A Brief Chat with Sukeban’s Stray Cat

Interview Location: Anime Expo 2025
Interview Format: In-person, One-on-One

Anime Herald: Thank you for speaking with us. How did you first get into wrestling?

Stray Cat: My mom wanted to become a pro wrestler. She got into a car accident, so she couldn’t do it. I took over that dream for her.

Anime Herald: Is your mom okay?

Stray Cat: Yes, she’s fine.

Anime Herald: How old were you when you decided this?

Stray Cat: I was twelve or thirteen.

Anime Herald: Who were your favorite wrestlers when you were a kid?

Stray Cat: Minoru Suzuki.

Poster visual for Sukeban's Anime Expo 2026 show, which features the members posing in front of a sky blue background

Anime Herald: How do you enjoy Sukeban?

Stray Cat: Some of the things are totally different from the wrestling I do in Japan. In Japan, I am just myself. I don’t have a character or wear a mask. Here, I wear the mask. The audience reactions are totally different, as well. The wrestling styles are different, as well. A lot of this is very new to me.

Anime Herald: What is your training?

Stray Cat: I started karate when I was young. That’s the base of my skills.

Anime Herald: How do you feel about doing a performance outdoors?

Stray Cat: When we wrestle inside, we hear the echoes. There’s no echo outside, so for me that’s the major difference. I enjoy both.

Anime Herald: I would not have thought about that. The lack of audio feedback.

What would you like American wrestling fans to know about Sukeban?

Stray Cat: I’d like the audience to learn about wrestling through Sukeban. It’s an experience. Even people who have never watched wrestling can attend, and become wrestling fans, and learn about Tomoko Inaba.

Poster for wrestling group Sukeban, which depicts the members in anime style.

Anime Herald: Have you enjoyed any interesting food or sights out here in Los Angeles?

Stray Cat: (In English) “The chicken!”

When I got my order, I was so excited. It was huge! If you order the same thing in Japan, it’s small in comparison.

Anime Herald: Do you have any questions for us?

Sukeban: If I may ask, do you think there is a natural connection between anime and wrestling?

Anime Herald: The posters for Sukeban have a “River City Girls” vibe to them. I think there’s definitely a connection.

Sukeban will be returning to Anime Expo again this year. It sold out last year, and I’d expect it to do so again. Tickets are currently available on Anime Expo’s website.