Big Egg Podcasting Universe Episode 10: Show Notes
Where to Watch
Candy Okutsu (c) vs Rie Tamada (AJW Junior Championship)
Suzu Suzuki in ShuPro mobile
The extremely young and insanely talented Suzu Suzuki is a regular in Japanese wrestling magazines and others. Most don’t have official English-language translations, so here’s friend of the podcast @oystersearrings with some unofficial translations of Suzu’s ShuPro Mobile column.
For more background on Suzu and her rise to fame, here’s a translation of the article about her in ShuPro as one of the ‘Ones to Watch’ in 2020 from Joshi Puro Translations
Lineage of the Junior Championship
AJW’s Junior Championship was held by some of the company’s biggest future stars as well as people who came into their own after the company had disintegrated. Take a look at the lineage of the title on Cagematch. Note how many times it becomes vacant when the champion becomes too old or experienced for the division.
Candy Okutsu and the JWP Junior Championship
JWP set up a junior championship of its own a few months after Big Egg. Candy Okutsu became the first person to hold the belt, and it’s had an interesting history of its own, including a phenomenal amount of flexibility in its definition of ‘junior’. Looking at you, Kaori Yoneyama.
Future of Stardom Champion Saya Iida
God bless Gori-chan herself, Saya Iida. Although she was indeed the Future of Stardom champion at the time of recording, we have had a hiatus before actually publishing the episode which means that we are now on the fourth champion since Iida dropped the belt – but she reigns in our hearts as champion forever.
She is currently out with a cocktail of nasty knee injuries, but you can follow her on Twitter. Stardom is notoriously arsey about putting matches online for free but you can watch matches with a Stardom World subscription.
Lulu Pencil
As a friend of the podcast once said, “Everything is too hard for Lulu Pencil.” An actual freelance gaming journalist who came to wrestling training a bit later in life, her gimmick is completely unique as someone who is fundamentally terrible at pro wrestling. Finishers include tapping out to a submission that she was applying to her opponent. Here’s her debut match against Yuna Mizumori.
Since recording, Lulu has spent some time in America with Emi Sakura as she beds in with AEW. Somehow, she’s ended up as an unofficial backstage interviewer and everyone seems to love her. Of course. Here she is giving a Pencil Army hat to CM Punk on his birthday.
Plugs
@ItsDanaNow
Dana is translating everything from tweets to promos on modern-day joshi. Full details and an ongoing commentary on Stardom can be found on her blog but her Twitter account is a pretty damn good place to start – and well worth a follow even for the retweets of other great sources. (Note: none of us have met Dana – we just think this is a great resource.)
The Rise and Fall of Rikidozan: A Novel in Seventeen Matches
George’s novel about a young man discovering the murky world of early puro and totally legitimate businessmen. Available in paperbook and ebook.
100 Greatest Literary Detectives
A book that does exactly what it says on the tin, including George’s essay on Jasper Fforde’s novels. Get on Amazon
George’s Twitch Stream
George plays mahjong now. Watch his trials and tribulations under the guide of Lord Tenpai every Thursday at 8pm on his Twitch stream.
Women Love Wrestling
Writing by and about women who love wrestling, with proceeds going to RAINN in the US and Women’s Aid in the UK. My essay is first in the book but don’t let that put you off – you can gget it on Amazon – and there’s lots more to find on the new Women Love Wrestling website.
Draw, Lose or Draw
David’s podcast about the ups, downs and rewards of being a fan of Partick Thistle.
An Essential Joshi Newsletter
Friend of the podcast @oystersearrings has a monthly newsletter rounding up the best in joshi – with the occasional World of Sport, 1950s French or international football match thrown in. The current month’s newsletter is always free but for less than £4 a month, this level of analysis and personal insight is a bargain.
So Hormonal
Hormones affect all of us, but nobody’s experience is the same. This great essay collection explores the personal experiences of people and their hormones, including podcast friend Lj Gray. Buy direct from Monstrous Regiment Publishing
Fastbuck
David’s mad noise music includes ‘13 Japanese Birds’, except the birds are all joshi legends, and albums named for the Four Pillars of All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Hand Loom Lament
Daniel Baker, the third head of the Puro Pourri Podcast cerberus, includes such wrestling-themed names as The Volk Han and Stan Hansen and The Lariats. Listen on Bandcamp
Blast Beat Bicycle Club
According to their own website, “Just a bunch of moshers raising funds to buy bikes for refugees”. Good enough for us. Read more and listen on Bandcamp
Socials
David’s Instagram: @villanoxiv
The Puro Pourri Podcast on Twitter: @PuroPodcast
Sarah’s Twitter: @SarahParkin1
