1 00:00:48,396 --> 00:00:52,356 Yoshihiko! Yoshihiko! 2 00:02:22,707 --> 00:02:25,007 Those within the wrestling community would say that 3 00:02:25,057 --> 00:02:28,017 while Mexico is the spiritual center of wrestling, 4 00:02:28,060 --> 00:02:30,540 Japan is the burning heart of it. 5 00:02:30,585 --> 00:02:32,365 This is said because in the last few decades, 6 00:02:32,413 --> 00:02:34,723 Japan has consistently produced wrestling that has 7 00:02:34,763 --> 00:02:37,423 not only pushed the physical bounds and creativity, 8 00:02:37,461 --> 00:02:40,511 but the actual definition of what pro wrestling is and 9 00:02:40,551 --> 00:02:42,681 where it should happen. 10 00:02:42,727 --> 00:02:44,377 So we're going to the outer fringe of this 11 00:02:44,425 --> 00:02:46,245 ever-expanding universe to see 12 00:02:46,296 --> 00:02:50,036 Dramatic Dream Team Wrestling, or DDT. 13 00:02:50,082 --> 00:02:52,042 For years they've been creating events that have 14 00:02:52,084 --> 00:02:54,304 enthralled Japanese audiences and perplexed 15 00:02:54,348 --> 00:02:56,918 foreign ones peering in from the internet. 16 00:02:56,959 --> 00:03:00,879 So prepare yourselves for a journey into the mind of DDT. 17 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,919 First stop, DDT Beer Garden, a weeklong event 18 00:03:03,966 --> 00:03:06,356 where the wrestlers act as servers, wrestlers, 19 00:03:06,403 --> 00:03:10,283 and consumers to the delight of their loyal fans. 20 00:03:15,804 --> 00:03:17,374 Kanpai! 21 00:03:18,807 --> 00:03:20,587 Kanpai! 22 00:03:24,204 --> 00:03:27,164 Oh! 23 00:03:43,266 --> 00:03:47,396 So the man in the far corner in the black trunks is Takagi. 24 00:03:47,444 --> 00:03:51,194 He's the owner of DDT and the founder of it. 25 00:03:51,231 --> 00:03:53,931 Whoa! 26 00:03:53,972 --> 00:03:57,112 Some 20 years ago, he saw that there was 27 00:03:57,149 --> 00:04:00,679 a hole in Japanese pro wrestling for a, for a real 28 00:04:00,718 --> 00:04:04,938 creatively free canvas on which these guys could paint, 29 00:04:04,983 --> 00:04:09,073 so he started Dramatic Dream Team Wrestling, and... 30 00:04:09,118 --> 00:04:11,078 Oh! 31 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,640 As you can see... 32 00:04:12,687 --> 00:04:15,727 it's a very unique place to this day. 33 00:04:30,835 --> 00:04:33,575 You should drink beer. 34 00:04:33,621 --> 00:04:35,931 We gotta drink some beers, apparently. 35 00:08:32,816 --> 00:08:36,036 ♪ Tokyo... ♪ 36 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,470 I want to see you go. 37 00:08:37,517 --> 00:08:44,087 ♪ I want to see you go. I got to make you go. ♪ 38 00:08:44,132 --> 00:08:47,532 ♪ I want to see you go. I want to make you go. ♪ 39 00:08:47,570 --> 00:08:49,090 ♪ I want to see you go. 40 00:08:49,137 --> 00:08:51,617 Go, here we... go! 41 00:08:51,661 --> 00:09:00,061 ♪ Go! Go! Go! 42 00:11:30,254 --> 00:11:32,694 A lot of the branding of DDT is geared towards women, 43 00:11:32,735 --> 00:11:35,605 often utilizing a genre of media specific to Japan 44 00:11:35,651 --> 00:11:37,911 called Yaoi, or boys' love, 45 00:11:37,958 --> 00:11:40,218 as it's known in English. 46 00:11:40,264 --> 00:11:42,754 Yaoi is essentially male homoerotic imagery or 47 00:11:42,789 --> 00:11:46,139 stories created predominantly for female consumption. 48 00:11:46,183 --> 00:11:49,063 It's existed in Japan since the 1970s and 49 00:11:49,099 --> 00:11:50,879 is normally Anime or Manga. 50 00:11:50,927 --> 00:11:53,757 Looking at DDT, and especially Dieno, 51 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:55,930 from a foreign perspective, it seems like they've been 52 00:11:55,976 --> 00:11:58,106 heavily influenced by Yaoi. 53 00:11:58,152 --> 00:12:00,202 The purest expression of this being DDT 54 00:12:00,241 --> 00:12:03,071 calendars and magazines. 55 00:12:03,113 --> 00:12:09,863 We're going with Dieno right now to record a livestream 56 00:12:09,903 --> 00:12:12,603 where he's gonna play some video games. 57 00:12:23,655 --> 00:12:27,355 - No. - Oh. 58 00:12:28,965 --> 00:12:30,835 - Oh! - Agh! 59 00:12:34,884 --> 00:12:36,764 How often do you go online and play games 60 00:12:36,799 --> 00:12:38,409 with people watching like this? 61 00:12:44,459 --> 00:12:46,719 Can I ask the audience, why is Dieno so awesome? 62 00:12:46,766 --> 00:12:48,376 Why do you like watching Dieno? 63 00:13:09,876 --> 00:13:12,396 Bottom, bottom, bottom. Cute. Gay. 64 00:13:12,443 --> 00:13:14,973 Ah... like, lots of butt stuff. 65 00:13:15,011 --> 00:13:16,801 Lot of butt stuff. 66 00:13:22,802 --> 00:13:24,282 Lips and butt. 67 00:13:26,631 --> 00:13:28,631 For at least the last 15 years, 68 00:13:28,677 --> 00:13:31,377 Dieno has purported to be a quote/unquote, 69 00:13:31,419 --> 00:13:33,639 "aggressively gay wrester," who, 70 00:13:33,682 --> 00:13:35,862 to be honest, uses some pretty offensive stereotypes 71 00:13:35,902 --> 00:13:37,772 to get over with the crowd. 72 00:13:37,817 --> 00:13:39,247 But the crowd eats it up... 73 00:13:39,296 --> 00:13:41,466 and no one seems to really have a handle on who 74 00:13:41,516 --> 00:13:44,996 Dieno is as a real person, making him at once a 75 00:13:45,041 --> 00:13:48,611 very enigmatic and provocative character. 76 00:13:48,653 --> 00:13:50,093 Ah! 77 00:13:50,133 --> 00:13:53,093 Japan is known for such a strong style of wrestling. 78 00:13:53,136 --> 00:13:55,566 What drew you to the style of wrestling that you do? 79 00:15:12,781 --> 00:15:14,351 A lot of the tactics you employ in the ring 80 00:15:14,391 --> 00:15:16,391 could be considered pretty offensive. 81 00:15:16,437 --> 00:15:18,867 How do you feel you represent the gay community 82 00:15:18,918 --> 00:15:21,048 with your wrestling? 83 00:15:39,895 --> 00:15:41,155 Agh! 84 00:15:58,566 --> 00:16:01,086 Agh! 85 00:16:01,134 --> 00:16:04,664 How much of Dieno the person is being represented 86 00:16:04,702 --> 00:16:06,012 by Dieno the character? 87 00:16:14,756 --> 00:16:17,446 He's real gay. 88 00:16:51,184 --> 00:16:52,624 Agh! 89 00:16:59,714 --> 00:17:02,114 Mr. Takagi-san is the controller of the company 90 00:17:02,151 --> 00:17:03,461 in a lot of ways. 91 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:04,760 What kind of relationship do you have with him, 92 00:17:04,806 --> 00:17:07,196 creatively, and just kind of workwise? 93 00:19:34,912 --> 00:19:37,442 Mr. Takagi, given that international awareness of 94 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,440 DDT is growing by the day, is it dangerous for you to 95 00:19:41,484 --> 00:19:44,314 be putting up the company at such a key time for it? 96 00:20:04,115 --> 00:20:05,855 Ah, Danshoku Dieno marriage. 97 00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:08,080 - Ah, peace in the world. - 98 00:20:12,211 --> 00:20:13,691 Danshoku Dieno marriage. 99 00:20:16,606 --> 00:20:22,346 - Peace! In the world. - 100 00:20:31,012 --> 00:20:33,452 - Konnichiwa. - Konnichiwa. 101 00:20:33,493 --> 00:20:35,503 - Morning. Damian. - Ah, hi. 102 00:20:35,538 --> 00:20:37,018 Nice to meet you. 103 00:20:37,061 --> 00:20:38,721 It's surreal right now to be riding the train with you 104 00:20:38,759 --> 00:20:40,759 'cause the last time I saw you on a train, 105 00:20:40,804 --> 00:20:42,504 you were wrestling people. 106 00:21:02,261 --> 00:21:03,611 Ah! 107 00:21:03,653 --> 00:21:05,313 Oh! 108 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,130 We're about to watch a street match, so... 109 00:21:50,178 --> 00:21:53,748 We're waiting for wrestling... 110 00:21:53,790 --> 00:21:55,440 Outside. 111 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:05,410 Oh! 112 00:22:20,730 --> 00:22:23,950 The toilet plunge, versus toilet plunger 113 00:22:23,994 --> 00:22:25,914 death match at this point. 114 00:22:31,045 --> 00:22:33,785 Oh! 115 00:22:33,830 --> 00:22:35,400 And now it goes in the ring. 116 00:22:42,796 --> 00:22:44,616 Now a boxing match has broken out. 117 00:22:46,321 --> 00:22:47,581 Oh my! 118 00:23:09,475 --> 00:23:11,165 I don't know what the fuck I just watched. 119 00:23:11,215 --> 00:23:13,035 It was a match that started outside and 120 00:23:13,087 --> 00:23:15,917 ended in a sumo's bathtub. 121 00:23:17,613 --> 00:23:21,403 - Hello, yeah. - Alright. 122 00:23:21,443 --> 00:23:22,843 Let's go to heaven. 123 00:23:22,879 --> 00:23:27,539 This is Toudoukan pro wrestling shop. 124 00:23:27,580 --> 00:23:29,190 - And who's that? - Tiger Mask 125 00:23:29,233 --> 00:23:30,673 Boom. 126 00:23:36,893 --> 00:23:38,163 When you were a kid, 127 00:23:38,199 --> 00:23:39,459 did you buy a lot of wrestling tapes or DVDs? 128 00:23:39,505 --> 00:23:41,895 Yeah, yeah. Rental. Rent. 129 00:23:41,942 --> 00:23:43,422 - Rent them? - Yes. 130 00:23:43,465 --> 00:23:49,465 And, my first watching pro wrestling for the rent video. 131 00:23:49,515 --> 00:23:51,645 It is this video. 132 00:23:51,691 --> 00:23:52,911 - That's the one? - Yes. 133 00:23:52,953 --> 00:23:55,433 - This is what led you... - First video. 134 00:23:55,477 --> 00:23:57,307 - Anoki right there. - Anoki, entire match. 135 00:25:50,113 --> 00:25:52,073 So, did you buy these magazines when you were little? 136 00:25:52,115 --> 00:25:53,195 Yes. 137 00:25:53,247 --> 00:25:56,027 And now, you're in these magazines. 138 00:25:56,076 --> 00:25:57,076 Yes. 139 00:25:57,120 --> 00:25:59,250 And you're so young. It's awesome. 140 00:25:59,296 --> 00:26:02,336 So, first time magazine. 141 00:26:02,386 --> 00:26:05,826 - Front cover. - Look at this. 142 00:26:05,868 --> 00:26:08,478 - Me. - 143 00:26:30,850 --> 00:26:32,110 Few wrestlers on the planet are more 144 00:26:32,155 --> 00:26:34,375 critically acclaimed than Kota Ibushi. 145 00:26:34,418 --> 00:26:37,988 While publically his star has shone most brightly in Japan, 146 00:26:38,031 --> 00:26:40,161 his global influence on the current generation of 147 00:26:40,207 --> 00:26:43,207 up and coming wrestlers can't be overstated. 148 00:26:43,253 --> 00:26:46,743 His matches with Kenny Omega at DDT are the stuff of legend, 149 00:26:46,779 --> 00:26:49,609 helping to propel both wrestlers and the company 150 00:26:49,651 --> 00:26:51,171 to the vanguard of wrestling. 151 00:26:52,741 --> 00:26:55,271 Recently Kota has distanced himself from DDT, 152 00:26:55,309 --> 00:26:57,569 preferring to be a free agent with no contractual 153 00:26:57,616 --> 00:27:00,656 obligation to any one single company. 154 00:27:00,706 --> 00:27:02,656 To say that I'm excited to meet Kota Ibushi 155 00:27:02,708 --> 00:27:04,668 would be a gross understatement. 156 00:27:04,710 --> 00:27:06,840 He's one of my all-time favourite wrestlers and a 157 00:27:06,886 --> 00:27:09,626 big reason why I've followed Japanese wrestling. 158 00:27:14,545 --> 00:27:18,505 Yeah! Yeah! 159 00:27:18,549 --> 00:27:19,549 Again. 160 00:27:19,594 --> 00:27:21,864 Agh! Agh! 161 00:27:27,210 --> 00:27:29,170 What is the type of wrestler that you think you are? 162 00:27:29,212 --> 00:27:30,652 How do you define yourself as a wrestler? 163 00:29:41,301 --> 00:29:44,261 I think the thing that always strikes me 164 00:29:44,304 --> 00:29:45,914 about wrestling is there's almost a, 165 00:29:45,958 --> 00:29:49,348 a deep-rooted conservativism to it that there's 166 00:29:49,396 --> 00:29:52,136 very similar end 167 00:29:52,181 --> 00:29:54,181 they want to get to the biggest company in America, 168 00:29:54,227 --> 00:29:56,397 or they want to get to the biggest company in Japan, 169 00:29:56,446 --> 00:29:58,266 or the biggest company in Mexico. 170 00:29:58,318 --> 00:29:59,928 I guess... 171 00:29:59,972 --> 00:30:01,972 having been at these biggest companies, 172 00:30:02,017 --> 00:30:03,577 what motivates you, still? 173 00:30:42,362 --> 00:30:45,672 I've always felt for something to become a true art form, 174 00:30:45,713 --> 00:30:47,633 the means of production have to be 175 00:30:47,671 --> 00:30:49,331 in the hands of the artist. 176 00:30:49,369 --> 00:30:51,239 Do you think we're at that point now in wrestling? 177 00:32:04,879 --> 00:32:06,449 Ryogoku Sumo Hall is one of 178 00:32:06,489 --> 00:32:08,839 the most famous arenas in the world. 179 00:32:08,883 --> 00:32:11,763 Traditionally the epicenter of Japanese sumo wrestling, 180 00:32:11,799 --> 00:32:15,669 this 11,098-capacity venue is now often used 181 00:32:15,716 --> 00:32:17,886 for professional wrestling as well. 182 00:32:17,936 --> 00:32:19,976 This mainstage is steeped in tradition, 183 00:32:20,025 --> 00:32:23,025 protocol, and order, but for one night a year... 184 00:32:23,071 --> 00:32:24,591 Peter Pan. 185 00:32:24,638 --> 00:32:26,208 It is on this night that Takagi's brain child 186 00:32:26,248 --> 00:32:29,988 comes to life and terrorizes these hallowed halls. 187 00:32:30,035 --> 00:32:31,645 It must be pretty exciting getting to watch 188 00:32:31,688 --> 00:32:33,558 dad wrestle tonight. 189 00:32:33,603 --> 00:32:35,823 There's a lot of stakes tonight riding on this match. 190 00:32:35,866 --> 00:32:37,906 Are you nervous at all about this? 191 00:32:48,444 --> 00:32:51,754 Part of what makes DDT so popular with its fan base 192 00:32:51,795 --> 00:32:54,795 is its long lasting and complex story lines. 193 00:32:54,842 --> 00:32:56,932 I'm meeting up with Hanae at Peter Pan to get a 194 00:32:56,975 --> 00:33:00,535 super fan's perspective on the in-ring action. 195 00:33:00,587 --> 00:33:01,757 Plus, I need someone to help me understand 196 00:33:01,805 --> 00:33:03,845 what the hell is going on. 197 00:33:09,813 --> 00:33:12,473 Today's match between Takagi and Dieno is billed as 198 00:33:12,512 --> 00:33:14,602 a timed weapons death match. 199 00:33:14,644 --> 00:33:16,914 Each wrestler has pre-selected a series of 200 00:33:16,951 --> 00:33:18,781 weapons specifically designed to inflict 201 00:33:18,822 --> 00:33:21,782 maximum damage to their opponent. 202 00:33:21,825 --> 00:33:24,045 If Dieno loses, he'll be forced to marry a 203 00:33:24,089 --> 00:33:26,269 life partner of Takagi's choosing. 204 00:33:26,308 --> 00:33:28,828 But if Takagi loses, Dieno gains 205 00:33:28,876 --> 00:33:31,616 creative control of the company. 206 00:33:47,112 --> 00:33:49,942 Yay! 207 00:34:01,909 --> 00:34:06,089 Dieno! Dieno! 208 00:34:16,663 --> 00:34:18,493 - Ah! - Oh! 209 00:34:42,732 --> 00:34:45,132 Agh! 210 00:35:11,587 --> 00:35:13,457 Ah! Ah! Ah! 211 00:35:32,086 --> 00:35:34,516 - Oh, no. - Wow! Oh my God. 212 00:35:34,567 --> 00:35:36,397 He's gonna smash it. 213 00:35:48,537 --> 00:35:51,887 They are gay. They are real gay. 214 00:35:55,631 --> 00:35:57,761 Now they're assaulting Takagi. 215 00:35:57,807 --> 00:35:59,367 One of the guy's doing a blow job, 216 00:35:59,418 --> 00:36:01,158 it looks like, to Takagi. 217 00:36:19,742 --> 00:36:22,142 - Now they're raping a man. - Yes. 218 00:36:36,324 --> 00:36:38,244 Oh my God, look at Takagi-san. 219 00:36:38,283 --> 00:36:41,813 - Wow! - He's stripping. 220 00:36:58,999 --> 00:37:01,349 - Who's that woman? - Dieno's mother. 221 00:37:01,393 --> 00:37:03,703 - Dieno's mom. - Mother. Dieno's mother. 222 00:37:35,818 --> 00:37:37,518 Oh! 223 00:37:54,750 --> 00:37:58,970 Takagi's wife. 224 00:37:59,015 --> 00:38:01,795 Whoa. 225 00:38:01,844 --> 00:38:04,414 I met her before this. I had no idea. 226 00:38:15,031 --> 00:38:17,991 Agh! 227 00:38:42,972 --> 00:38:45,372 - Oh... what's she gonna...? - Wow! 228 00:38:45,410 --> 00:38:46,370 Is she gonna do a moonsault? 229 00:38:46,411 --> 00:38:49,151 What's she doing? 230 00:38:51,067 --> 00:38:53,587 Oh! Shit! 231 00:39:02,209 --> 00:39:04,429 Takagi's wife did a fucking moonsault. 232 00:39:07,388 --> 00:39:10,438 And now Dieno runs DDT. 233 00:40:18,067 --> 00:40:21,237 I'm gonna miss Japan. I'm gonna miss it here. 234 00:40:25,335 --> 00:40:26,855 Huge weekend for ya. 235 00:40:33,126 --> 00:40:34,476 But this was not like every other year, 236 00:40:34,519 --> 00:40:37,389 because you walked away in control of the company. 237 00:40:47,009 --> 00:40:48,789 I think you're probably aware of this, 238 00:40:48,837 --> 00:40:51,667 that you're one of the most controversial characters 239 00:40:51,710 --> 00:40:54,230 in DDT for international audiences. 240 00:41:13,558 --> 00:41:15,778 There's this moment for DDT right now of 241 00:41:15,821 --> 00:41:18,171 international expansion, DDT Universe, 242 00:41:18,214 --> 00:41:19,834 of course, going worldwide. 243 00:41:19,868 --> 00:41:23,258 Is there any need to address this international audience 244 00:41:23,306 --> 00:41:25,346 or is more just kind of keeping what you're doing? 245 00:43:13,112 --> 00:43:15,202 It's a huge honour to get to do this. 246 00:43:15,244 --> 00:43:17,904 I was hoping I'd get to meet you before I left. 247 00:43:22,208 --> 00:43:23,558 Well, I don't know if you're aware of this, 248 00:43:23,601 --> 00:43:26,871 but you're a lot of people's first exposure to DDT 249 00:43:26,908 --> 00:43:30,168 internationally because you've become subject to 250 00:43:30,216 --> 00:43:32,826 more than one viral video at this point. 251 00:43:32,871 --> 00:43:35,531 Are you kind of aware of this, you know, 252 00:43:35,569 --> 00:43:38,269 ambassador for DDT role that you kind of play? 253 00:43:49,844 --> 00:43:52,114 And I guess the last thing I really wanted to know is, 254 00:43:52,151 --> 00:43:53,891 what's your workout regime?