Quoted By:
>Shirakawa announced his challenge to him at the Sendai tournament on March 27. He welcomed this, saying, "It was lucky in a sense (to have so few defenses) because there is a high risk involved in defending a title, but I am glad that the next challenger came forward so soon after the last defense. He said he had not had much contact with Shirakawa, but was impressed by the Wonder title match on November 3, 2022, in Hiroshima, where Shirakawa showed guts to face the then champion, Saya Kamitani.
>I didn't pay any attention to him before, but the way he said, 'I'll make a comment,' even though his teeth were chattering, made me think he was very professional. I respect him."
