Some Day
This year, Japan is in a frenzy again as outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Tsuyoshi Shinjo become the first position players (non-pitchers) from Japan to play in the Major Leagues. With two outfielders and seven pitchers in the Major Leagues, it's shaping up to be an exciting year for Japanese baseball fans. In another major league, the WWF, Yoshihiro Tajiri has qualified for the King of the Ring tournament with Jeff Hardy, Rhyno, Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, Perry Saturn, and Big Show last week. Kaientai (Taka Michinoku & Sho Funaki) have been recognized in their unique existence in the WWF since 1998.
Not only Tajiri and Kaientai, but a great many Japanese wrestlers have taken thorough experiences and training in the United States since the good old territorial wrestling days. This week's View From The Rising Sun will introduce five Japanese freelance wrestlers who have visions of great success in the United States.
"Hido" Hideo Takayama, 188cm / 110kg, was born in Osaka City, Osaka on October 19, 1969. He debuted as a pro wrestler against Masahiko Takasugi (a.k.a. Ultra Seven) on a W*ING show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on January 20, 1993. He changed his ring name to "Hido" in October 1993 when he was teaming with Jado and Gedo; "do" means "way", "Ja-do" is "evil-way", "Ge-do" is "outlaw-way", and "Hi-do" is "inhuman-way". He has wrestled for W*ING, New-kakuto Pro Wrestling, FMW (including rebirth W*ING, ZEN, and Team No Respect) for eight years. Hido's wife, Megumi Kudo was obviously a HARD CORE superstar who did death matches. She retired from wrestling in a "Barbed wire / Electric / Explosion death match" at Yokohama Arena on April 29, 1997. Now, she is a personality for SAMURAI! TV.
Since last year, Hido has lapsed into a slump very much, then he went over to Victor Quinones' IWA in Puerto Rico. Now, he is been wrestling for ICW (Insane Championship Wrestling), which runs events in Michigan, and Ian Rotten's IWA Mid-South in Louisville, Kentucky. No doubt, his wife, Megumi Kudo, was a much bigger superstar than he was. But, he is going to establish himself as a pro wrestler by his way and experience in the United States now.
Mitsunobu Kikuzawa, 168cm / 90kg, was born in Osaka City, Osaka on November 17, 1976. Kazushige Nozawa, 182cm / 95kg, was born in Ichikawa City, Chiba on December 17, 1976. Pro wrestling has captivated them since boyhood. Kikuzawa trained at Masanobu Kurisu's Gym in Osaka. He debuted as a pro wrestler against Akihiko Masuda (The Great Takeru of IWA-Japan) on Goro Tsurumi's independent show in Yokohama City, Kanagawa on May 14, 1994 when he was 17 years old. Nozawa debuted as a pro wrestler against his trainer, Shogun K.Y. Wakamatsu, on a PWC show at Chofu Green Hall in Tokyo on December 27, 1995 when he was 19 years old. Since then, they, like weeds, have worked for many independent offices in Japan like Goro Tsurumi, FULL, Tokyo Pro, IWA-Japan, Big Japan, CMLL, DDT, Osaka Pro, and Atsushi Onita. They not only mix Lucha Libre with Japanese style wrestling well, but they are also two daredevils who are never afraid of blood when landing head first onto a bed of thumbtacks. Plus, they are so energetic that they go over the United States and Mexico to appearing in XPW, Revolution Pro Wrestling, NWA, EMLL, and XLAW.
"La Malcriada" Aki Kambayashi, formerly known as "Miss Mongol", 154cm / 65kg, was born in Sapporo City, Hokkaido on September 2, 1976. Kotetsu Yamamoto trained her with Sugar Sato (Toshie Sato/GAEA-Japan), Kiyoko Ichiki (IWA-Japan), and Genki Misae (Misae Watanabe/NEO). Then, she was hired by Atsushi Onita's FMW. She debuted as a pro wrestler against Yukie Nabeno in Joetsu City, Niigata on October 25, 1995 when she was 19 years old. Young woman wrestlers usually idolized Japanese "super heroines" like Chigusa Nagayo, Manami Toyota, or Aja Kong, but she was different. She was a big fan of American style women wrestlers like Leilani Kai & Judy Martin. Since leaving FMW in February 1998, she is constantly going back and forth between Tokyo and Puerto Rico. She has appeared on Victor Quinones' IWA wearing a black mask as "La Malcriada," and she has been an instructor for Taka Michinoku's Kaientai Dojo since last year. She is always following her dream to have her name up in the United States until it comes true.
Minoru Fujita, 179cm / 80kg, was born in Onoda City, Yamaguchi in Japan on September 5, 1977. He did amateur wrestling and swimming when he was a high school student. He debuted as a pro wrestler teaming with Yoshihiro Tajiri against Fantastic & Goku on a Big Japan Pro Wrestling show at Korakuen Hall on April 11, 1997. He has worked for Big Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, and Battlarts. When he couldn't stand the old business style of Big Japan Pro Wrestling's president Great Kojika, he quit Big Japan and joined Great Sasuke's Michinoku Pro Wrestling in 1999. However, he suddenly quit Michinoku after he was so tired of young boys' routine duties and the Puroresu system itself. He went over to the United States, where Yoshihiro Tajiri helps him. He has appeared on XLAW in Mexico, CZW in Sewell, New Jersey, and IWC in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
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