Q&A with Miyako Matsumoto, on her career and artistic influences

“Cult Idol Pro-Wrestler” Miyako Matsumoto talks about her unique approach to joshi puroresu

By: Jeff Brown, translated by James Carlin

Miyako Matsumoto is a truly unique figure in the world of Joshi. Having been an actress, art school graduate, and professional wrestler has helped her carve a new path. Matsumoto is also an idol who performs her own entrance theme, but that is contrasted with her penchant for extremely violent matches. Her own Gake no Fuchi Puroresu shows often result in arresting images of Matsumoto in a kawaii outfit that is strongly linked to Idol but with a head full of skewers.

Comedy is also a strong suit for her, further adding to her enigmatic resume of matches. Anything can and usually does go on these shows, which are equal parts wrestling shows and 1960s happenings. She is one of an incredible lineup of Joshi that will be participating in Kitsune’s inaugural show. An absolute celebration of Joshi, past and present, springs from the long-running Joshi Pod. Matsumoto will now have the opportunity to bring her artistic take on Joshi to American audiences this October. Before arriving in America for Kitsune, she generously took the time to discuss a variety of topics about her 15-year career.

Have you met @MatsumotoMiyako? If not, you can on October 22nd in Los Angeles! She is soooooooo much fun! Google her! 😀 Buy 1000 portraits and 2000 CD’s! Get tickets now: https://t.co/qJSSpa1G71 pic.twitter.com/BgNocAp0To

— Kitsune Women’s Wrestling (@PWKitsune) September 8, 2023

Monthly Puroresu:
What drew you to Ice Ribbon? Did your time in Muscle Venus influence your decision to join?

Miyako Matsumoto:
Muscle Venus was a television show which spawned from an idol group of the same name, that I was apart of.

Then, the group was cast in a film named Three Count, which had a story that was based around pro-wrestling, and we (Muscle Venus) trained under Ice Ribbon as part of our roles in the movie, so I didn’t know anything about wrestling before that.

Monthly Puroresu:
You have unique relationships with fellow Joshi such as Risa Sera and Tsukasa Fujimoto; can you explain how you formed those bonds?

Miyako Matsumoto:
My bonds with Sera and Fujimoto developed slowly, as we fought against each other through friendly competitions. It allowed me to create a relationship of trust and rivalry as time went on.

Monthly Puroresu:
Can you explain your approach to having no influences or inspiration from other wrestlers?

Miyako Matsumoto:
I mean, if I’m getting inspiration from someone in pro-wrestling, it’s probably just a rip-off of someone else anyway. More often than not, I get a lot of ideas and inspiration from other forms of art like ballet and martial arts.

Monthly Puroresu:
You also act; how did you become involved in acting? You said previously that experimental cinema like Daisies and A Clockwork Orange has given you inspiration.

Miyako Matsumoto:
I became involved in acting because I joined arts colleges, theatre companies and entertainment agencies when I was younger.

Monthly Puroresu:
Who inspires your acting—any particular actors or characters?

Miyako Matsumoto:
Jun Togawa, as well as Alex from A Clockwork Orange are people that inspire me.

Monthly Puroresu:
Do you feel your art background has helped your wrestling in conveying a story to an audience, entertaining them, or even challenging them?

Miyako Matsumoto:
Yes, a lot.

Monthly Puroresu:
You perform your own entrance theme, Cultpia; did you write it as well?

Miyako Matsumoto:
I didn’t write it – it was written by Tamaya 2060% (Wienners).

Monthly Puroresu:
How does someone like Jun Togawa shape your own work? You have cited experimental or avant-garde artists as influences.

Miyako Matsumoto:
Jun Togawa was known as a mysterious, strange, and curious type of artist. I think of her as the first woman to sublimate the ideas, thoughts and feelings of mental illness and depression into art. I find a lot of influence in her work: Her music, her words and her actions; I want to be able to express those same types of ideas in my own work too.

Jun Togawa promoting Radar Man in 1987.

“There’s a feeling I’ve had ever since childhood: that there exist many different ‘worlds’ and I was born in the wrong one – a world I don’t quite fit into.

I’ve felt this strong feeling of wrongness all through my life. There is no space for me in this world. Every time I believe I’ve finally found my place, someone comes to me and says ‘Go away! You’re not supposed to be here.'”

Jun Togawa in an interview in 1985.

Monthly Puroresu:
How important is Idol to your wrestling and your overall career? Your image is very Idol but it is only part of your persona.

Miyako Matsumoto:
I would say around 20%. Idol and wrestling are near enough the same, but being an idol is a lot harder than being a wrestler, and presents its own set of challenges.

Monthly Puroresu:
You are not afraid of deathmatches and hardcore stipulations; was that always a goal to be involved in those styles?

Miyako Matsumoto:
Not at all. I don’t think I was ever scared of doing deathmatches but I never expected to be part of one. I was influenced by Jun Kasai, whom I have a lot of respect for, to start doing deathmatches.

Monthly Puroresu:
Promoting your own shows like Gake no Fuchi Puroresu is something you have done for years. Was that always your plan when you began your career?

Miyako Matsumoto:
I never had the intention to do my own produce shows when I first started wrestling, but in May 2011 I was left with no option but to start running my own events after I was forced to leave Ice Ribbon when I lost against Tsukasa Fujimoto in a Ice Ribbon career. vs Title match for the ICE×60 Championship.

Monthly Puroresu:
There is a surrealist feel to Gake no Fuchi; it is more like an art collective exhibition or a Stockhausen piece of music and less of a wrestling event. Do you give the other participants instructions, or is it free-form?

Miyako Matsumoto:
Most of what takes place is up to the performers. I just give them very small instructions and a general idea of what is going to happen during the event.

#MiyacocoFes 下北進出

✨完売✨

色異なりすぎプロレス神試合x3

プロレス愛溢れるPPPR!!LIVE

真樹先生明らかに降りてきてた
🆚飛室イヴ様トークショー

顔痛いが幸せ一杯

9/28(木)
15周年興行
今日の8倍の大会場
仮押さえしてしまったどうなる

今月中配信買える観られるhttps://t.co/GTglObirir pic.twitter.com/tysNDxsKJ2

— 松本都💋Miyako Matsumoto (@MatsumotoMiyako) June 17, 2023

Monthly Puroresu:
What inspired you to become a freelancer?

Miyako Matsumoto:
There were a lot of times where I couldn’t stop thinking about the things I wanted to be able to do, and all the ideas that I had in my head. These were all things that I realized couldn’t be done in a wrestling company, so I decided to become a freelancer to be able to do them.

Monthly Puroresu:
You are coming to America for Kitsune Women’s Wrestling. You are known for a variety of styles and match types, from fun comedy to violent blood baths. What should fans expect when you enter the arena?

Miyako Matsumoto:
I want to bring my charisma and cuteness to everyone in the United States. I’ll do this through missionary work to make sure Miyako Matsumoto, the cult idol pro-wrestler, appears in the US!

Monthly Puroresu:
What goals do you wish to achieve in the near and distant future? You have done quite a lot already, but you likely have more ambitions.

Miyako Matsumoto:
I’d like to run a Miyacoco Festival show at Madison Square Garden one day, as well as running a show in Hollywood, California. Another thing I’d like to do is opening Snack Miyacoco in Shinjuku.

Monthly Puroresu:
If you had to describe yourself to a new fan, what would you say? Taking into account all your talents, not just Joshi.

Miyako Matsumoto:
I am the Idol Teacher of the Hardcore Cult Religion.

Monthly Puroresu:
How important is it that your art; be it wrestling music, etc., pushes boundaries and subverts expectations?

Miyako Matsumoto:
To be honest, I’m not trying to push any boundaries or subvert any expectations. I’m just showing what goes on inside my head, and bringing it to the real world.

Monthly Puroresu:
Do you have any advice to give to anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps in wrestling, Idol, or show promotion?

Miyako Matsumoto:
Don’t hold yourself back: Do everything that you want to do.

Live your life fearlessly and without restraint.