Takumi Iroha is one of the very best in the world. The Marvelous ace returned from her broken collarbone on March 10 and she's kicked into gear as if she never missed a second of action. When she had to miss time for injury, Iroha made the decision to relinquish the AAAW Championship -- a title she worked so hard to win in the first place.
Currently, she is one-half of the AAAW Tag Team Champions with the current AAAW Champion Chikayo Nagashima and will be heading to America to compete at West Coast Pro's Queen of Indies on May 13.
Following her return from injury and ahead of her arrival to America, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the chance to interview Takumi Iroha to discuss a number of topics including the Queen of Indies, her relationship with Chigusa Nagayo, and so much more.
Here's what Iroha had to say!
How are you feeling since returning to injury?
My physical condition is still not perfect!
But I've got some positive rather than negative things going on here, so it's perfect!
You, unfortunately, got injured while holding both the AAAW Championship and the AAAW Tag Team Championships. What was your mindset after having to give up the title?
I thought it was disrespectful to the belt and I could not accept a champion who could not have a title match
And by giving it back, I had even more of a goal.
I wanted to get it back again.
Your tag team partner Chikayo Nagashima was the one to win the title. Is it your main goal to get it back? How do you feel about taking on your partner for the title?
Of course.
I want to get the belt from Nagashima.
My biggest goal is after that!
If I ever have a match with this belt on the line.
I want to win by putting on an even better match than before.
What makes Marvelous so special to you?
The fidelity of each person to the basics, the High level of technique. Individuality that is never covered.
You’ll be returning to the United States to take part in West Coast Pro’s Queen of Indies tournament! How excited are you to return to the country? Are you looking forward to the tournament and do you have anyone in mind you’d like to face?
In the U.S., the cheers from the audience are always great! It's a different kind of entertainment than in Japan, and it's a lot of fun!
However, I want to fight in a match that will surprise the American audience!
I am looking forward to the tournament!
I want to play against many different fighters! I want to feel and make them feel!
Is there anyone you’ve never faced in your career that you’d like to in the future?
Who are the awesome wrestlers in America?
I want to fight the amazing wrestlers that the fans want!
You’re one of the coolest wrestlers in the world. Your kicks are among the best with such precision and impact behind them. Is there anything that inspired your look and in-ring style?
My master is Chikusa Nagayo.
I gained all my knowledge from her.
It is not that I have any backbone, but I have created my current style through constant research and repeated failures.
So I am still going up!
Rin Kadokura competed as part of the AEW Eliminator Tournament in 2021. Of course, your friend and rival Nyla Rose competes there as well. Do you have interest in competing as part of the promotion in the future? Is there anyone there you’d like to face?
I think AEW is a great organization.
Nyla Rose competed in AEW and I was proud to be a rival.
I will continue to fight great matches both in Japan and in the U.S. and look for great wrestlers and rivals from around the world!
I will be locking on to some good wrestlers this time competing on the West Coast!!!
You and Unagi Sayaka have unfinished business. What’re your thoughts on her invading Marvelous a few months ago? Do you feel she fits in now that she’s been around for a while? Are you hoping to face her soon?
In my absence. I have been away from my fights with Unagi.
But when I hear a lot of "I want to fight!”
Some part of me wants to irritate Unagi.
Your connection to Chigusa Nagayo is a special one. Can you tell us a bit about what she means to you and why your relationship with her is so great?
She is my eternal admirer.
A master of wrestling.
She is like a parent to me.
I have always respected Mr. Nagayo as a person who has a very pure and open heart both as a professional wrestler and as a human being.
You’ve traveled to Pro Wrestling EVE over the past year as well as Spain. How have those experiences been meeting fans there and seeing how loved you are worldwide? Is there anywhere else you’d like to travel?
COVID-19 is settling in. I'm hoping to bring in a wider range of wrestling this year!
I want to get a lot of inspiration from overseas wrestlers and organizations. I want to bring back the good things to Japanese wrestling as well!
I've only been to New York in the U.S., so I want to cover all the places in the U.S.!
Marvelous will be bringing a men’s and women’s competitor to the dojo in the upcoming months to train. Does the opportunity excite you to teach someone new?
Japanese wrestling is It is strictly based on the basics.
That is why I think we have to teach from the very beginning.
I have been doing this for 10 years, and when I practice, I first go over the basics and then apply them.
I'm not very good at English, so I'm going to study it hard.
I want to teach what I can!
I'm excited!
Ahead of coming to the US, is there anything you’d like to tell fans who are excited to see you compete?
I am sure that you will experience an unprecedented stimulation.
Japanese wrestling and American wrestling!
I'm going for a standing ovation --.
Please look forward to it!
We want to give a huge thank you to Takumi Iroha and Marvelous for giving us the time to do this interview ahead of her arrival to America and her continued busy schedule in Marvelous.
If you want to check out a Marvelous show, check out their Zaiko page.
Iroha will team with Chigusa Nagayo and Sandra Moone at West Coast Pro's Queen of Indies show on May 13. Make sure to check it out on IWTV.
Special Attraction Match!!
— West Coast Pro (@WCProOfficial) April 3, 2023
Chigusa Nagayo, Takumi Iroha and Sandra Moone vs Lady Apache, Nicole Savoy and Karisma!
ONLY AT QUEEN OF INDIES!
Queen of Indies sponsored by The Joshi Pod.
Grab your tickets ASAP!
-- San Francisco
--️ Saturday May 13th
--️ https://t.co/Z7rMUsazDl pic.twitter.com/cIMzqPqzi8
Make sure to follow Iroha on Twitter to keep up with the Marvelous ace: @crushTKB
Also make sure to follow Marvelous (@info_marvelous) for news, live streams, and more.
