#( thanks to tumblr user taichi-niiyan for writing some of the IDs! )

[sana-yan]

the sound of secret minds; a deep dive on SANADA [part one]

or, alternatively, "Why the hell did SANADA leave Los Ingobernables de Japón?"

! Content Warnings: depictions of blood

Disclaimer: This editorial on SANADA's exit from Los Ingos is based on my interpretation of NJPW kayfabe and information from match results, backstage comments, social media, and interviews. Kayfabe is enforced, but I will sometimes reference "out of character" context to analyze events from 2020 to current-day 2023. I will do my best to provide sources, and I highly recommend you subscribe to NJPW World and watch the matches.

Since much of the information is in Japanese, there may be gaps because I am not a native speaker and rely on my/NJPW's translations. As this is a developing storyline, when new information is revealed, some interpretations in this post may become outdated/debunked.

Furthermore, I love LIJ; however, I will analyze and critique the group dynamics (especially Naito) in this meta. I recommend a different read if this current event is a sore spot for readers.

To avoid getting my premium account removed for providing evidence from paywalled content, please do not share outside of Tumblr. Thank you!

Overture;

Los Ingobernables de Japón is fine. More than that, actually. They've had massive wins since their debut in 2015, and their sleek five-man band of Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, BUSHI, SANADA, and Hiromu Takahashi finally acquired their newest pareja, decorated Dragon Gate veteran Shingo Takagi, in October 2018. LIJ seemed to be on an all-time high, led by the man of cool, Naito.

[ID: A screenshot from Bushi's Twitter, posted on March 17, 2020. The members of LIJ pose for a group picture at Korakuen Hall. From left to right: SANADA, BUSHI, Naito, Shingo, Hiromu, and EVIL. Of note: SANADA and EVIL stand on opposite ends, at the edges of the group. Naito is in the center, lying down in his "Tranquilo" pose. SANADA is looking off to the side. EVIL has his back to the viewer, looking over his shoulder. End ID.]

The early iteration of LIJ founder Tetsuya Naito was that of the anti-establishment upstart looking to disrupt the very place that had rejected him as the Stardust Genius. He looked to antagonize the crowd who had driven him away, and his parejas were instrumental to his ascent, assisting him in crucial matches and cheating on his behalf to get the victory.

Nowadays, they've more or so dispersed from the ringside, and Naito himself has shed those ways, arguably losing that bitter bite after winning over the fans in the 2017 G1 Climax. He follows the same vein of New Japan's classic babyfaces in the ring, wanting no interference from his faction during his singles matches.

Los Ingos' appeal is its rebellious aesthetic. I say "aesthetic" as LIJ adopts counterculture motifs but benefits and plays to the society that had scorned their leader. Although Naito quips at the company and speaks unfavorably about some of their decisions, he also abides by New Japan's rules in kayfabe. It's a mishmash, the best of both worlds, despite being ideologically insensible to the true nature of being ungovernable.

Nonetheless, LIJ's brand of rebellion is one that straight-laced Japanese young adults can consume without retribution to their social standing by aligning with something truly anarchist. (It's really shonen manga-esque if you think about it.) By the time 2019 rolls in, Naito and his stable are the establishments now, one of the most popular and prominent stables in NJPW's history. The company fully backs its projects, and branded merch sells faster than hotcakes.

Furthering that triumph, it's a big win for the members of LIJ at Wrestle Kingdom 14 (Jan. 4-5, 2020): Naito wins both IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Belts from Jay White and Kazuchika Okada; Hiromu Takahashi defeats Will Ospreay and gets the IWGP Junior Heavyweight, becoming a 3-time champion; and BUSHI, EVIL, and Shingo win the Gauntlet match for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Championships. Yes, the members of LIJ were bona fide champions. A faction draped in victory and riches.

Ah, did I forget someone?

That's right, I did. SANADA was the only member of LIJ not to win his bout versus Zack Sabre Jr. for the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship. However, I believe it was the correct outcome. Unlike Zack, who had his pride on the line and the drive to raise the prestige of the belt, SANADA didn't seem to be as hungry.

[ID: The members of LIJ pose for the magazine Weekly Pro Wrestling (Issue No. 2061, April 22, 2020). From left to right: EVIL, Shingo, BUSHI, Naito, SANADA, and Hiromu. Of note: EVIL is the farthest from the group, dressed head-to-toe in black. SANADA stands out with his white suit as the only one without a belt. As the Double Champion, Naito sits on a chair, showing off his belts (the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental). End ID.]

Even though Naito's big roll call in the Tokyo Dome was ruined by a malicious KENTA (the king of iconic behavior), Naito had these words to say:

"What he [KENTA] did was truly amazing, professionally speaking. You have to speak up or make a move if you want to show the fans what you want."

Remember this: Naito is a big "Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps" type. This is his philosophy after the toxicity he had received from the fans as the Stardust Genius. Life doesn't give you chances, so you must seize your opportunities.

As Naito deals with KENTA, SANADA pins Jay White during a tag match at New Years Dash 2020, catching the ire of the Switchblade. After sparring again at a Feb 1, 2020 match, Jay rants backstage, calling out SANADA for his apparent lack of depth.

"But... SANADA... you can never win when it matters! How many times have you *evil bastard gaspy breathing* won the US Championship? Zero! ...The Intercontinental Championship... Zero! How many times, after chance, after chance, after chance, have you held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship? *evil bastard chuckle* Any guesses?! ... It's another ZERO!"

Jay White refers to SANADA's record of unsuccessfully challenging Kazuchika Okada, New Japan Pro Wrestling's undeniably dominant champion in the heavyweight division. SANADA had challenged him for the title at Wrestling Dontaku 2019, and at King of Pro-Wrestling 2019, the Rainmaker reigned supreme. The singles titles in NJPW are seen as the pinnacle of success, and although SANADA had won trios and tag team titles, his singles run was barren.

So, is SANADA a dud? A choke artist? Not so fast.

Kota Ibushi, who you might know as one of the most talented and most himbo wrestlers from the nation of Japan, had these words to say during his bout with SANADA leading up to G1 Climax 29:

[ID: A video from Night 6 of the G1 climax. SANADA and Ibushi have a friendly pec-popping contest. End ID.]

This interaction interests me because the calm and collected Cold Skull from Los Ingos is approaching Kota first of his own free will. On Japanese commentary, they state that SANADA acknowledges "four wrestling prodigies with super abilities: Keiji Mutoh (his mentor), Naomichi Marufuji (the premier Ace of Pro Wrestling NOAH), AJ Styles (🌈), and Kota Ibushi (the man who doesn't trust books)."

In the segment, I want to highlight how engaged SANADA is in a competitive comradeship with Kota, as opposed to his matchups with other wrestlers during this time. The commentary remarks on their obvious parallels as the two do some himbo-to-himbo communication. Both are seen as wrestling prodigies, babyfaces at heart, effortlessly good-looking, and have the crowd's devotion, yet ― Kota achieves success, and SANADA does not. Kota would beat SANADA on July 20, 2019, in the G1 Climax and be one more step closer to becoming "God."

Reflecting on the match, Kota had this to say:

"He doesn’t really fit in with LIJ to me. I think there’s a spot for him where he can be at his best, and it isn’t as SANADA, it’s as Seiya Sanada." (emphasis added) 

But that's 2019. Let's fast-forward to the current timeline. On February 9, 2020, Jay White and SANADA square off in a special singles exhibition... and SANADA loses.

You might have noticed I have not mentioned any of SANADA's backstage comments from his feud with Jay. There weren't any from the Cold Skull at the time.

On the other hand, Naito defeats KENTA and retains his titles on the same day as SANADA's loss. He reiterates his statement, veiled in blood because I cannot find a youtube link:

[ID: A bloody Naito gives a press conference after defeating KENTA. He says, "It's like I say, you have to speak up to be heard. The wrestler who ventured out into the world [KENTA] is very hungry. He wants to reach for any chance available. I like his attitude. I like that kind of attitude. So other wrestlers should be wary. He'll do what he wants, regardless of the blowback. I do think that is amazing." End ID.]

This further illustrates how Naito feels about his competition ― friends and foes alike. Yes, KENTA besmirched Naito's big moment, but Naito respects the man who feeds his hunger to win by any means necessary. If you want to make your mark in the world, you must get your hands dirty digging into the earth.

Right after that match, Hiromu challenges Naito for a special match. They set the date. March 3, 2020. Naito vs. Hiromu. Shingo, BUSHI, and EVIL are set to defend their trio's titles. And lastly, the runt of the litter, SANADA, tries to regroup through the New Japan Cup to compensate for his loss of momentum. He earns a win over Mikey Nicholls in the first round. However, his strive to ascend among his stablemates is short-lived as Japan enacts its emergency COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures, and NJPW's show dates are canceled until June.

Although these videos are centered on Hiromu and Naito, they portray LIJ's group dynamics. What makes some members resonate with the group's ethos and others feel left behind all boils down to Naito's vision for the group.

[ID: A video detailing Naito and Hiromu's past before LIJ. End ID.]

Compared to his other parejas, Naito sees Hiromu as his prized student... and the 2nd Generation of Tetsuya Naito. Yes, while LIJ mainly functions as a group of individuals first and foremost, and every member is focused on their own goals rather than each other, Naito's relationship with Hiromu goes beyond his partnership with the other teammates. Almost as if he knows he will be passing on the torch of LIJ to Hiromu.

My prediction is if NJPW wants to pull the trigger and move Hiromu to the Heavyweight Division, he will be the one to replace Naito as the "leader" of LIJ (said loosely, as Naito noted there is no leader in LIJ.) According to the video, Naito mentions he even queried Hiromu about the possibility of Los Ingos in Japan. As per Naito's belief in "Destino," LIJ's bonds weren't just discovered; Naito predestined Hiromu's inclusion into the team from LIJ's inception.

[ID: Part one of a video from Hiromu's YouTube channel showing the rare meetup between all members of LIJ. Of note: The Youtube thumbnail is from the same photoshoot featured in Issue No. 2061 of Weekly Pro Wrestling. End ID.]

Some points I wanted to emphasize in this video:

LIJ does not keep tabs on one another outside of the ring. As Naito says in an interview: "We aren’t super sociable as a group, but we’ll send texts here and there." Their out-of-ring distance will be a motif among the members.

Naito likes to instigate conflict. Some people thrive and play well with it (Hiromu, Shingo). Others do not.

Uncle Shingo is such an uncle. This kinda plays into this meta.

[ID: Part 2 of a video from Hiromu’s YouTube channel showing the rare meetup between all members of LIJ. Of note: The Youtube thumbnail is from the same photoshoot featured in Issue No. 2061 of Weekly Pro Wrestling. BUSHI, Naito, and Shingo share a couch while Hiromu sprawls on the floor. EVIL is seated on a chair at the group's left, with a large gap separating him from everyone else. At the opposite end of the group from EVIL, SANADA also sits alone in a chair that is pushed close to Shingo's side of the couch. End ID.]

Key points in this video:

"We wanted to do the LIJ roll call in the Dome; I thought it'd be great if we were all champions. But SANADA lost his title match... Even before I won, we decided not to do it." - Naito (0:56-1:05)

"I have no desire to impose my will on the rest of the team." - Naito (3:03)

"The thing about this unit is that each of us is especially hungry. If even one of us were to take it easy, that would lower the value of the team." - Hiromu (3:35)

BUSHI is Team Mom (SANADA responds well to BUSHI because they have a shared history before LIJ; they trained at AJPW roughly around the same time.)

EVIL does not respond when BUSHI says, "We're like family." In fact, EVIL does not speak at all in these videos.

This might be something tumblr user @taichi-niiyan and I might be reading too much into, but it feels noteworthy to mention the group's visual aesthetic in these videos. EVIL and SANADA are seated at both ends, with EVIL in a pure black ensemble and SANADA in white. Both would leave LIJ in the future, but their methods would be at opposing ends. Also, SANADA's white suit catches the viewer's attention, quickly demarking that he is the only member without a title.

In June 2020, Japan lifted a few COVID restrictions, and NJPW resumed its New Japan Cup. In this interlude during the lockdown, NJPW releases a curious interview where Naito shows his priorities among his members, choosing Hiromu and EVIL to make it to the finals in the 2020 Cup. Infamously, Naito muses aloud,

"Is EVIL fourth at bat, or is he the fourth of four heavyweights? SANADA doesn’t have a title, and EVIL is NEVER Openweight 6-Man Champion, but he [EVIL] seems to be further behind in a way."

He also compares SANADA's performance and how his lack of a belt doesn't seem to faze the Cold Skull. How Naito operates is why he didn't choose SANADA in his final bracket. The people who "want it more" will always appear on Naito's radar. He walks his critiques back a little, saying that he says these things to motivate the group, but as I mentioned before, Naito enjoys mind games a little too much to notice that not everyone finds his "encouragement" inspiring.

SANADA even quips about it in a 2018 NJPW interview:

NJPW: — Last September [2017], as Naito was heading into a match with Tomohiro Ishii, he taunted Ishii by saying he needed to speak his mind, to speak up. There’s an extent to which that was directed at you, perhaps, as advice, or that he was being cognisant of you.

SANADA: Ah, yes. Naito is very ‘kind’ with his advice in so many ways, isn’t he..

— Do you feel that Naito is aware of you, that he does keep you in mind?

SANADA: Yes,  but only in so much that he feels he has the energy left over for it. He has his antenna going all the time. He isn’t entirely wrapped up in himself, but he has an awareness of everything going on around him. That I’m worthy of coming up on his radar, I guess that’s ‘kindness’ on his part.

LIJ's competitive environment centered on personal success and self-started motivation, plus Naito's provocative comments, open to an electrifying NJ Cup where Hiromu, Shingo, EVIL, and SANADA, duke it out, among others on the roster, to challenge the double champ, Naito.

SANADA faces off against Ryusuke Taguchi, SHO, and, lastly, Taichi in the quarter-finals to make his way to the semi-finals of the NJ Cup. Funnily enough, Cold Skull doesn't provide any backstage NJ Cup commentary until the Taichi match, to which SANADA says:

[ID: A video from July 2, 2020's New Japan Cup between SANADA and Taichi. SANADA remarks on the mic, "I confirmed something while competing in this New Japan Cup. I love fighting in this ring more than anything else in life." End ID.]

A fun fact SANADA brings up in his July 10, 2020, kayfabe diary entry is that his battle with Taichi contained all previous AJPW personnel in his opponent (Taichi), ring announcer (Makoto Abe), referee (Red Shoes Unno), and guest commentary (Yoshinobu Kanemaru).

Now making it to the semi-finals of the New Japan Cup, SANADA must face his LIJ stablemate and tag team partner of over 3 years, EVIL. He ensures he means friendly competition, offering a handshake to EVIL at the start of the match, to which the big bruiser accepts ― to create an opening for a quick finish. SANADA and EVIL break off to create space, and SANADA's expression says it all: something is off.

Throughout the match, SANADA gives EVIL multiple sportsmanlike chances, even holding the rope open for EVIL to return to the ring when the King of Darkness goes outside to disrupt the pace. Still, each goodwill from SANADA is thwarted, and the match ends with a cheap shot from EVIL to crush SANADA's chances of winning the New Japan Cup (as well as his balls).

Eventually, EVIL would triumph as the victor of the New Japan Cup, defeating Okada with help from Bullet Club interference. While giving his victory speech, EVIL calls out Naito. And the rest is history.

Bereft by the betrayal, Hiromu clashes with EVIL, failing to regain the belts EVIL has cheated from Naito at Sengoku Lord (July 25, 2020). At this time, SANADA has been processing the betrayal, making no comments backstage about losing his long-term tag team partner. However, it's not to say his emotions aren't brewing underneath it all.

Later on, he briefly reflects on his tag team with EVIL:

そして、新日本に来てからのパートナーはEVILでした。EVILとは未完成がフィットした時の快感が凄く良く、タッグならではの味が出て、パートナーがいないと強くもカッコ良くもならいような感覚、2人が組む事に意味があるパートナーでした。 "Ever since coming to New Japan, my partner was EVIL. It felt fulfilling when our partnership began to fall into place, our tag team flavor was unique, and there was a sense that we couldn't become strong or cool without each other. It was meaningful for us to work together." (Mar. 5, 2021)

SANADA acknowledges that during his tag run with EVIL, there was no way for them to shine independently, for they lacked that extra something, though he doesn't know what. In EVIL's perspective, he had to drastically betray LIJ to finally overcome that hurdle. Throughout the summer, SANADA and his teammates fend off EVIL and his cronies and succeed. Naito wins back his titles at Jingu Stadium.

SANADA's next big moment is the G1 Climax 30, where he faces a block where he'll have to go head-to-head with Naito. But things aren't looking so good. He's on a losing streak, with Yano, Goto, and YOSHI-HASHI besting him. Naito, on the other hand, has been breezing by with his wins, and he remarks on his upcoming match with SANADA in Nagaoka:

[ID: A video from Naito's backstge comments from Night 6 (September 29, 2020) of the G1 Climax 30. End ID.]

"SANADA doesn't seem ready for that kind of underdog story, yet." - (6:25)

"...That frustration [from losing] will serve him well in the future." - (6:43)

October 1, 2020, Naito vs SANADA. If SANADA loses here, he's basically out of the G1 Climax Tournament. After a grueling fight, miraculously, SANADA wins this one, setting his and Naito's singles record to 1-1. After the Naito upset, SANADA is on fire, beating ZSJ, KENTA, Juice Robinson, and even toppling the Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

After the Ace, what remains is EVIL. On Oct. 17, 2020, almost 3 months after his loss to his former tag partner in the New Japan Cup, they have a head-to-head in a singles match. As per EVIL's new modus operandi, there's a lot of interference on behalf of Dick Togo, but what makes this match stand out is that Hiromu leaves the commentary booth to help SANADA during EVIL and Dick Togo's illegal 2-on-1 attack, a rare feat for modern-day LIJ. His stablemate's much-needed aid pushes SANADA into victory to move onto the finals and face the Block A winner ― Kota Ibushi.

And at the Tokyo Ryoguku Kokugikan, Kota Ibushi makes history, becoming the first wrestler to go to the finals 3 times straight and becomes a back-to-back champion, in the same vein as legends Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan.

In the closing remarks, Kota fields a question from a reporter asking about what it was like to face SANADA in the longest G1 final ever. Kota, without hesitation, says his sentiments have stayed the same.

"SANADA should be on this side. I was reminded of that today."

And after his match on the card, Naito says it one more time backstage, almost pleased that EVIL hasn't given up on exacting revenge on Naito and LIJ, and directs his message to the world:

"It's good to speak up, or else no one will ever hear you."

But SANADA remains silent.

Da Capo;

SANADA returns to tag team action after his failed attempts at breaking out on his own. Tagging with Naito, he neutralizes EVIL and Dick Togo on the road to Power Struggle and then joins World Tag League again with Shingo Takagi for the first time.

Although they don't win the Tag League, Shingo fosters a good relationship with SANADA. He declares that they "exist between the calm and the fury." He also gives SANADA credit for his achievements in previous World Tag Leagues.

[ID: A video from November 19, 2020 depicting Shingo Takagi and SANADA. Shingo encourages SANADA to speak to the crowd. End ID.]

Unlike the other members of LIJ, Shingo is very social and seeks company, which initially confuses the Cold Skull. He's more used to LIJ, mainly Naito and Hiromu, commanding control and attention. However, with Shingo's insistence, SANADA plays along, speaking on the mic. However, backstage, SANADA has a silent moment with the camera and moves on.

[ID: A video from December 4, 2020 depicting Shingo Takagi and SANADA. Shingo offers SANADA the mic. End ID.]

I believe Shingo was a positive influence on SANADA. He helped crack SANADA's shell, encouraging him to be more emotive. Behind SANADA's calm exterior is someone who wishes to connect with others, with an all-too-human desire to feel "seen" and liked. (His asking, "Do you like SANADA?" is a crucial motif.) In a diary entry, SANADA writes how he respects Shingo:

TKGは本当になんでも出来て頼れるパートナーで、パワー、スピード、カッコイイ全部揃ってるところが魅力的なパートナーです。 "TKG is a reliable tag partner who can do anything. He's got power, speed, and coolness all-in-one." (Mar. 5, 2021, diary entry)

However, while these interactions with the crowd are cute, I cannot help but feel that SANADA loses his agency.

I likened Shingo to an Uncle because that's what it feels like in hindsight; SANADA is put in a spot by his senior teammate, much like a child whose uncle wants him to entertain. Shingo's solution to SANADA's disaffection is to hype him up and get SANADA to emulate his fiery spirit for the crowd. But from where it stands, his inclusivity efforts fail to reach SANADA ultimately. You get the sense that SANADA feels uncomfortable in his own skin when he passes backstage.

A quick aside, during the WTL, Hiromu enters the Best of the Super Juniors and wins against El Desperado in the finale (which you should watch since it is an amazing match).

[ID: A video from the backstage of the Best of the Super Juniors finals. The winner, Hiromu, sits alone with a ZIMA in his hands. End ID.]

He asks, "Doesn't everyone from Los Ingobernables de Japón want to celebrate my victory [with me]?" He jokes that they're probably going to "watch and laugh" and moves on. This may be controversial to popular belief, but to me, LIJ is a family... but a dysfunctional one. Naito's non-leadership outlook and pick-and-choose involvement with his parejas negatively affect LIJ.

It's not that they don't care about or have never protected each other, but they don't go out of their way to be present for each other's victories (except for Naito's roll call) or struggles. They don't expect that support from each other, as it's not considered fighting one's own battles to lean on someone during times of strife.

Compare that with the camaraderie in United Empire, Suzuki-gun, and as scattered as they are, CHAOS even shows up for Okada in his victory press conferences. LIJ, in contrast, majorly commemorate their grand feats alone. If other factions are continents, LIJ is an archipelago. The members may group together when their goals align, but at their crux, they are insular, focused only on their faculties and goals.

Therefore, it's no stretch to see where EVIL came from when he said LIJ was "rotten." He didn't know how to articulate his loneliness or disappointment in being so close to his hero, Naito, yet feeling like they were on different teams altogether. That's why SANADA didn't have the explosive outcry Hiromu did right after EVIL's betrayal.

Hiromu, who's always been doted on by Naito and BUSHI, doesn't understand that his experience in LIJ isn't universal. SANADA, on the other hand, lowkey understood how LIJ dispirited EVIL. (For more on the events leading to EVIL's betrayal, I recommend you watch this excellent video essay.)

However, EVIL has become twisted with his vindictive revenge, and on the last day of the World Tag League, he unleashes SANADA's repressed anger through his cheap, violent tactics. Even Shingo cannot rein in SANADA. The two fight it out on the ramp, and SANADA drags EVIL backstage.

[ID: A gifset featuring the December 11, 2020 tag match between Shingo and SANADA vs. EVIL and Yujiro. Image 1: Dick Togo chokes out SANADA from behind with a garrote wire. EVIL taunts SANADA, curling a finger and slapping his face. Image 2: SANADA strikes a prone EVIL, pushing off a Young Lion trying to stop him. Image 3: Shingo approaches SANADA, trying to calm him down. Image 4: SANADA shoves past Shingo to jump the ropes to go after EVIL on the ramp. End ID.]

In the following video, it's clear that EVIL is in over his head and panicking, and SANADA has lost his patience.

[ID: A video showing EVIL, Dick Togo, and SANADA backstage. Although EVIL makes vague threats to SANADA, he escapes up the stairs with a chair. SANADA silently stalks off. End ID.]

On the Road to Wrestle Kingdom 15, the two go after each other, and although the first night is in EVIL's favor, and the King of Darkness revels in his easy win, yelling at SANADA to "get mad," he is not ready for the war about to take place between them.

The normally cool-headed Cold Skull finally lets go of the nostalgia of his old tag team partner, the closest member of LIJ who he had known for the past 4 years. He comes up to EVIL intending to hurt him, carrying that "killer edge" that the English commentary says SANADA has been missing to propel his intensity. However, it's worth noting SANADA doesn't find the cheer in victory (like Naito and Hiromu) but appears deeply unsatisfied in enacting such violence, as seen in these gifs:

[ID: A gifset featuring the December 22, 2020 tag match between SANADA, Naito, and Hiromu vs. EVIL, Dick Togo, and Yujiro. Image 1: SANADA keeps EVIL in his sleeper hold, Skull End, even after the bell has rung. Young Lions come to try to free EVIL, but SANADA holds on. Naito shoves off the Young Lions, encouraging SANADA to keep holding on. Image 2: SANADA releases EVIL and looks over at his ex-teammate with a serious expression. Image 3: SANADA stands in the ring, hands at his sides, frowning. Image 4: Naito and Hiromu swing their arms up and down in their victory. SANADA keeps to himself, watching as ring staff help EVIL out. End ID.]

When their feud culminates at Wrestle Kingdom 15, SANADA comes to terms with his relationship with EVIL. It's done and done. When he defeats EVIL, he moves on with a clean break. He challenges Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental belts just as the Golden Star plans his unification process. He wants to test himself against the best to see how he matches up to the Golden Star.

どっちが強いのか、 どっちがカッコイイのか、 どっちが凄いのか、 チャンピオン、勝負しましょう。 "Which one is stronger? Which one is cooler? Which one is more awesome? Champion, let's fight." (Jan. 8, 2021 diary entry)

In the days leading up to the New Beginning in Hiroshima, Kota, while down to fight SANADA, also wonders about the reason why SANADA has chosen to challenge for the belts. In an interview posing the same question, SANADA replies,

"I want to be where the lights shine the brightest... To me, what shines the brightest is the IWGP Heavyweight Championship."

In the same interview, SANADA finally addresses Kota's invitation to join Hontai but turns him down. He doesn't believe in leaving LIJ without getting results; he doesn't want to regress to the past of Seiya Sanada. He's happy where he is now, he says.

However, he agrees that there's a lot "unfulfilled" with his career. It's becoming clear that the idea of leaving LIJ has been on his mind. However, he says he can't go "half-assed." Although SANADA's words sound like they're full of conviction, in actuality, they're hollow; it's an excuse to the painful core of why SANADA chases for the title.

[ID: SANADA interviewed by New Japan. He says, "Also becoming champion will end any doubt about SANADA." Of note: he lowers his gaze away from the camera. End ID.]

It's to quell his anxiety. SANADA secretly wonders if being "just a member" of LIJ is the height of all he can achieve with New Japan. That LIJ is his ceiling. His safe route.

[ID: Kota Ibushi interviewed by New Japan. He says, "However, I'm not sure about SANADA's ambitions towards becoming champion." End ID.]

And Kota picks up on something amiss immediately. He suspects SANADA's ambitions of becoming champion aren't "true." In a way, SANADA fulfills his own words. His chase for the title is half-assed, just like how he had challenged for Zack's RevPro British Heavyweight title a year before.

February 11, 2021, at the New Beginning in Hiroshima, SANADA suffers another loss to Kota Ibushi. And as SANADA goes backstage, fading into the shadows, none other than Tetsuya Naito saunters up to the victorious Ibushi, in the full spotlight, standing up to the God of Wrestling as the next challenger.

In his backstage interview, Kota remarks on SANADA for the final time.

"I think he's still unsure of where he's supposed to be. Even though he said he has to make his mark before he moves on, I don't think that's right. He should keep moving forward... But this is the last time I'll tell him that."

And SANADA remains silent.

END PART ONE.

To be covered In the next installment: "Sana-yan", "Ni-yan", Instagram thirst traps but not really, masks, ennui, and hope.