2020 Joshi Yearbook, Volume 3
My friend has made this amazing 11-volume set covering the 2020 Joshi scene. I will cover this set one volume at a time here.
The forward from the set explains the project well:
“The intention of this Yearbook is to curate a selection of matches (and some extra material) that watching in order would recreate the experience of being a hardcore Joshi Puro fan in 2020. The matches were chosen either because of their high quality, significance, or just matches that people felt were personally important to them for any other reason.”
This will not be a full review, but more of my thoughts and reasons why you should watch it!
All photos are courtesy of the Yearbook itself.
1. Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu vs DASH Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto (Sendai Girls Tag Titles, Sendai Girls, 2022-02-19)
Give me all of Yuu vs Matsumoto! These two against each other is so fucking great. Outside of that, it is a fun, solid tag match. (7/10)
2. Sareee vs Yoshiko (Diana, 2020-02-22)
I think people would really love this one. These two get into a stiff, striking contest that builds like a great Finlay-Regal match. You want to see this. (7.5/10)
3. Hibiki vs Nagisa Nozaki (Regina di WAVE Title, WAVE, 2020-02-23)
This started off kind of slow but really kicked it up to another gear as it went along. A really solid match. (6.75/10)
4. AZM vs Kaho Kobayashi vs Mei Suruga (Kagetsu Retirement Show, 2020-02-24)
This match is kind of NUTS! It may be the quickest, most intricate three-way match I have ever seen, but not in a negative choreographed dance way. (8/10)
5. Kagetsu vs Meiko Satomura (Kagetsu Retirement Show, 2020-02-24)
The hype video covering Kagetsu’s full career and how it interlaced with Satomura’s is really awesome. So glad it was subtitled.
This ruled so hard, and it was everything you would want for someone retiring. A classic match, which only was hurt by one kick out too many for me. (8.75/10)
A nice retirement ceremony at the end. Loved all of this.
6. Chihiro Hashimoto vs Syrui (Sendai Girls World Championship, Sendai Girls, 2020-03-08)
These two are always awesome against each other: the kickboxer vs the wrestler. They didn’t hit the high levels they had in other matches, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good match. (7.25/10)
7. Tsukasa Fujimoto vs Suzu Suzuki (Ice Ribbon, 2020-03-14)
First, the pre match promo video is the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Suzu loses, so she runs away to live in the woods to transform. Tsukasa searched and searched for her until she found her, and she ran away. Finally she catches her and calms her down by roleplaying a press conference. This line had me in stitches, “she got exhausted and thought Suzu was a duck.”
Onto the match, and the transformation is red hair and a cool new look! This turned into a delight. Fujimoto is a complete boss here leading this match into a beautiful big match up while making Suzuki a star. (7.5/10)
8. Miyuki Takase vs Nagisa Nozaki (AWG Championship, Actwres girl’Z, 2020-03-15)
I loved the early brawling in this. After the brawling segment, it became a fun go for the win type title match that was very enjoyable and high energy! (7/10)
In Conclusion
Another enjoyable volume of the Yearbook, although doom is looming as the pandemic is about to set in. I’m really curious how this will work out!
Upcoming
Volume 4!
You can discuss this on Twitter!
Discord
We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group, and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:
Join:
We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat covering Joshi chronologically!
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2020 Joshi Yearbook, Volume 2
My friend has made this amazing 11-volume set covering the 2020 Joshi scene. I will cover this set one volume at a time here.
You can look at the Volume here.
The forward from the set explains the project well:
“The intention of this Yearbook is to curate a selection of matches (and some extra material) that watching in order would recreate the experience of being a hardcore Joshi Puro fan in 2020. The matches were chosen either because of their high quality, significance, or just matches that people felt were personally important to them for any other reason.”
This will not be a full review, but more of my thoughts and reasons why you should watch it!
All photos are courtesy of the Yearbook itself.
1. Arisa Nakajima vs Yoshiko
(Beyond the Sea Title, SEAdLINNNG, January 24)
Yoshiko never connected with me, but I really love Nakajima. So, this was a struggle, but that’s a personal issue on my end. I did enjoy Nakajima watching her own match in the corner of the screen.
Rating: 6.5/10
2. Miyu Yamashita vs Natsumi Maki
(TJPW, January 25)
This two mesh really well and this was awesome. Yamashita was the ace and Natsupoi fought from underneath until she was eventually overwhelmed. Perfect pro-wrestling.
The backstage promo by Yamashita completely buries Natsupoi.
Rating: 7.75/10
3. Kagetsu & Mayu Iwatani vs Jungle Kyona & Momo Watanabe
(Stardom, January 26)
This is the last big match for Kagetsu before his retirement and him teaming with Mayu is a lot of fun with matching outfits, masks, and blended music. This started off as a fun party tribute for Kagetsu but turned into a damn great tag match.
A fun celebration for Kagetsu as he essentially retires.
Rating: 8/10
4. Chigusa Nagayo teaches Mayu Iwatani the “Running Three”
(Stardom, February 6)
This is perfect and adorable. Fully subtitled, like everything on these sets. I loved it!
Rating: 8.5/10
5. Arisa Hoshiki vs Bea Priestley
(Wonder of Stardom, Stardom, February 8)
The way people talk about Magnum TA is the way they need to start talking about Hoshiki. What a wonder!
I’m not as big into Priestley, but she is a good foil for Hoshiki in terms of her power and taking the big kicks. Bea’s knees were on point too.
Rating: 7/10
6. Takuma Iroha vs Mayu Iwatani
(Stardom, February 8)
Chigusa’s student who knows the Running Three well against Mayu who just learned it! Also two of the best in the world! They really delivered! It’s exactly what you wanted in a match between these two and this story.
Rating: 8.5/10
7. Hikari Noa & Natsumi Maki vs. Mirai Maiumi & Mizuki
(TJPW, February 11)
It was kind of wild to see Mirai and Natsupoi in TJPW looking so different. It’s awesome to see how far they’ve come. This was a fun tag though with everyone getting to shine, especially Mizuki who was a lightning rod in there.
Rating: 7/10
8. Kagetsu vs Chihiro Hashimoto
(Sendai Girls, February 16)
A strong match between two hard-hitting badasses. I really bit one some great near falls. Slightly anti-climatic finish.
Rating: 7.25/10
In Conclusion
Such a fun set. The promos being subtitled make this the best way to watch 2020 Joshi. Everything is good and some things are great!
You can discuss this on Twitter:
Discord
We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:
Join:
We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!
Trans Rights!
It’s a horrible time to be trans right now, so please donate to the lovely folks here, who save lives!
Upcoming
Volume 3!
2020 Joshi Yearbook, Volume 1
My friend has made this amazing 11-volume set covering the 2020 Joshi scene. I will cover this set one volume at a time here.
The forward from the set explains the project well:
“The intention of this Yearbook is to curate a selection of matches (and some extra material) that watching in order would recreate the experience of being a hardcore Joshi Puro fan in 2020. The matches were chosen either because of their high quality, significance, or just matches that people felt were personally important to them for any other reason.”
This will not be a full review, but more of my thoughts and reasons why you should watch it!
All photos are courtesy of the Yearbook itself.
1. Natsumi Maki vs Sareee (TJPW, January 4)
These two are very similar, except Natsupoi is a lot faster and Sareee is a lot stiffer. It built great and had a great finishing run.
Rating: 7/10
2. Hikari Noa vs Maki Itoh (International Princess Title, TJPW, January 4)
This rocked! Fun brawl to start and then settled into a traditional match. Itoh’s charisma jumped off the page and she had some vicious submission nearfalls. Noa countered with a lot of really cool roll-ups.
Rating: 7.25/10
LOVED the post-match angle!
3. Miyu Yamashita vs Yuka Sakazaki (Princess of Princess Title, TJPW, January 4)
I miss pre-pandemic brawling in the crowd and that was a super awesome part of this match including doing a spot I had never seen before. Miyu’s kicks rule, as usual, and Yuka brought some amazing spots. A truly worthwhile big main event.
Rating: 8/10
4. Ayako Sato vs Sareee (Diana World Title, Diana, January 4)
This is pro-wrestling! A traditionally well-built intense struggle-filled battle. Fuck I loved this! There were some points you felt like Sareee was about to do too much, but Sato reigned her in every time. Watch this!
Rating: 8.5/10
Very good emotional post-match speech by Sato.
5. Chihiro Hashimoto vs Syuri (Sendai Girls, January 5)
This felt like a big fight between two bad asses. Not really shoot style, but didn’t feel like a traditional wrestling match either.
Rating: 7.25/10
6. Maria vs Mei Hoshizuki (Marvelous, January 19)
This started out as a solid young wrestler’s match but started to escalate about a ⅓ through. The leg work was good and it picked up steam as it went. After a draw, we got a restart and that section was awesome.
Rating: 6.75/10
7. Arisa Hoshiki vs Utami Hayashishita (Wonder of Stardom Title, Stardom, January 19)
Hoshiki has the most innovative and cool kicks in history. Utami has cool-ass power moves and this was a really damn good performance. Exactly what you’d expect from these two trying to have a good match!
Rating: 7.25/10
8. Mayu Iwatani vs Momo Watanabe (World of Stardom Title, Stardom, January 19)
This is the big title match you want! Amazing arm work by Momo, which isn’t forgotten. Big moves building to an exciting and dramatic finish. You know a match works when there is near falls you buy on, but you don’t feel it’s overkill.
Rating: 8.5/10
In Conclusion
Such a fun set. The promos being subtitled make this the best way to watch 2020 Joshi. Everything is good and some things are great!
You can discuss this on Twitter:
Discord
We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:
Join:
We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!
Trans Rights!
It’s a horrible time to be trans right now, so please donate to the lovely folks here, who save lives!
Upcoming
Volume 2!
Pro-Wrestling Super Blog 
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