Under the Four Flames, a Prayer to the Goddess of Victory

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Harimao for declaring their challenge for the belts.

March 11, 2026.
That day when Harimao declared their challenge for the 6-man tag team belts.
When a pure white T-shirt passed right in front of me, as if cutting through Mr. Shoda's unique microphone performance.
My throat tightened, and a scream-like cheer escaped me.
I cried.
I was so incredibly proud.
My hands and feet were shaking, and I couldn't stand up properly.

I started watching professional wrestling in July 2025.
So, I don't know about the past coronations or the failed defenses in real-time.
But now, I am about to see the continuation of that story.

There is so much time I didn't know about.
For example, the length of time Harimao wasn't complete.
When Mr. Higuchi was forced to be absent for a long time from June 2024 to March 2025 due to a neck injury.
When Mr. Yoshimura couldn't stand in the ring for a long, long time from November 2022 to April 2025.
During that time, the flame known as Harimao might not have been burning steadily.

Even so, it didn't go out.
I believe one of the reasons for that was undoubtedly Mr. Ishida.
The youngest in Harimao.
And the one with the shortest career.
Compared to Mr. Higuchi and Mr. Yoshimura, who fight using their large heavyweight bodies as weapons, Mr. Ishida is sometimes called a "small wrestler."
Even so, Mr. Ishida kept fighting.
During the time that was missing, trying not to let Harimao be interrupted.

"Is it no good if I only have spirit? But this is all I can do."

When I saw these words, my heart tightened.

"Harimao is full of amazing seniors, but I can't move up because I'm weak."

In those words, I felt a sense of frustration, responsibility, and
an irrepressible impatience seeping through.
But I think Mr. Ishida's words have been changing little by little recently.

"Don't underestimate the bond of us in Harimao. We will definitely win the belts. The four of us."
"I'm tired of a life where I can't win when it matters! I have reliable seniors by my side. It's my turn! Don't lose!!!"

When I saw these words, I was truly happy.
It felt like Mr. Ishida was changing from someone chasing the backs of his seniors to someone fighting alongside them.

Another reason.
That is the presence of Mr. Nakatsu.
Mr. Nakatsu was the person who was there when Harimao was going through its most difficult time.

Mr. Higuchi and Mr. Yoshimura.
The time when the two founding members of Harimao were both absent at the same time.

Mr. Higuchi, his one-and-only contemporary, was gone.
And Mr. Yoshimura, the junior he cares for most in the world, was also gone.
In such a situation, he had to protect "Harimao" with Mr. Ishida, who is much younger.
Normally, he shouldn't have had to bear that much responsibility.
After all, Mr. Nakatsu is a wrestler belonging to BASARA.
Even so, Mr. Nakatsu stayed in that place.
So that the name Harimao wouldn't be interrupted.
So that it wouldn't disappear.
I think it was a heavy responsibility.
I don't think it was an easy thing to do.
Yet he carried it.
I thought about how grateful I was for that over and over again as I learned about it later.
There was Mr. Higuchi who paved the way,
there was Mr. Yoshimura who returned,
and there was Mr. Nakatsu who carried it together.
And I am sure it is Mr. Ishida who will take Harimao even higher.

The opponent Harimao is challenging this time is paleyouth.
A unit formed by three members of the D-Gene generation.
Within less than a month of starting, they won the 6-man tag team belts.
I'm sure that speed was not something easily achieved.
They have youth, momentum, and ability.
That is why I think they were able to become champions so quickly.
A unit that rushed up all at once.
That is the current champion.
But I think.
There must be meaning in what has been protected over a long time, even after being missing many times.
There must be a place to reach for a flame that has kept burning even while being blown by strong winds.

"With the four of us in Harimao"
I believe these words that Mr. Ishida repeats over and over are not just a slogan, but the shape of the future he has kept wishing for.
I want to see these four shine.
I hope that the four of them, who have overcome difficult times over and over again, will be hit by the most dazzling spotlight.
I want to see the moment when their efforts, their resolve, and the time they have accumulated are properly rewarded.
That will surely be the moment when the three of them hold the three white belts that the 6-man tag team champions are allowed to possess.
And the moment when the fourth person is standing in the same space together.
I want to see that sight.
I want to see the moment when the flame that has been burning constantly burns higher and more dazzlingly than anyone else.

May the greatest light shine upon Harimao.
I believe that the goddess of victory is surely watching the four of them.