No we will not get over this. Here’s another post translating an interview with pro wrestling legend Tanahashi Hiroshi. This one was posted on the NJPW website and we have translated it in its entirety.
NJPW: How did you feel when the offer came for you to star in this commercial?
Tanahashi: It felt great. It was a surprise, though. The offer came right as I was preparing for my retirement match, so it was perfect timing. Granblue Fantasy has a lot of players, and this opportunity for them to get to know me is nothing short of a blessing.
NJPW: How did you feel when you saw the Beelzebub costume?
Tanahashi: The image I’ve crafted is cheerful, bright, and fun… and Beelzebub is cool, aloof, all sorts of things that aren’t in my character. I was worried, but… it fit great (laughs)
NJPW: We’re less than two months away from the big day, 1.4 (two notes: 1.4 is January 4th, the scheduled date for Tanahashi’s retirement match. Also, this interview took place in early November 2025). How are you feeling about that?
Tanahashi: I announced my retirement in October 2024, and thought “I have a year and two months left.” That time just flew by.
NJPW: Does retirement feel real to you yet?
Tanahashi: I don’t think it will feel real to me until January 5th. I’m going to wake up in the morning and think “Oh, I really just retired.” That’s probably when it’s going to hit me.
NJPW: Tell us about the filming of the commercial.
Tanahashi: I love surprising people, and I think this one will both surprise and excite wrestling fans. I hope this is a fun little surprise to go next to my retirement match, and for the junior wrestlers who look up to me, this will be a gift as I leave: the knowledge that if you work hard at your craft, this is the kind of great work you can become involved with.
NJPW: To close out this interview, please give a message to your fans as well as fans of GBF.
Tanahashi: To the fans of GBF: if you come away thinking “He isn’t anything like Beelzebub,” I apologize. I had a ton of fun in the role, and I thank you for the opportunity to play him. What I want to share with fans of NJPW is all things fun, all things delicious, everything that makes life better. If you can play the game in your spare time and enjoy it, that is enough to make me happy.
NJPW: So. If you had to fight Beelzebub, how would you do it?
Tanahashi: Beelzbub is an amazing physical specimen with long legs. Instead of challenging all the muscle in his upper body, I would work on his legs. As soon as the ring bell sounded, I would start with a low drop kick. With his knees hurt, I would press the advantage with a dragon screw. After that, the Texas cloverleaf would finish the job. This all relies on that opening, though. If that first drop kick misses, I very likely lose.