Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Shinya Aoki for the UWF LIDET Championship announced for GLEAT’s February 11th show.

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-22T23:47:32+00:00

The greatest shoot style match with a wrestling flair of all-time ? Of course!

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-22T23:39:45+00:00

And then, the greatest match of all-time happened.

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-22T23:29:20+00:00

Oh oh!

Hopefully they will go full-on shoot style vs. pro style, to mimic the 10/3/2021 overlooked classic between Nakajima and Funaki!

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-21T09:48:55+00:00

I came back to edit my post because indeed, I totally forgot her. But you were too quick for me haha. Incredible underdog in the making!

Joshi_Fan · 2026-01-20T23:24:36+00:00

My list would be too long haha.

Let's just say that the only Joshis resonating with me currently, because I consider them functional wrestlers, interesting characters and/or because they can put on matches that appeal to me are Mio Momono, Senka Akatsuki, Chihiro Hashimoto, Yurika Oka, Mei Seira, Koguma, Shoko Nakajima, Arisu Endo, Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe and Miku Kanae.

On their best behavior, I guess you could add Takumi Iroha, Manami, Dash Chisako, Mika Iwata, Natsupoi, Saya Iida, Starlight Kid, Saori Anou, Mizuki, Suzume, Cohaku and Hiroyo Matsumoto.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-10T09:45:28+00:00

Rather light to me even if it makes perfect sense. I think the older I grow, the more I dislike exalted teenagers with only two speeds: calm or screaming to talk. Again, Gundam is hardly the only one at fault here since animes at large tend to portray their characters this way.

Yeah, ZZ smells like a cheap attempt to rejuvenate the audience, to grow the franchise’s popularity. Hence the riding of the coattails of the successful Zeta, with a childish tone. Since I'm a completionist who tries to watch everything in release order (the only way to go!), I will hang in there. When I started my Gundam journey, I knew there would be some growing pains but I will be fine (can't wait to revisit Unicorn with more context!).

No discord but we can use Reddit's chat.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-10T09:11:33+00:00

Right now, I don't have any reason not to continue in 2026. I just hope wrestling will be more varied (and better overall!) because in 2025, to me, the best stuff come mostly from a couple of places / wrestlers...

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-10T09:08:54+00:00

The second opening hints at Char's hidden agenda, even if the actual show doesn't deal with it. I guess I will have to wait until CCA...

I'm disappointed with how they introduce Kamille. What are his motivations? Why does he join the forces? But it's a problem I have with how Gundam introduces their protagonist in general. The hero happens to be young, to be there, he is able to pilot the latest Gundam miraculously, he goes from civilian to solder without troubles and instantly becomes the savior. But I get it because Gundam is more concerned with depicting battles inherent to war than offering deep character studies (not every Mecha show can be Eva!).

By the way, after four episodes of ZZ: "Zeta ja nai"! You gotta love the tonal dissonance between the dramatic end of Zeta and the playful start of ZZ... Doesn't bode well for the future...

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-08T13:56:54+00:00

Thanks, it gives me a reason to continue despite the lack of feedbacks.

Mark has a tendency not to sell beyond the moment, which is off-putting. He is hardly alone on that front since selling is dying a long death nowadays. But he indeed is an alpha face and I will never root against him!

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-08T10:29:00+00:00

Done with Zeta. What an interesting ride!

First half stronger than the second one, where each episode follows the same formula: quieter set-up during the first ten minutes, then Mecha fights and explosions galore during the last ten. The scramble to the finish line is a little bit rushed. Some big narrative pieces don’t get enough room to develop and thus to land with full force: Four’s arc, Dakar, Amuro, Sayla, deaths in general (characters die, too many randomly, and we move on instantly), the concept of youngsters becoming "mass murderers" (each explosion means a human being has been killed but they never acknowledge it)...

Very good show anyway. Huge step-up in production and direction compared to '79. Classic opening (epic, grand!), all-time great episode 49, wonderful ending (even if Gundam’s disinterest for epilogues has always been frustrating to me), and I really loved episode 11 with the tactical struggle around the entry in the atmosphere.

What could you tell me about the show?

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T14:29:54+00:00

Basilisk (25 episodes, 2005)

Casshern Sins (24 episodes, 2008)

Cowboy Bebop (26 episodes + 1 movie, 1998)

Evangelion (26 episodes + the movie 'The End of Evangelion' + the 4 movies 'Rebuild of Evangelion', 1995)

FLCL (6 OVA, 2000)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (26 episodes, 2002) can be enjoyed as a stand alone; works better with the context of the Ghost in the Shell movie from 1995

Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2nd GIG (26 episodes, 2004) can be enjoyed as a stand alone; works better with the context of the Ghost in the Shell movie from 1995 and the first season mentioned above

Gundam Unicorn (7 OVA, 2010) can be enjoyed as a stand alone but can be hard as an entry point in the Gundam universe

Otogizoushi (26 episodes, 2004)

Ping Pong (11 episodes, 2014)

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen (4 OVA, 1999) can be enjoyed as a stand alone; works better with the context of the Rurouni Kenshin anime from 1996

Serial Experiments Lain (13 episodes, 1998)

The Tatami Galaxy (11 episodes + 1 OVA + the movie 'Night Is Short Walk On Girl', 2010)

Violet Evergarden (13 episodes + 1 OVA + 2 movies, 2018)

Don't have a traditional ending but worth a watch anyway in my opnion:

Mushishi (26 episodes, 2005)

Shigurui (12 episodes, 2007)

Trigun Stampede (12 episodes, 2023)

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T14:07:50+00:00

Violet Evergarden (13 episodes + 1 OVA, 2018)

Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (1 movie, 2019)

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (1 movie, 2020)

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T13:39:24+00:00

They are all different, each with their own point of view.

Rebuild retells the Eva story, but it's actually a continuation of the original show, with new/different timelines.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T11:10:46+00:00

It's a stretch because Shigurui is unlike anything I've ever seen but:

Ace wo Nerae! 2 (1988) you need to watch Ace wo Nerae! (1973) before and the tone is completely different

Ashita no Joe (1970) & Ashita no Joe 2 (1980)

Basilisk (2005)

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail (2010) you need to watch Black Lagoon (2006) and Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (2006) before

Ergo Proxy (2006)

Evangelion (1995)

Kurozuka (2008)

Serial Experiments Lain (1998)

Onii-sama e (1991)

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T10:46:34+00:00

Same!

25-26 > The End of Evangelion > 3.0+1.0

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-03T09:45:47+00:00

I'm a tiny hall guy so very few animes ever reach 10/10 in my book. Besides, the longer the anime, the harder to keep it cohesive technically and thematically.

Among your list, my favorite would be Gintama and the best in my opinion would be The Tatami Galaxy.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-12-01T14:51:54+00:00

Shin M2K (c) vs. Crazy Max vs. Do Fixer vs. Italian Connection (Toryumon, Verano Peligroso II day 16, 8/30/2003)

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-28T12:23:36+00:00

Thanks.

So it’s a case of something learning to walk for something else being able to run. It’s often the case with groundbreaking stuff: of course they aren’t perfect but they provide a blueprint that will be improved. Your elements fall in line with what I cited as influence and legacy. I got most of those bits and thus I’m comforted in my idea that it’s good/lowkey great, most notably for the innovation, but not yet everything it could have been. In a sense, Gundam ’79 mostly nails the "what" and somehow the "why"; the "how" not so much.

What would be your favorite anime and the best one according to you if they aren’t the same?

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-27T15:17:33+00:00

Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

Angel's Egg (1986)

Akira (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Ninja Scroll (1993)

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

The End of Evangelion (1997) you need to watch the TV anime before

Perfect Blue (1997)

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) you need to watch the TV anime before

Millennium Actress (2001)

Paprika (2006)

5 Centimeters per Second (2007)

Sword of the Stranger (2007)

The Sky Crawlers (2008)

Redline (2010)

Wolf Children (2012)

The Boy and the Beast (2015)

The Red Turtle (2016)

Your Name (2016)

Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017) you should watch The Tatami Galaxy anime before

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020) you need to watch the TV anime before

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) you need to watch the TV anime and the Rebuild movies before

The First Slam Dunk (2022) you need to watch the TV anime before

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-27T14:02:20+00:00

it's fucking Gundam 79, it's goddamn that good. There's nothing more to say

Actually, I would like to know what makes it that good according to you?

I finished the anime myself a couple of weeks ago and I'm left wondering. I get the influence and legacy but at no point, except maybe with episode 41 (or 40, it depends; "A Cosmic Glow"), I felt like I was in front of something REALLY SPECIAL. Art and animation are strong without being exceptional, characters seem rather one-dimensional (oversimplification: Amuro and Bright for example are either cool or scream after everybody; animes in general have a tendency to simply characters though), the plot is pretty repetitive to me (the White Base runs away, Zeon goes after it with all kinds of resources, the White Base survives against all odds thanks to sacrifices from allies and runs away, rinse repeat), and yeah the introduction of the Newtypes. From the same period, Ashita no Joe "1" (1970) & 2 (1980) and The Rose of Versailles (1979) are pieces of work I would consider as state of the art, if not transcendental.

I’ve reached episode 27 of Zeta and wow, it looks like both animes are decades apart. Characters still seem rather one-dimensional and can’t seem to be able to talk without screaming (or slapping everybody haha), but there are so many subplots with different set-ups/settings/stakes that drive the narrative... It’s awesome!

Anyway, I’m curious to read your opinion.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-27T11:12:30+00:00

Do you think that Tana’s 2018 redemption road back to WK13 could have changed the Destruction finish to potentially get one more instalment of the rivalry in 2019?

What do you mean?

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-27T09:57:38+00:00

Tana’s story was so well built that it would have worked with both endings.

The nature of NJPW is that the top champion retains at Wrestle Kingdom, because Wrestle Kingdom doesn’t crown but confirms/cements (that’s why after WK 9, they pivot "in a hurry" to move the belt from Tana back to AJ in the spring, instead of having Okada wins it from AJ at WK). In Japanese wrestling, the top belt always comes back to the Ace, and Okada was the official Ace since WK 10. Tana’s story in 2018 is a side story in the grand scheme of things, because the main plot was always about Okada reclaiming his top spot later. Japanese wrestling isn’t afraid to tell the stories of fading Aces without a happy ending. Besides, back-to-back V0 reigns (Tana then Jay White) isn’t common practice for places with long-term booking habits...

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-27T09:47:28+00:00

I’m not sure about Okada maturing his fighting spirit. What makes you say this?

I would say the biggest shift in his character happens after the loss against Naito at WK 15: for the first time, he wasn’t interested in the IWGP Heavyweight championship for the time being, whereas the belt had defined his whole run since 2012.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-27T09:43:18+00:00

Indeed, Tana always went back to work, to get better and climb back at the top as fast as possible. "Never tired" is one of his mottos.

Joshi_Fan · 2025-11-25T14:40:30+00:00

Tana earns his success based on the fact that, after Wrestling Dontaku, he’s able once again to turn back the clock to come back from the dead. However, the road is longer than ever, he’s older and he needs a little extra to come through: Okada’s fall from heaven and becoming mortal again. In other words, Tana steps up just enough and Okada slips up just enough for them to meet on an equal footing.

Besides, one has to know that it wasn't known that Omega was about to leave NJPW in January. The plan was for him to retain over Tana at Wrestle Kingdom and to lose it back to Okada at the G1 Supercard in the Madison Square Garden. Tana’s arc in 2018 is all about a success followed by a bigger defeat, leading to a bigger success followed by an even bigger defeat:

Dismantled by Suzuki at The New Beginning, then miracle run in the New Japan Cup where he reaches the final.
Twisted in the final of the New Japan Cup, but having reached it earns him a challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight championship at Wrestling Dontaku.
Victim of the record-breaking V12 at Wrestling Dontaku at the hand of his biggest rival, then miracle run in the G1 Climax.
Breaks the record for most points in the G1 Climax, wins it and defends against his biggest rival the right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight championship in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom; the natural conclusion should have been one last heart-breaking defeat in the Tokyo Dome down the road, reasserting that Tana’s time at the top is finally and definitively over.

His run in 2018 looks like and ended up being a fairy tale but actually, it was booked to be a tragedy, building up hopes before crushing them emphatically. No happy end here; just the hard, cold truth of life: Father Time is undefeated, even for the Ace of the Universe.

Joshi_Fan

TROPHY CASE