New IWGP Committee announced [2005/05/09]

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

New Japan announced the new members of the (figurehead) I.W.G.P. Championship Committee.

Chairman: Makoto Koga - member, the House of Representatives

Secretary-General: Kengo Kimura - New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Members:
Tomiaki Fukuda - president, Japan Wrestling Federation (amateur wrestling, that is)

Haruki Kitazawa - department head, TV Asahi Sports Department

Tatsuo Kawamura - CEO, K Dash (also former president of UFO)

Shigekatsu Nakazono - Kanto Law Office

Yoshiko Tanaka - widow of Rikidozan

Masakazu Kusama - president, New Japan Pro-Wrestling

[Tradewynd]

Oh yes, THIS is the answer to all of New Japan's problems. At least the NWA Board of Directors actually did something outside of kayfabe. Of course, NJ is currently paying these people to "meet" a few times a year to take pictures for the press, but they are, in fact, accomplishing absolutely nothing. What I want to know is where my seat is, because nobody can do nothing like I can.

I would bet everything I own that this was Inoki's idea. It's right up his alley. How exactly something like this is going to sell tickets in 2005 eludes me. Unless they decide that the wrestling bear is the number 1 contender for the IWGP Title, which might sell some tickets to the Faces of Death crowd.

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

I bet I can do nothing much better than you Trade. My professors usually asure me of that. Also, no Yakuza representative?

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Easy on the Mob references please! LOL

Well this can't be no worse than what TNA put together right?

[Tradewynd]

Considering that the yakuza are a very real part of getting money into the wrestling business(and making money in the business), I see no reason to avoid the issue. Don't worry about where the money goes, just enjoy the show. The next time you see somebody killed for missing one payment too many, take solace in knowing that the people who learn from that will pay their bills on time, putting more money into organized crime giving them enough money to fund an infinite number of wrestling disasters.

The yakuza are already represented by having a yakuza wife on the committee anyway. It would also seem possible that there could be yakuza representation at the head of the committee, since public officials are certainly open the concept of donations. Not that it matters, since the shoot version of the committee are yakuza, Inoki and Chono.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Let's not forget that this is a "championship committee", not board of executives/directors. NJ already has a separate board of directors.

Then again, the boards are usually figurehead in many Japanese companies anyway.