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Q&A w/ Takumi Iroha on Marvelous, GHC, Mayu, Sareee, Utami, Marigold + more!

19 hours ago Peatzilla | MP

Peatzilla | MP

Q&A w/ Takumi Iroha on Marvelous, GHC, Mayu, Sareee, Utami, Marigold + more!

By: Pep S. Caro

Marvelous Pro Wrestling is a company that inherited the legacy of the hard hitting Japanese wrestling style from the 1980s All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and the 1990s and 2000s GAEA. The promotion, founded by CRUSH GALS member Chigusa Nagayo and one of the most influential wrestlers of her generation, is enjoying a great moment as it begins its tenth anniversary activities.

The atmosphere in Marvelous and women’s wrestling has become more lively after their Ace, Takumi Iroha started her quest to make women’s (joshi) pro wrestling greater like in her perception was in the 80s and 90s. Iroha has been label “The General of Marvelous” but she’s closer to become a “General of Women’s Wrestling” as she currently owns 4 Championships: RCW Women’s World title from RCW Spain, AAAW Single and Tag Team titles from Marvelous, and GHC Women’s title from Pro Wrestling NOAH. At the same time she has been the leader of her promotion as they collide in an interpromotional rivalry with Marigold, promotion founded by Rossy Ogawa.

After participating in WRESTLE MAGIC 2025, and defending for the first time her GHC Women’s title, I was able to talk with Takumi Iroha, in what was her first interview with any international media outlet after winning the GHC belt. Takumi was very kind to answer all the questions that covered a variety of topics.

Monthly Puroresu: Congratulations on celebrating your 12th anniversary. Why did you decide to become a professional wrestler? What motivates you to compete at the highest level today?

Takumi: It was because I wanted to become stronger. I admired Chigusa Nagayo san’s strength in facing challenges. I still have a lot I want to do, and I have many rivals, so that is my motivation to fight in the present.

Monthly Puroresu: You spent the first part of your career in STARDOM. You were even an Artist of Stardom Champion alongside Iyo Sky (formerly known as Io Shirai) and Mayu Iwatani. What memories do you have from this stage of your career?

Takumi: Iyo (Sky) san always took me out to dinner after practice every time!

I think that Iyo san and Mayu (Iwatani) san are truly geniuses. So, I had to work hard to keep up with them.

Monthly Puroresu: Almost at the same time, you began competing in Marvelous, the organization you are currently part of. Why did you decide to join Marvelous? What does the organization mean to you?

Takumi: I admired Nagayo san like I said before and wanted to learn from her. Marvelous Pro Wrestling is everything for me.

Monthly Puroresu: You were gaining notoriety in Japanese wrestling, not only as a member of Marvelous but also after winning Championships in WAVE and SEAdLINNNG. What was the experience like representing other organizations as Champion?

Takumi: By participating in other organization’s events, I was able to learn about various types of pro wrestling. I broke down my preconceptions and participated in other events and managed to win Championships.

Monthly Puroresu: You also gained international popularity and won Championships in foreign organizations. What did winning the West Coast Women’s Championship in the United States mean to you? What would you like to highlight from that reign?

Takumi: At first, I was confused by the pro wrestling culture and audience reactions in the United States, which were different from those in Japan.

Winning the West Coast belt from my rival, Masha Slamovich was very meaningful. It was an important moment for me.

Monthly Puroresu: You’re also a Champion in Spain. What did winning the RCW Women’s World Championship mean to you? What would you like to highlight from this reign?

Takumi: Yes! Not only in the United States, but I also had the opportunities to compete in Spain. I have great memories of my comeback match after my collarbone injury and the day I won the RCW champion belt. I now have many rivals not only in Japan but also around the world, which has increased my motivation.

Monthly Puroresu: You’re considered “The Ace of Marvelous” and are currently the AAAW Singles Champion after defeating Mayumi Ozaki. What did it mean to you to regain the Championship?

Takumi: Since Marvelous Pro Wrestling owns the AAAW Champions belts and I believe that Marvelous is the best pro wrestling, I feel obligated to get the AAAW Single Champion belt back.

Monthly Puroresu: In March 2025, you teamed with Senka Akatsuki to face Nanae Takahashi and Seri Yamaoka as part of Takahashi’s retirement tour, who is also your senpai. It was a match for the Marigold Twin Star Championships, in which the Marvelous team lost. How did that match feel? How important was it for you to defeat Takahashi in this final match? Do you think you were able to convey all your feelings in this match?

Takumi: Even though I lost the match, I was really glad that I could have fought against Nanae san before she retired. I want Senka Akatsuki to win the matches in which she competes. I also wanted to show the audience and Nanae san how amazing Marvelous Pro Wrestling newcomers are! Despite losing, I think that I achieved that.

Monthly Puroresu: In April 2025, you defeated Meiko Satomura in a singles match as part of Satomura’s retirement tour. She was your opponent in your debut match in 2013 and is part of the “Lineage of Red.” How did that match feel? How important was it for you to defeat Satomura in this final singles match? Do you think you were able to convey all your feelings in this match?

Takumi: Yes! Satomura san was my opponent in my debut match. She is a pro wrestler I had been chasing for 12 years and a beloved disciple of Nagayo san. So, I was very conscious of her. I had a strong desire to win and surpass her!

Monthly Puroresu: Also in April, Marvelous toured the United States again. They visited Las Vegas and you had a couple of matches, including a tag team match against Syuri and Dani Luna. What was it like returning to the United States? How did you feel about the matches? Did you get a chance to do some sightseeing?

Takumi: I think I was able to show my wrestling skills in matches for the first time in a WrestleMania Week. I want to continue wrestling against Syuri san in Japan. Dani has been engraved in my mind as a new rival. But, I didn’t have time for sightseeing.

Monthly Puroresu: You began teaming with Sareee, now known as SPARK RUSH. You won the Marvelous tag team tournament and then defeated H2D to win the AAAW Tag Team Championships. How did you feel about the title match? What are your impressions of Sareee as a partner? What are your goals as a team?

Takumi: Sareee san has been my rival for a long time, so I know her moves well. That’s why I think that we were able to win the AAAW Tag Team belt together this time. Forming a tag team with her gives me a sense of security and also watching her matches are exciting as well. We are SPARK RUSH!

Monthly Puroresu: You are Marvelous’ general in this rivalry against Marigold. You first led the team to an elimination match in April, then defeated Seri, Nanae’s protégé, at Nanae’s retirement show. How did you feel about the match? What are your impressions of Seri as a competitor?

Takumi: Honestly, I thought there was no possible way I would have lost against Seri. But her Pro Wrestling techniques were impressive for someone her age.

Monthly Puroresu: At that event, Utami Hayashishita nominated you to be her next challenger for the Marigold World Championship. At the time, you mentioned that you wanted to face her, but that she would have to wait a bit. What kind of match would you like to have with her? What are your impressions of Utami as a competitor? Is there anyone else from Marigold you’d like to face?

Takumi: I lost against Utami san in the previous single match, so I wanted to put more pressure on myself. I defeated Victoria Yuzuki at WRESTLE MAGIC. I want to fight against Utami Hayashishita, Mayu Iwatani, and MIRAI from Marigold.

Monthly Puroresu: You returned to compete in the NOAH ring during MONDAY MAGIC. You defeated Kouki Amarei to win the GHC Women’s Championship and increase your win total against Marigold wrestlers. How did you feel about the match? What are your impressions of Kouki as a competitor?

Takumi: First of all, I appreciate that I could have a match against Kouki so soon after she returned from her injury. Her wrestling techniques are great and I believe that she will get stronger. I think that it was meaningful to gain the victory against a Marigold wrestler as me winning the GHC belt would have been unpleasant for them.

Monthly Puroresu: You became the second female champion in history and indicated that you want to make the GHC truly a global belt. What opponents from around the world would you like to face? Last year, the GHC Heavyweight Title was defended in England. Would you like to defend the Championship outside of Japan as well?

Takumi: Indeed, I want to make the GHC Women’s Championship belt a real global one.  The GHC Heavyweight Championship belt has a great history. So, I want to make more great history with great victories with my belt. I can fight against anyone, anywhere.

Monthly Puroresu: Mayu Iwatani has joined Marigold and has declared her intention to win all of that organization’s championships, including the GHC Women’s Championship. She’s currently the Superfly Champion, but she was once your teammate, and you were even champions together. Would you like to face Mayu? What are your impressions of Mayu as a competitor?

Takumi: Mayu Iwatani san is genius and her pro wrestling techniques are very exciting. She is a pro wrestler who is talented and constantly breaks the sense of pro wrestling fighting. Of course, I want to fight against her more.

Monthly Puroresu: You currently also lead training at the Marvelous Dojo. Newer rookies like Senka Akatsuki and Sora Ayame have been quickly rising to prominence. What’s the process like balancing being a wrestler and a coach at the same time? What would you recommend to people interested in starting training at the Marvelous Dojo?

Takumi: I believe that a person’s background is important to start pro wrestling. However, the motivations that she / he has to want to become a pro wrestler are the most important part. Senka and Sora motivated well and have been able to show that in their matches.

I can learn a lot from coaching someone and in the process I can get stronger doing that.

Monthly Puroresu: Now that Marvelous is part of the Wrestle Universe platform, Netflix has produced a series based on the lives of Dump Matsumoto and Chigusa Nagayo, and we’re seeing increased attendance at live events and media coverage of women’s wrestling. Do you think women’s wrestling is experiencing its best moment in the last 20 years? What would you say to someone watching wrestling for the first time?

Takumi: Women’s Pro wrestling has lots of opportunities from media, film and so on now. I would like to put all the good things from Old school Women’s (Joshi) Pro Wrestling and make current pro wrestling better. I just want someone who want to see pro wrestling for the first time to enjoy purely that experience. If the person enjoy it, I’ll be so happy about it!

Monthly Puroresu: Thank you for participating in this interview. Finally, do you have any message for your fans around the world?

Takumi: I’m so happy that I received lots of support messages from fans from all over the world! Thank you for your support!

Please support us and keep on watching Marvelous and women’s pro wrestling. I’ll make women’s pro wrestling greater and more exciting.

We would like to thank Peatzilla for the Art Direction, Hirohisa Okohara for the translation and the Marvelous Pro Wrestling team for all the facilities provided to conduct this interview.

Date:

June 30, 2025

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