Botched Spot’s back to normal!
I’m back from break! Specifically, I’m back from Japan! The missus and I had been saving up to visit the Land of the Rising Sun for a long time now (five years to be exact), and last week we finally got to make the trip. We actually travelled with a tour group, Japan Deluxe Tour, and it was really awesome. We started off in Osaka, then went to Kyoto, Nara, Iga, a bunch of other places I can’t pronounce, and, of course, Tokyo. We mostly went because of our love of manga, anime, and Japanese video games, but were able to see a lot of different sides of the country and the Japanese culture. Highlights included going to the Iga Ninja museum, going to the Ghibli Museum (a museum that’s all about Studio Ghibli films), visiting a Maid Cafe and going to the crazy electronic shops and arcades in Akihabara, including playing a game that involved flipping a table in order to win.
As big as wrestling is in Japan, I didn’t see much there, either in terms of actual wrestling or any merchandise. I did ask our tour guide about it though and she confirmed for me that professional wrestling was loved by many Japanese people of all ages. When I asked her if she watched, she said that she was only really into it when one extremely popular, extremely good looking wrestler was active. An American who looked fierce when he was in the ring, but pretty when he was out of it. “Who was it?!” I asked. “The Rock? Ric Flair? …Marc Mero?”
“No,” she answered. “Bob Sapp.” Our driver later confirmed that Bob Sapp was the man when it came to wrestling. I was actually a little disappointed that I never saw any TNA wrestlers there, especially since I was flying out the day after their Bound for Glory PPV. I never saw any advertisements for it either, but I read that it was a well attended show, so maybe they just don’t promote in places I went to.
Anyway, I’m glad people enjoyed the reprinted comics from years past! Thanks for the positive comments on all of them. I figured that would be more entertaining than just posting a graphic of “See ya in two weeks!” so I’m glad it paid off.
Welcome back! Glad you didn’t get harassed by any Onis or get caught up in any Spirits vs Technology battles.
I would love to go to Japan one day. I’m a huge fan of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai
Yeah Sapp is still really popular in Japan.
Friend and I want to save and go when a DDT show is an option.
Being a fan of Japanese video games, you should’ve checked out the Capcom Bar in Kabukicho, Tokyo. My one friend lives over there and the place is AMAZING! If ever I go over there, it would be one of the FIRST spots I visit.
What? Not much wrestling? That’s weird, because I really thought NJPW would be promoting itself more aggressively these days, from train stations, trading cards, and other stuff. I’m not sure if you’re into that promotion, though.
Sapp was the man back in the early to mid 2000s. From PRIDE to K-1 to NJPW to HUSTLE to TV shows to commercials, his face was everywhere. The most well-known wrestlers today are probably still Inoki, Baba, Hansen, Choshu, Chono, Sapp, and Muto.