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Post by Shadow Master on May 12, 2024 18:49:33 GMT
All Japan Pro-Wrestling Strategical Fan Book Pages: 96 Year: 1993 Published by: Shogakukan Platform: Super Famicom Often regarded as the best Wrestling game of the 16-bit era, Zen Nippon 2-3:4 Budokan is an underrated grappling classic. A title that every old school Wrestling fan should try at least once in their lifetime. Catchy tunes, arcade style gameplay, a large arsenal of moves, the first example of a booking simulator in a Wrestling title, and the insanely-fun four man Battle Royal mode. Zen Nippon Budokan is a hallmark of retro grapplers that still plays just as well today as it did nearly 30 years ago. But, did you know the original Zen Nippon Pro-Wrestling had it's own strategy guide? Indeed so! Included below are all 96 pages of the All Japan Pro-Wrestling Strategical Fan Book; a strategy guide dedicated to All Japan/Zen Nippon's first outing on the Super Famicom system in 1993. The guide features many excellent, full-colour photos, illustrations, and exclusive interviews with the Wrestlers, staff and personalities associated with the creation of the Zen Nippon series. As usual, this obscurity is quite rare and (as of this posting) available nowhere else online for your own viewing pleasure.  The cover features the hand of Giant Baba holding a tiny Super Famicom. This is probably the earliest known example of a SNES Mini!
 Inner dust cover with Giant Baba holding the mini Super Famicom.
Inner cover and back.
 You're probably asking yourselves "why is there a picture of a shirtless fat guy at the front of the book?". Worst yet, you're probably also pondering "...and why did he sign the page, too?" Page 1 is a message from the editor, which roughly translates as: "There are a lot of strategy guides. I am deeply concerned about the growing situation where each publisher claims to be an official publisher. As someone who has created a total of 18
guidebooks since taking over as the world heavyweight editor in 1987, I have written about the true meaning of this guidebook. In the current game publishing world, where it is hard to
believe that there is an official book on Shogakukan, we have decided that now is the time to certify a true official book based on skill.
Kouryaku Saikobou Official Guidebook means the pinnacle of strategy guides, and in the recent world of game publishing, this is the one that is most deserving of that title. This is the
``All Japan Pro Wrestling Strategy & Fan Book'' that will be published. If other publishers' strategy books are truly official books, I hope they will have the courage to fight this book.
Former World Heavyweight Unification Editor U. E. F. Supreme Honorary Advisor
R. Teil" Pages 2 - 3: the coolest table of contents I've ever seen. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Stan Hansen.  Pages 4 - 5: Opening Ceremony with excerpts from the contributing writers.
"A look into the charm of All Japan Pro Wrestling, which has continued on the royal road for 21 years with the motto of being bright, fun, and intense.
Mr. Baba showed us a Japanese-style version of professional wrestling. And it's still active today...it's amazing.
If you could watch it from ringside, watch it on TV, and see how their matches were put together with just a few keystrokes on your Famicom, wouldn't you be
completely sold on it? I like it.
(Sanyutei Rakutaro)
``There's a great atmosphere in the entire venue.'' ``After watching pro wrestling, you're filled with the feeling of ``Oh, I had so much fun.''
(Edith Hanson)
Why are we so passionate about wrestling? Why are we so passionate about professional wrestling and the game, and why do we cry over victory and defeat?
Why is pro wrestling so interesting? In pro wrestling, you get to punch your master and make him crawl, and that's how you return the favor.
(Shinpei Hayashiya)"
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Post by Shadow Master on May 13, 2024 13:31:21 GMT
 Pages 6 - 7: fan interview with TV personality Tsutomu Sekine; who is also a passionate Giant Baba impersonator. Tsutomu talks about watching Pro-Wrestling since 1959; during the era of Rikidozan. Tsutomu chooses Giant Baba during his playthrough of Zen Nippon while commenting on Giant Baba's rise to stardom "if his ring name was Shohei Baba instead of Giant Baba when he started ...he probably wouldn't have become a star (laughs)". As far as earliest match recollections, Tsutomu recalls matches involving Freddie Blassie and The Destroyer in Japan. Tsutomu mentions Giant Baba's signature attacks, and can't imagine having a 40cm (size 16) boot size; attributed to Baba's '16mon Kick' technique. Tsutomu is an avid video game player who especially likes fighting games; pre-ordering Karateke in 1986 without having too much info on the game (only to immediately quit the game after finding it too boring).  Pages 8 - 9: Tsutomu's interview continues. That shirt that Tsutomu is wearing is definitely early 90's fashion. Tsutomu looks at Giant Baba as not only a Wrestler, but a successful businessman as well, with All Japan Pro-Wrestling being at the top (though, rival promotion NJPW arguably had bigger attendance records at the time); comparing Baba's success to that of Akio Morita (founder of Sony) and Kōnosuke Matsushita ( founder of Panasonic).  Pages 10 - 11: final page of Tsutomu's interview and start of the next section. Nice photo of Stan Hansen performing his Western Lariat on Rusher Kimura.  Pages 12 - 13: general overview highlighting game features. Includes a photo of 'Dr. Death' Steve Williams and Terry Gordy in the top-left corner. For example, page 12 states that there are over 300 moves in the game; including signature moves, movie variations, and techniques that are fan-favourites.  Pages 14 - 15: game modes overview. Includes more photos of the match between Mitsuharu Misawa and Stan Hansen. |
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Post by Shadow Master on May 14, 2024 2:53:53 GMT
 Pages 16 - 17: game modes continued. Most of the modes are named after All Japan's official tournaments, such as the World's Strongest Tag League and the Giant Series. There's also the elimination match mode called Tsuruta Army vs Super Generation Army. This mode takes it's name from two of the biggest factions in All Japan at the time. Though, what's interesting is the bottom of page 17, which includes a special column announcing Toshiaki Kawada's departure from the Super Generation Army. The blurb mentions that Kawada plans to form a tag team with Akira Taue (which would be known as the Holy Demon Army; a prominent tag team that would go on to hold numerous title reigns in the promotion). The photo in the column consists of a match between Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue; back when both competitors were enemies in rival stables.  Pages 18 - 19: notes on the different factions and names of the teams in tag mode. The photos feature The Patriot, Mitsuharu Misawa applying his signature Stepover Facelock to Jumbo Tsuruta, and the Miracle Violence Connection ('Dr. Death' Steve Williams & Terry Gordy) winning the Tag Team belts.  Pages 20 - 21: the start of the roster section. The photos are large and high-quality for their age. Scans really don't do them justice. |
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Post by Shadow Master on May 14, 2024 18:42:39 GMT
 Pages 22 - 23. Mitsuharu Misawa is pictured with the Triple Crown Championship; along with performing a flipping dropkick against Kenta Kobashi. More shots of Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue take place on page 23.  Pages 24 - 25. Kenta Kobashi is pictured facing Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada; while Kenta Kobashi is pictured on the next page facing Johnny Ace and Billy Black.
 Pages 26 - 27: Masanobu is pictured attacking Giant Kimala II; while Ogawa is seen attacking (who looks like) Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas.  Pages 28 - 29. Kikuchi vs Johnny Ace and Akira Taue (with Toshiaki Kawada sending Kikuchi rocketing towards Taue with a (presumably) diving headbutt). Page 29 features Kimura going up against (who looks like) fellow All Japan veteran Haruka Eigen.
 Pages 30 - 31.  Pages 32 - 33. In a bid to save photo space, the remaining part of the roster is lumped together. |
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Post by Shadow Master on May 15, 2024 17:07:04 GMT
 Pages 34 - 35: general glossary of move types such as tagging opponents, top rope techniques, hammer throws, etc.  Pages 36 - 37: the beginning of the Wrestler moveset section. Page 36: Giant Baba. Finisher: 16mon Kick. Page 37: Jumbo Tsuruta Finisher: Backdrop  Page 38: Mitsuharu Misawa FInisher: Tiger Driver Page 39: Toshiaki Kawada Finisher: Stretch Plum  Page 40: Akira Taue Finisher: Ore Ga Taue (Chokeslam) Page 41: Kenta Kobashi Finisher: Moonsault Press  Page 42: Masanobu Fuchi Finisher: Low Dropkick Page 43: Yoshinari Ogawa Finisher: Neckbreaker  Page 44: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Finisher: Zero Sen Kick Page 45: Rusher Kimura Finisher: Crosschop  Page 46: Stan Hansen Finisher: Western Lariat Page 47: Terry Gordy Finisher: High Angle Powerbomb  Page 48: Steve Williams Finisher: Powerslam Page 49: Danny Spivey Finisher: Spivey Spike  Page 50: Patriot Finisher: Patriot Missile Page 51: Johnny Ace Finisher: Ace Crusher  Pages 52 - 53: additional techniques.  Pages 54 - 55: additional techniques continued.  Pages 56 - 57: strategy points for each Wrestler. This section offers suggested moves and gameplay tips for each Wrestler on their way to winning the Triple Crown.  Pages 58 - 59: player strategies continued.  Pages 60 - 61: player strategies continued.
 Pages 62 - 63: player strategy points continued.  Page 64 contains an interview with Japanese Broadcaster Tamio Kageyama. Kageyama comments on his favourite Wrestlers from All Japan, with Toshiaki Kawada as his personal favourite.
Page 65 is the title page for the next section: Ring Side. The Wrestler in the Giant Baba shirt is Rusher Kimura.
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Post by Shadow Master on May 15, 2024 20:34:02 GMT
 Pages 66 - 67: an exclusive interview with Giant Baba on everything involving All Japan and becoming a Wrestler. The interview takes place inside Giant Baba's AJPW office. Some key takeaways from the interview include Baba not liking the idea of gimmicks/roles in the Wrestling business. Baba is asked why he became a villain when he Wrestled overseas, only to respond that becoming a villain wasn't his choice, but the booker's at the time. Baba adds that Japanese Wrestlers used to travel overseas to learn how to Wrestle, now the roles have changed and gaijin Wrestlers come to Japan to learn. Baba acknowledges that being on top for 21 years didn't come without hardships, but Baba also believes that a Wrestler can become successful if they study hard and Wrestle from morning 'til night. Giant Baba also states that anyone can become a good Wrestler with a minimum training of three to four years.  Page 68: the last part of Giant Baba's interview. Page 69: the next celebrity column is that of late Japanese Artist Nancy Seki. The included drawing of Baba was drawn by Seki herself.  Pages 70 - 71: the next interview with Mitsuharu Misawa. It's rare to see pictures of the stoic-faced Misawa smiling; but here you go! Misawa's interview deals with more Wrestling-related questions. Such as being the new ace of All Japan, his response to being Tiger Mask, reaching main event status, etc.  Pages 72 - 73: the last part of the Misawa interview, and another celebrity excerpt with author and professor Anna Ogino.  Pages 74 - 75: show report with film director Minoru Kawasaki, who watched an event from the All Japan Super Power Series at Korakuen Hall on March 14th. |
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Post by Shadow Master on May 17, 2024 2:43:08 GMT
 Pages 76 - 77. The interview continues with artwork of Kawasaki, Giant Baba, Giant Kimala II and Haruka Eigen.  Pages 78 - 79. Coverage continues with a great photo of Kenta Kobashi dropping a Leg Drop on Akira Taue. Giant Kimala II appears again on page 78.  Pages 80 - 81. Giant Baba's manga appearances.  Pages 82 - 83 signals the start of the next interview with the late Rakugo comedian Rakutaro Sanyuutei.  Pages 84 - 85: additional Wrestling coverage from the early days of Puroresu.  Pages 86 - 87. More historical Puroresu coverage involving Rikidozan.  Pages 88 - 89. Blurbs from other noted celebrities and their comments on All Japan Pro-Wrestling.
 Pages 90 - 91. Comics involving Giant Baba's struggles with his talent, training, and the world of Pro-Wrestling. Notice Stan Hansen as an opponent on page 91.  Pages 92 - 93. Conclusion of the comic and more interviews on the following page.  Pages 94 - 95: additional guidebooks by the publisher including Super Mario Collection, Pop 'n Twinbee, Kirby, Tiny Tunes, etc.  And so, we have come to the end of another obscure, Japanese guidebook. Large, high-quality photos, insightful glances into the Wrestling world, strategies for every Wrestler, and commentary from a cavalcade of Japanese celebrities definitely makes this guidebook stand out from the pack. It's just a shame that the true pinnacle of the series: Zen Nippon 2,3-4: Budokan didn't get a guidebook of it's own as well.
Thanks for reading! |
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Post by elguapo on May 20, 2024 19:59:15 GMT
That was very cool and good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
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