Jienotsu ambushed by Dida?
Fans will say that there were only punches
Q: You made it into the Final 8.
Nagashima: But I'm not happy. I was aiming for a KO win or lose. I was planning to beat him in the third round, but I couldn't do it. I'm glad I won, or should I say I'm lucky.
Q: span You're happy you won as Japan's representative, but not as Jienotsu the fighter?
Nagashima: As a pro, my job is to get that KO.
Q: Unlike your other fights, you seemed very calm in the ring.
Nagashima: Instead of just randomly attacking... My cornerman said that if I don't fight cleverly, I'll definitely lose. I used lowkicks to get him to focus below. That's the plan I used. I made it happen.
Q: But weren't you nervous in the first round?
Nagashima: My heart was pounding. I was scared. Even so, I hit him with several counterattacks. But I hurt my right wrist this time. So I couldn't use my full power with my right.
Q: The first minute was everything.
Nagashima: I was told to focus all my energy on the first round, I was completely focused then.
Q: Until this last fight, you tended to fly into it like you were taking a gamble.
Nagashima: I was always being told that was bad. I would look at him closely, then focus on aiming at his body. My mistake was doing the same thing in the second and third round. Even though it worked in the second round c
Q: There were people thinking, Dida, what are you doing!?
Nagashima: At first you couldn't tell who would win, but you get confidence when your opponent starts wearing out. In the first round the counterattacks were good, and I thought I'd hit him, so in the end I kept getting in hits.
Q: Do you feel like you're fighting with trauma from last year's world tournament?
Nagashima: If I watch it, I can see Dida getting me. I don't have time to think about it, though.
Q: Do you feel like you've built up your defense and are becoming more of a K-1 fighter?
Nagashima: I hear that generally just punching a lot is a sign of an newbie, but I think the good and bad opinions are pretty scattered.
Is Dida really 172cm (5'6h)!?
Q: Jienotsu's best thing is punching.
Nagashima: No matter how many times I hit him, winning with punches has no meaning. If I don't get a KO, that's not Jienotsu.
Q: Your fights with Albert Kraus and Xu Yan were examples of gfighting cleverh.
Nagashima: Of course. Also, since this year's representative of Japan (it's different from last year's recommendation) has to be the overall champion, if he loses in a strange way it feels inexcusable to the other guys. If he loses, the value of Japan's champion doesn't look as good. I think about that.
Q: You have a lot of pressure on you.
Nagashima: I appreciate you letting me saying this in an interview, because there's definitely a lot of pressure. It's like it's crushing down on me.
Q: How was today?
Nagashima: Today was c okay. But I knew there was nothing I could do, so it wasn't too bad.
Q: How was it before going in?
Nagashima: I calmed down a bit. I think. My heart was pounding, so I think I calmed down a bit. I think psycholoically it actually helped me out.
Q: Have you studied psychology?
Nagashima: I had counseling. Whether or not I win or lose, the most important thing is being myself, so I try my hardest.
Q: How did you feel stepping into the ring with Dida for the first time?
Nagashima: I thought, Wow you has a lot of tattoos. I guess because I was close to him. His face is scary, he's kind of tall. I thought I'd read that he was 172cm and I couldn't believe it.
Q: How did it compare to fighting Kraus?
Nagashima: He was more intimidating. He had a different amount of training and not enough strength, but he was big and it was scary.
Q: It must be different fighting him now.
Nagashima: It's not really different. I still feel the pressure, but I have confidence because I've gotten bigger, too.
Wanting revenge against Kraus and a fighter from China
Q: What did you think about Nakajima vs. Kraus?
Nagashima: Well, it's like Yoshihiro Satoh was saying, he didn't even have a chance. There was a difference in their abilities.
Q: Do you want to fight Kraus again?
Nagashima: I want to get revenge. Kraus and the fighter from China. I really want revenge.
Q: This time, you could beat them in the world tournament.
Nagashima: That's right. This was my first time beating them on the stage of K-1.
Q: You must be relieved.
Nagashima: To beat a Japanese person or to lose to a foreigner is like a jinx, so I'd be happy to hit them. There are a lot of people saying Dida is going to win, so I want to be able to say, gIt serves you right.h
Q: His punch is pretty strong.
Nagashima: I didn't think so. His moves his body fast and it felt like being pressed down on.
Q: A lot of people say that up in the ring you look bigger than him.
Nagashima: That's good to hear. I grow when I hear good things about my muscles.
Q: Compared to Kraus a year ago, people have been saying you're a lot bigger. It definitely looks like that.
Nagashima: I definitely got bigger. In five years I'll be unbeatable!!
Q: You're in the best eight now. How do you feel about that?
Nagashima: I'm happy. But I'm more relieved. If you just stay in the same place, you won't improve. I'm happy that people have seen me grow. My goal is to be in the best four, though, like Okada, the soccer player.
Q: A lot of people say you're ready to be one of the best in the world. Whoever you fight in the next world champion FINAL8, fewer people are saying the fight will be as one-sided as your right with Dida.
Nagashima: That makes me happy. My ideal would be to win with a KO.
Petrosyan bugs me
Q: Who do you want to fight the most?
Nagashima: Of the best eight? I'll think about it when we find out who the eight are.
Q: Okay, so who do you not want to fight?
Nagashima: Petrosyan.
Q: That was fast.
Nagashima: I don't want to fight a leftie. I also don't want to fight Soo Hwan Lee, from Korea.
Q: Because you both practiced at Silver Wolf?
Nagashima: Yeah. But I guess we'll see.
Q: A lot of your change is thanks to your trainer and Furuie, whose helping with your physical training.
Nagashima: Going to Tokyo and being surrounded by so many professionals really was fate for me.
Q: The reason Dida didn't hit you is because you were in control of the distance between you.
Nagashima: Since I thought I'd have to be on defense, I thought I could keep a good distance. But then he countered. Plus, my fist hurt. It was tight so I couldn't get it in here. Then he lowered his head and I punched him.
Q: It was like that.
Nagashima: But it's like that with all of the fighters here. There's a pattern of them avoiding counters while throwing swing punches.
Q: There's a lot of talk about you knocking out the world champion in one punch.
Nagashima: If I don't get a KO, I don't think I won. I thought the match with Dida was going to go on longer. My trainer kept telling me to knock him out. In the second round, I knew I could do it.
Q: You got in a body blow and knee kicks.
Nagashima: I practiced with my body a lot. Then I kicked with my knees, then ended it with a middle kick.
Q: Masato praised you for your nice middle.
Nagashima: Oh! But all those kicks are just kicks, and I wish there hadn't been so many. I don't plan on becoming a kickboxer.
Q: You were really nervous when you were looking at each other.
Nagashima: I'm glad to hear that. It shouldn't be connecting with each other but being on defense of each other. He should be on the look-out for my punch too. So I'm glad to hear that.
Q: Being able to show fear at a tournament is a sign of growth. You're not taking home Japan's belt, but a different belt.
Nagashima: I can't lose as the world otaku light-weight champion. Being able to make it is waiting without worrying.
Why I want to go in as Sachiel
Q: How was the reaction when you entered? You can use the AR technique there now.
Nagashima: Well, you can't. But there is an AR technique. When I entered the arena, I can't forget the reaction.
Q: Sachiel is an angel from Evangelion. The day before when you came out at the interview as Nagisa Kaworu it was surprising for fans.
Nagashima: Nagisa Kaworu is an angel. That's the connection to Sachiel. That was a hint at the interview.
Q: Really?
Nagashima: The answer was Sachiel. A long time ago, I didn't do cosplay for popular shows. Evangelion is one of the biggest.
Q: You had to go against your principles.
Nagashima: But since Fields is the sponsor, it's easy to get the copyright. What a great chance!, I thought. I really like Evangelion. If I'm Rei Ayanami, everyone will think I've gone too far. I want to do what no one expects.
Q: Since you're an otaku, it means a lot.
Nagashima: I think so. I'm an anime otaku. The most surprising thing was at the opening reception when I saw Dida's New Balances. I was expecting Adidas.
Q: Because if you take out the gah and the gsh, it would say gDidah.
Nagashima: That has a lot of meaning.
Q: You looked really hard. As the anime ambassador, you've taken an important first step.
Nagashima: Yeah. I feel like I've finished the first episode of the second season.
Q: But there's a long road ahead.
Nagashima: Long, long c But it's not interesting if it's close.
Q: You have a lot to expect.
Nagashima: I think I have to work my hardest.
