacles as me. I know that a lot of fans like the small and young wrestlers, but I want to be able to spread the message that “Being big is cool!”

Q – Is there anything you are looking forward to when visiting the United States for Kitsune?

A – This will be my first time in America as I was not selected for past American tours. I realized that I needed to change, therefore I parted ways with TJPW. Then after that, everyone started to wrestle overseas. This has been my dream since my debut, so on 8/18, 10 years after my debut, I will finally be able to reach that goal. It’s also my mum’s birthday that I get to wrestle on American soil, so it’s truly a special day. I don’t have any noteworthy talents but I never gave up. I want to show that dreams really do come true, and I want to thank Kitsune for helping me accomplish this.

Q – How would you describe yourself to new fans?

A – Hey everyone! Don’t keep your eyes off of Yuna Manase, the wrestler who is living cheerfully in and out of the ring! I want to meet wrestling fans all over the world! I will take every offer to meet you all!

Q- ガンバレプロレスに加入した理由は？

A – キッカケは東京女子プロレスを離れると発表した時に1番に声をかけてくれたのがガンバレ☆プロレスだったからです。でも今思うと「ぽっちゃり女子プロレス」に出た時に大家健代表がよくわからない存在の私を必死に応援してくれた事と否定された続けていた私自身に「そのままの君が最高だよ」と肯定してくれた今成夢人選手がいた事が自分にとって大きかったです。私は「まなせゆうな」でいていいと思える場所がガンバレ☆プロレスです。

Q – 2024年と今後のガンバレプロレスの目的はなんですか？

A – 私はガンバレ☆プロレスはなりたい自分になるところだと思っています。なので団体を大きくするというより個々がより楽しくプロレスを通して自分の好きな自分になる事が大切かと思います。その結果団体がより多くの人に知ってもらえると思っています。そして「ガンバレを世界共通語」にしたいと考えています。「ガンバレ」はいまだに英語でしっかり訳せていないと言われています。なので自分を通してガンバレの精神を世界へ発信したくさんの人と頑張る気持ちを共有したいです。

Q – 2024年に闘いたい相手はいますか？

A -デビュー戦の相手カイリ・セイン選手

ハッピーで大好きなウィローナイチンゲール選手

そしてプロレスを始めるキッカケになったザ・ロック選手

Q – あなたの入場曲“夢見る少女じゃいられない”はあなたにとって特別な意味はありますか？

A – 私がガンプロで男にも負けたくないからガンジョを立ち上げると宣言した時にこの曲にしました。元々スターダムの時にみんなでよく歌って踊っていた曲なので私にとってはあの時を思い出して気合いの入る曲になっています。

あと相川七瀬の七瀬とまなせが似てるなと思ってます。

Q – なぜプロレスにハマりましたか？

A – 本当の意味でプロレスにハマったのはここ数年です。ガンプロに来てからでそのキッカケは石井慧介選手です。彼はいつも楽しそうにプロレスの話をして私にプロレスのアドバイスをくれます。彼のおかげで私はラリアットに出会えました。そしてプロレスは痛くて辛いものから楽しくて面白いものと思えるようになりました。

Q – あなたはSTARDOM、AgZ、TJPW、そしてがんばれと、長年にわたって女子プロレス界に影響を与えてきました。AgZの女王」時代から始まったと思われる、ドラマチックでエモーショナルなプロレスのスタイルは、何に影響を受けたと思いますか？

A – 私はプロレスは物語だと考えています。そして愛情が重い方です。一度でも関わった選手は無条件にみんな大切だと思ってしまいます。

ただ戦うのではなく対戦相手との今までとこれからの物語を毎回考えています。今まで出会ってきた全てのレスラーとこれから出会う素敵なレスラーともっとプロレスを通してお話しを紡いでいきたいと考えています。

Q – あなたはこれまで、数え切れないほどのレスラーを指導・育成してきました。彼らが成長し続けることに成功感を感じますか？

A – 0から1にした自信はありますが、1から100にしたのは彼女達自身の努力です。彼女達の成功は自分の事のように嬉しいですし、私の自慢の存在です。

Q – YuuRIは現在あなたが指導している選手ですが、彼女のどんなところが際立っていて、特別だと感じましたか？

A – YuuRIはいきなり私の目の前に現れました。育ってきた環境の違いか私は彼女にたくさん怒り、指導しました。けどそんな私を彼女はいつも尊重して大切にしてくれます。私にとって家族のような存在です。

なので私がプロレス界で学んだ事を全て彼女に教えています。

私はYuuRIと日本を飛び出して世界中にガンバレの精神を届けたいと考えています。

Q – あなたは以前、ボディイメージとプラスサイズモデルであることについて言及しました。このトピックについて、あなたの考えを聞かせていただけますか？

A – 日本で私はずっと体型の事を言われ続けました。凄く苦しかったです。でも「ぽっちゃり女子プロレス」をキッカケに私は私のままでいていいと学びました。なので私は自分と同じ苦しみを味わった人を救える存在になりたいです。

そしてプロレス界でも今人気なのは小さくて若い選手。でも私は大きいはかっこいい！と伝えられる象徴のような存在になりたいです。

Q -「Kitsune」でアメリカを訪れるにあたり、楽しみにしていることはありますか？

A – 初めてのアメリカ遠征になります。私は以前アメリカへのツアーメンバーに選ばれませんでした。私はその事実が今の自分のままでは良くないと思いtjpwを離れ動き出しました。その後誰もが海外に行ってプロレスをしていました。私は長い間行けなかったです。デビュー当時から目標にしていたので10年後の8/18にやっと私はアメリカでプロレスをすることができます。この日は私のお母さんのお誕生日です。特別な日です。

私には才能がないが、諦めなかった。

夢は叶うと証明出来る。夢を叶えてくれたKitsuneに感謝しています。

Q – 新しいファンに自分をどう説明しますか？

A – プロレスも人生も元気に明るく生きているまなせゆうなをよろしくお願いします！

世界中のプロレスファンに会いたい！オファー大募集中！