Rika Tatsumi vs. Mizuki vs. Hyper Misao, TJPW 9th Tokyo Princess Cup Day 6 13/08/2022
With the crowning of the latest Tokyo Princess Cup winner, the conversation surrounding TJPW particularly among Western fans once again returned to the frustrations with Tetsuya Koda;
His slow paced booking and unwillingness to push new stars right to the top, in favour of his rosters established four pillars; Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi and this years winner Yuka Sakazaki.
Putting aside that conversation I want to discuss one of the absolute delights of Koda's booking. The organic and well developed world building and the rich characters that make up this crazy world of Tokyo Joshi Pro.
It's so fantastic that in the middle of a semi finals tournament, Korakuen can be treated to what would normally amount to an inconsequential three way between three great characters and wrestlers whose shared history makes the match and the comedy within it more richer than it should be.
For example, Hyper Misao the resident hero of ToJo enters the ring with her own picture book of Rika Tatsumi. She respects and admires Rika especially after the White Dragon in a sense saved her from the evil clutches of NEO Bishiki-Gun (the resident heel faction in TJPW) and giving her a second sense of self.
On the other end Rika is infatuated, obsessed with Mizuki to a fault. So when the latter proposes a partnership to take out Misao, she is totally in. Blindly so, whenever Rika is betrayed by Mizuki or hurts her in any way during the match; it is hilariously Rika who is apologetic of her actions and even tries to protect her from Misao.
