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Pre-Fire Festival '07 Press Conference!
July 13th, 2007
Three days before the opening of the Fire Festival
'07, ZERO1-MAX ace Shinjiro Otani, along with other tournament participants,
held a press conference in Tokyo. Also appearing at the ZERO1-MAX
Slot & Pachinko parlor was Masato Tanaka, Ryouji Sai, Takao
Omori, Yoshihito Sasaki, and Big Japan Pro Wrestlings Daisuke Sekimoto.
All those present were asked for their opinion on the upcoming battle,
and all men expressed confidence in achieving victory.
Otani also made several other announcements, some relating to the Fire Festival '07 and some not. NOAH's Akitoshi Saito, MUGA's Yutaka Yoshie and BML's Kazunari Murakami were not present at the interviews. Also of not was Kohei Sato's absence. When asked to comment about it, Otani again said Kohei lacks respect for pro wrestling and for society in general. He said since he and Kohei are in separate block in the tournament, there's always the chance they could meet in the finals were Otani will lay a beating on him. He added that he doesn't see Kohei getting that far, however.
Three days before the opening of the Fire Festival '07, ZERO1-MAX ace Shinjiro Otani, along with other tournament participants, held a press conference in Tokyo. Also appearing at the ZERO1-MAX Slot & Pachinko parlor was Masato Tanaka, Ryouji Sai, Takao Omori, Yoshihito Sasaki, and Big Japan Pro Wrestling's Daisuke Sekimoto. All those present were asked for their opinion on the upcoming battle, and all men expressed confidence in achieving victory.
Otani also made several other announcements not all relating to the
Fire Festival '07. NOAH's Akitoshi Saito, MUGA's Yutaka
Yoshie and BML's Kazunari Murakami were not present at the interviews.
Also of note was Kohei Sato's absence. When asked to comment about
it, Otani again said Kohei lacks respect for pro wrestling and for
society in general, adding that since he and Kohei are in separate blocks
in the tournament, there's always the chance they could meet in
the finals where Otani will happily lay a beating on him. He also said that he
doesn't see Kohei getting that far, however.
Otani said the Fire Festival champion katana has been calling to him saying, "Do your best! I'm waiting..." He said since he is a 3 time champion he has the confidence to achieve his goal.
Masato Tanaka said he's in the best physical condition he's been in years.Takao Omori said as the AWA World Heavyweight champion he should be the favorite, and Sekimoto said he carries on his back the banner of Big Japan Pro Wrestling and wants to have a good showing.
Also announced was a decision match for the WWA World Jr. Light Heavyweight title match that will take place on 7/24 between former champion Osamu Namiguchi and masked wrestler THE ZEST. Nami said when he won the belt from Filoso it was his first title, yet he was soon deprived of it by Katzuhiko Nakajima. He said if he wins the title belt he would like his first defense to be against Nakajima, since he was also deprived of the title when he lost the belt to Tatsuhito Takaiwa. Takaiwa vacated the title previous to last year's Tenka-Ich Jr. Tournament.
Furthermore, Otani announced other acitivies he has planned for ZERO1-MAX during the "Fire Festival '07" tour:
- Ring Movement of 10,000 People
across the Country
To not charge elementary and Jr. High school children admission to the events, at all the shows other than in Osaka and Korakuen Hall. Those venues will have a "Parent-and-Child Invitation" stipulation where a paid adult can bring children who will be admitted free. 
Free
Fire Festival Commemoration Medal give away for all children
fans- Courtesy visits to all schools and community centers in each city visited
- "Bullying and Suicide Eradication" pro wrestling classroom at each event
- Announcement of Fire Festival '07 mobile phone website in Mie Prefecture availability
- Distribute Organ Transplant Card to all fans
- A signature ball throw by the ZERO1-MAX girls
- Sale of the Officially-Recognized ZERO1-MAX "Fire Festival" Sake
- Summer Vacation Special Talk Show Event Just previous to the 7/29 Osaka show
Shinya Hashimoto - Two Years Ago Today...
July 11th, 2007
It was two years ago today that ZERO-ONE founder and legendary Japanese wrestler Shinya Hashimoto passed away suddenly at the age of 40.
Nagata Appears!
July 8th, 2007
New Japan Pro Wrestling's Yuji Nagata made good
on his promise to appear at the ZERO1-MAX show in Chiba yesterday.
The IWGP Heavyweight champ had said he would appear at the Togane
East Gold Arena and arrived carrying a bouquet of flowers. He presented
the flowers to Shinjiro Otani and shook his hand.
He announced that on his 15th Anniversary show on September 9th at this location he would like for Otani to be his tag partner for the main event. Otani said afterwards that Nagata was very respectful of the ZERO1-MAX ring, and everything seemed very positive. He added that right now he is focused on winning the "Fire Festival" and will respond to the offer following the tournament final on August 2nd.
Yuji Nagata Announces Surprise Visit!
July 4th, 2007
New
Japan Pro Wrestling's IWGP Heavyweight champion Yuji Nagata announced
today that he would be making a surprise visit to the ZERO1-MAX
show on July 7th at the Togane East gold arena in Chiba, Japan.
When asked what his business would be at the show, Nagata responded that there are two people he's coming to visit. The two in question are Shinjiro Otani and Kazunari Murakami, both aquaintances of Nagata's. Togane, Chiba is Nagata's hometown in Japan. On September 9th, Nagata will hold his 15th Anniversary show at the very same location. Nagata was somewhat vague on why he was appearing otherwise.
When asked to comment, Otani said he felt Nagata was very courages showing up to another organization's show uninvited and alone. He said he doesn't clearly understand Nagata's mission but he will be willing to speak to him and see what he wants. Otani said Nagata is the IWGP champion so he expects a surprise as that's what champions bring.
Sekimoto Power Training for Fire Festival '07!
July 3rd, 2007
Big Japan Pro Wrestling's Daisuke Sekimoto, a three time participant of the "Fire Festival" ('01, '06, '07) held a public workout for the pro wrestling media. This workout took
place in the Tsurumi river outside the Big Japan dojo in Yokohama.
Sekimoto says he swims in the river every day, even though it was chosen "most polluted" river in 2002. "I steel myself mentally as well as build stamina," the current UN Heavyweight champion and one-half of the BJW Tag Team champs alongside Yoshihito Sasaki, said. "The Fire Festival is a severely physical tournament, as is each individual match. It is stamina that is required to overcome this battle to victory!" Sekimoto says during the Summer he swims 10km a day in the river.
He also was asked to comment on his upcoming opponents in Block B of the upcoming "Fire Festival '07," his thoughts on the tournament and what he'll do if he wins:
Masato Tanaka (7/16): "The champion the entire tournament last year. He can do anything, is very tough and has inexhaustible stamina. I will match power for power and hopefully ride the wave of an opening victory."
Kohei Sato (7/24): "I won when I fought him in the "Fire Festival" of last year. I've faced him many times, and although I feel it has been a good rivalry, it ends here."
Yoshihito Sasaki (7/28): "This will assuredly be a hard-hitting
intense match. I believe this is our first major singles match.
I will bring my absolute best for this one, and win."
Takao Omori (7/31): "When I lost to him last year I felt there was a chance to win that match. I misfired a German suplex hold finishing attempt in that match, though a year later my German has greatly improved.
On the Fire Festival: "Lots of intense fighting. I consider it honorable to be on such a good roster of fighters...I also represent Big Japan Pro Wrestling in the tournament and want to win for both myself and BJW."
On Winning the Prize: "I would buy more weight training equipment for Big Japan's dojo, and make it a Class A gym. I would help clean the Tsurumi River and contribute to Yokohama in general."
Lion King Cup Revival!
July 3rd, 2007
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Last held in 2003 by ZERO-ONE, the Lion King Cup is a tournament designed to give younger wrestlers from different promotions a chance to showcase their skills against each other in a tournament situation. The last winner of the tournament was Yoshihito Sasaki, who from there went on to win the Tenka-Ichi Jr Tournament Tournament in 2005 and will take part in his first "Fire Festival" this year.
The participants for this years Lion King Cup are as follows:
- Osamu Namiguchi (ZERO1-MAX)
- Shota Takanishi (ZERO1-MAX)
- Manabu Hara (BML)
- Manabu Soya (Muga)
- Munenori Sawa (BattlArts)
- Yuta Yoshikawa (BattlArts)
- Milanito Collection AT (El Dorado)
- Hercules Senga (El Dorado)
- Tomomitsu Matsunaga (DDT)
- Ken Ohka (DDT)
K-DOJO and LA Dojo will also have representatives.
