The article opens with a preview of its contents, as well as basic info about the announcement of Hiromu leaving, his career in NJPW, and how other Japanese talent have recently left NJPW.
Here is my translation of the rest of the article, including all of the direct quotes from Hiromu:
When someone leaves a domestic [Japanese] wrestling company, the next option is often an overseas company; and so the WWE, the world’s largest company, and AEW, a major US company, are likely candidates. On the other hand, there’s also the option of going freelance, as Naito did when he left NJPW last May, so all eyes will be on [Hiromu’s] next move.
After making the biggest decision so far in his wrestling career, Hiromu told us: “I want to deny any thoughts people may have about me leaving (NJPW) because I’m unhappy. I do think it’s normal for any employee to have some dissatisfaction with the company they work for. But I don’t want people to think I’m leaving for one simple reason. I’m leaving because I aspire to improve myself. It’s a Super Positive exit.”
Hiromu, who has maintained a strong commitment to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, has long professed two "dreams": to win the IWGP heavyweight belt as a junior heavyweight and to compete on terrestrial prime time TV.
“Those dreams haven’t changed. But I also have one more dream. I know that quitting NJPW is something I will definitely regret in some part of my heart. But I think I would regret not moving on to the next step even more. I’m making this move to further improve as a professional wrestler.”
His decision to leave was not influenced by the departure of Naito, EVIL, or other wrestlers with whom he had close ties, but rather by his own personal pursuit of a new dream as a wrestler. He emphasized that his decision was made after much conflict and deliberation: "Turning 36, which is the the age at which Okada and Nakamura (Shinsuke, now in WWE) left, was also something that really stuck in my mind. I got to thinking that 36 might be the last chance (for taking on new challenges).”
Regardless, there is no doubt that the new path that Hiromu is embarking on will attract the attention of wrestling fans in Japan and abroad. We will have to keep our eyes peeled for when and where this world-class time bomb of Japan will explode.
by EffingKENTA