WWE ambassador Kairi Sane has revealed that she recently earned a qualification that certifies her as a 'Sports Mental Trainer'.
Kairi took to Twitter to share an image of her new certificate.
"In the wake of a sad incident of an important junior, I started studying if there was anything I could do or learn ... I passed the exam safely and obtained [Sports Mental Trainer Qualification]. I was able to do it," Kairi captioned the image, per Google translate.
Kairi did not mention her late friend by name, but her use of a pink flower emoji seems to suggest that she was referring to Hana Kimura, the up-and-coming Joshi who tragically took her own life at the age of 22 last year.
Shortly before her suicide, Kimura shared self-harm images on social media and spoke about how she was being bullied by viewers of Terrace House, the popular Japanese reality TV show on which she was a cast member at the time.
Hours later, Japanese wrestling promotion Stardom confirmed her passing in a tweet which stated:
"Stardom fans, We are very sorry to report that our Hana Kimura has passed away. Please be respectful and allow some time for things to process, and keep your thoughts and prayers with her family and friends. We appreciate your support during this difficult time."
Kimura's suicide sparked a conversation about online harassment and how mental health is treated in Japan. Kairi Sane has taken an important step by studying to become a mental health professional who specializes in treating athletes. We can only hope that more professional wrestlers follow her lead.
Kairi and Hana were colleagues in Stardom, and worked together several times. Hana's mother Kyoko Kimura, is also a wrestler with whom Kairi worked several matches.
In 2020 Kairi began working as an ambassador for WWE in Japan, where she also works a trainer. On October 25, she was part of the Japanese-language commentary team for the Hell in a Cell.