Exclusive Confession! Martial Artist Kizaemon Saiga Tells Why Me and Eli Chose to Separate

Kisaemon Saiga (34) is living peacefully with his wife and child. Saiga Kizaemon (34) says he is at peace with his wife and child!”

Kizaemon was in a good mood across the table with baby bottles and baby goods on it.

Today, too,” he said, “after work, I called Eri and asked her where she was. I called Eri and she said, ‘I’m taking a walk. She said she was at the park, so I said, ‘Well, I’m going there,’ hung up the phone, and headed for the park. I hung up the phone and headed for the park. I thought to myself, “This is peaceful ……. I thought, “This is a normal family. I have friends who are entertainers, and we used to party in Roppongi and Nishi-Azabu and say, “Yay! I used to party in Roppongi and Nishiazabu. But I’m much happier just sitting in the park at noon eating lunch and watching my wife and children smile than I am at a party at night. Ordinary, everyday life makes me happy. I was convinced that this is what I really wanted! I was convinced that this is what I really wanted.

Kizaemon and his wife Eri’s blog has caught the public’s attention, and the family’s recent activities are reported daily on the Internet news. With all due respect, as far as the reporter can see, all the news is negative, such as marital quarrels and separation disturbances. ……?

“I feel a bit of malice in the online news, or ……. For example, last year, I think it was, I was slammed for going out without my wife and child. I have a baby, so it’s better to stay home when I can, but I have to earn money for my family. I had been living off my savings, but there was no way that life could go on like that forever. I have to meet people, make sales, and work to create jobs. Conversely, I am now able to go out on sales trips because I have found a partner to whom I can entrust my family with peace of mind. That perspective is missing from the online news, isn’t it?

– “What is your job, martial arts?

I’ve had two or three fights in the last few years, but to be honest, I was far from being in the best condition. Martial arts is a mental sport, and family troubles affect me a lot. In addition to that, I developed juvenile cataracts and was in no condition to fight. I have fallen considerably from my prime, and I may never regain it. However, there is no doubt that I am here today because of martial arts. That is why I will not turn my back on martial arts and will continue to challenge myself to the best of my ability.

Thanks to “Breaking Down,” martial arts are becoming more popular, and there are more places for fighters to eat. In fact, I have received several offers for fights. I can’t go into details yet. Will I focus solely on martial arts, become an instructor, or become a fitness instructor that combines martial arts? I would like to take on challenges while consulting with my body.

–Late last year, Eri posted a blog saying that she “couldn’t take it anymore,” which caused quite a bit of concern.

I think there was a time when Eri’s stress peaked, as you might call postpartum stress ……. I think it was around two months after the baby was born.　I had left Eri in charge of child-rearing and housework. She was trying so hard to live up to my expectations that the stress built up and then she exploded. ……That doesn’t happen anymore.

I’m talking to her and discussing things with her. We share what we can. In order to create a space where she can relax, we have rented a room separate from our home since April 3. I think she now understands that it is important for her to have time to take a break from me. That is the truth behind the ‘separation.

Kizaemon has finally come to realize that he is a father. He says he is learning from the comments on articles bashing him.

“When I read the comments carefully, I realized that there are both people who have only bad intentions and people who have good intentions,” he says. For example, those with good intentions said, ‘Please put yourself in the other person’s shoes. If you were Eli, would you be able to live the same way she does? He makes me realize that I am not the only one. When I read it, I thought, ‘I see. I also learned in the comments section that women are more prone to physical and other disorders due to hormonal effects after childbirth.

I once told Eri, “If it’s so hard, hire a babysitter,” and she replied, “It’s not hard to take care of the kids. It’s taking care of you that’s hard! She was really right (laughs). (Laughs.) I would ask Eri, who was exhausted from not being able to sleep well because of child-rearing, to make the bills for me. When I had to go out, I would buy souvenirs for my wife. Raising children helps parents grow as well.

As if to hide his embarrassment, Kizaemon stood in the kitchen and made coffee for the reporter.

Eri sent this to me. The one on the right is me a year ago. The one on the right is me a year ago, when I first met Eri. The one on the left is me as I am now. I look like a different person, don’t I? 　 My face is swollen and my skin is rough due to stress and lack of sleep. I learned the hard way that there is nothing more frightening than stress.

It was because of that trouble that we were able to grow. That is why we have the peace we have today.

The time we have to watch our children grow up is actually a very limited and short period of time. They say, “When it’s over, it all happened in the blink of an eye.　It was tough at times, but it helped me grow as a person. My mission is to protect my family. My mission is to protect my family and this peace. I want this year to be a year of challenges. I don’t know if it will be in the ring, in a gym, or in a sports club, but I want to face martial arts again and compete. No matter which arena I end up in, I will fight with all my might for the sake of my beloved family!”