Among all the legacy wrestlers on the Japanese scene, few have as much to live up to as Strong Machine J, son and successor of Showa era wrestling legend Super Strong Machine. Originally debuting for the major Japanese promotion DRAGONGATE in 2019, the young wrestler has since made a name for himself by remixing his father’s original gimmick with modern flair.
As a member of party-loving babyface faction Natural Vibes, he often shows off his breakdancing skills during shows and has further endeared himself to the audience by revealing a human side to the machine lineage through his love for cats and music.
Unfortunately, however, his career has been marked by many difficulties as well.
One constant thorn in his side is DG’s main heel, Shun Skywalker. Him and J are often compared in terms of their in-ring creativity and perspectives on wrestling, especially since being officially named as two of DG’s six most promising young talents in May. Taking great offense to that comparison, Skywalker decided to go after SMJ’s mask, eventually culminating in a harrowing 5-way mask vs mask survival cage match at DG’s biggest event of the year, Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival (also known as Kobe World).
Both J and Shun successfully escaped the cage, but neither did so unscathed. Skywalker had to betray his dearest friend and SMJ paid a heavy physical toll that left his participation in the following King of Gate tournament in question.
After Kobe World, Five Star Network’s Kay Quinn had the chance to interview Strong Machine J about a wide variety of topics, including his experiences during the cage match, his feud with Shun Skywalker and his friends in Natural Vibes.
Here is what he had to say:
You were named as one of DRAGONGATE’s “Reiwa Generation Leaders” this year. How do you feel about that position?
It made me aware that I, with my classic wrestling style, which stands out against DRAGONGATE’s spectacular wrestling, am an important presence in the promotion.
Which other wrestlers do you admire the most?
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Katsuyori Shibata and Prince Devitt.
What international wrestlers would you like to face the most?
To be honest, I barely know any foreign wrestlers… But I really like Alex Shelley’s wrestling, so if I had to say, I’d pick him, I think.
As a K-Pop fan, what is your favourite group? Which do you think has the best dance choreographies?
In terms of both dancing and singing, NewJeans are Nr. 1, especially Hani and Danielle. Though I also like LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chaewon. I’ve joined their fan club, too, of course, so I really want to meet them someday.
You’re famously fond of cats. What do you like about them the most?
They don’t open up easily, but if you put in enough time and love, a friendship will be born. When I’m feeling down, cats just quietly stay by my side. I also like the fact that they behave like spoiled children.
Since last year, you’ve started to set yourself apart from your father. In terms of wrestling, what is the biggest difference between you and him?
I think I’m different from my father in that I continue to change and adapt to the times. Despite being a machine, I have a human heart. Because of that, my function is to shape myself into a new machine that incorporates subcultures.
Aside from you, there are two other 2nd generation wrestlers in DRAGONGATE. How do you feel about the ways ISHIN and Mochizuki Junior have handled their legacy?
From ISHIN, I feel a strong intent to continue being his own unique person. Junior’s own will, meanwhile, seems to still be weak and I think that he is content to continue using his father’s moves. But both of them have considerable athletic skill and are especially good at taking moves. As the pioneering second generation wrestler in DRAGONGATE, I intend to pave the way for them.
As a member of Natural Vibes, what do you particularly like about the faction? What do you think should be changed?
I think that by accepting each member’s individual traits and combining them, our faction is able to prioritize winning as a team over personal gain. What has to change is that we need to start having more frank conversations going forward. Self-restraint will only increase the resentment between us and the mistakes we make, in my opinion.
Within Natural Vibes, you’ve built a particularly close bond with Jason Lee and Jacky “Funky” Kamei. How did that friendship come to be?
Even though we’re a six-man faction and often split up while traveling or during shows because of that, us three just naturally flock together. We’re simply on the same wavelength, so we have a lot of fun talking to each other. I would like the three of us to win the trios belts together and, if possible, I’d like to join Kung Fu Masters as well.
In the HAPPY GATE fan magazine, you stated that you would have liked to try being a member of RED. What about the faction interested you and how do Z-Brats differ from that?
Hahaha, well spotted. That was just because I thought that factions with a red colour scheme are cool. Still, that faction had an unwavering leader in Eita, right? A person who leads evil must be extremely clever and competent. I would have liked to try being a member because that structure itself was like a model heel faction’s.
At Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival, you entered your first cage match. How did you prepare yourself for this challenge?
Given the other participants, I was at a clear disadvantage, so I had to fight according to the situation. But I consciously fought with all my heart from the beginning of the match, so that I wouldn’t lose sight of my goal.
What was participating in that cage match like for you?
It was my first time competing in a Kobe World main event, a cage match, a mask vs mask match, or a five-way match. It was inevitable, but I felt like being in that position signified my growth and progress.
How do you view the outcome of the match?
Shun would say that I ran from him. But escaping was required by the rules and considering the circumstances, I’d say that I won. I turned the tables in that hopeless 2-vs-1 situation and let out all the emotions within me. Shun wanted me to be left behind in the cage. Being denied that would be humiliating for him regardless, so I was comfortable watching him slip out of the cage after I escaped.
What are your thoughts on the other participants now?
I think that Kobe World was an event that, as a full package from the dark match to the main event, proved that DRAGONGATE is the best. It set us apart from other promotions, overflowed with character, and moved people around the world. I’m proud to be a wrestler in this promotion.
You and Shun Skywalker both value strength very highly. In what ways does your worldview differ from his? In what ways do you agree with him?
I have no idea what he actually thinks. This is all just conjecture, like, “he said one thing, but maybe he actually meant something else?”. But I do think that he harbors a considerable love for pro wrestling. It’s just that he expresses his love in the wrong way, and that, while losing some parts of himself in the process, he’s shaped himself to be unwavering. He is like me in that he’s willing to see his intentions through, even if people hate him for it. Where we differ is in whether or not we’re honest about our feelings.
What does being a masked wrestler mean to you?
My mask makes me stronger. The feeling of wanting to protect this mask, the time I’ve spent fighting alongside it, all of that driving me forward is why I can continue to fight.
What are your goals for King of Gate? Do you think that you will be able to win?
[Note: Questions were sent before the start of the tournament]
I was defeated in the first round of King of Gate. I’d been able to endure until the cage match, but after that things gradually fell apart. With my mind in the state it was and my body in bad condition, I was eliminated without being able to demonstrate my full strength. It will take some time, but I will do my best to take good care of myself and move forward.
Our deepest gratitude to Strong Machine J (@jsm0410dg) for taking the time to answer our questions and to Ho Ho Lun (@hoholun719) for assisting us in arranging this interview!
We would also like to thank Chiyoko (@chiyoko_asakura) for helping us translate the questions from English to Japanese and Joe (@thefeelite) for his advice in translating the replies from Japanese to English.
Anyone interested in seeing the Kobe World cage match and the rest of Strong Machine J’s work for themselves can do so on DRAGONGATE Network. Please consider signing up!
English updates on the promotion are available on the DG English Twitter account (@DragonGateEN).
For more DRAGONGATE content, check out the Five Star Network’s Dramatic Dream Dragons podcast and have a look at the puroresu features section of the site!