VIEW FROM THE RISING SUN
by Masanori Horie
From around early June to mid July, as spring gives way to summer, most of Japan is subject to a period of rainy weather called "Tsuyu." Day in and day out, the sky remains gloomy, and the temperature and humidity rise. It is probably the least pleasant time of the year here in Japan. However, the early summer rain has many positive aspects, too. It helps plants grow and flourish, and it is a valuable source of drinking water.
It has been noised abroad that All Japan Pro would split up soon. All Japan Pro has been run by Mitsuharu Misawa, Mitsuo Momota (a son of Rikidozan), and others on the board of directors, after the death of Shohei "Giant" Baba on January 31, 1999. There are many unreliable internet and sheet rumors. Actually, it is said that there is great antagonism between Mrs. Motoko Baba and Misawa. Mrs. Baba is a money woman and an owner of the company who is still rather mean over everything, which puts big pressure on both wrestlers and office workers.
Giant Baba and All Japan Pro had come to probably three biggest crises over 18 years since Baba founded his company. They had succeeded to tide over those crises after all. However, it becomes darker and darker in this time. Jumbo Tsuruta, Gary Albright, and Bobby Duncum Jr.'s passing away saddened us. There seems to be no room for improvement of the relationship between Mrs. Baba and Misawa.
1981
The promotional war between All Japan Pro and New Japan Pro started. Abdullah the Butcher, Dick Murdoch, and Tiger Toguchi (Kim Duk / Tiger Chang Lee) jumped to New Japan Pro. Giant Baba poached Stan Hansen and Tiger Jeet Singh from New Japan Pro.
1987
Riki Choshu, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Hiro Saito, Hiroshi Hase, Super Strong Machine (Junji Hirata / Sunny Two Rivers), and Norio Honaga left All Japan Pro and returned to New Japan Pro. Baba brought Bruiser Brody and Abdullah the Butcher back. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Gen-ichiro Tenryu started and created the basis of today's All Japan Pro style.
1990
Gen-ichiro Tenryu, Yoshiaki Yatsu, The Great Kabuki, Hiromichi Fuyuki (Kodo Fuyuki), Shunji Takano, Shin-ichi Nakano, Tatsumi Kitahara (Koki Kitahara), and Masao Orihara left All Japan Pro and signed contracts with SWS (Super World Sports), sponsored by Megane Super, one of the biggest eyeglass company in Japan. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, and Kenta Kobashi made rapid progress, and All Japan got their biggest business peak from around 1990 to 1992.
I grew up attending and watching All Japan Pro in the 1970s. Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, The Destroyer (Dick Beyer), Dory & Terry Funk, Abdullah the Butcher, The Sheik, Harley Race, Mil Mascaras, and Dick Murdoch
they were the prime movers in letting me become captivated by pro wrestling, and old video tapes can still carry my mind to back to good old times. If they split for a personal grudge, it won't be to their benefit to do so. I may be a back number, but Puroresu history will tell what will happen if they split
New Japan will eat them up.
Rickson Gracie, one of nine sons of Helio Gracie, and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu are the most popular drawing cards for Japanese Mixed Martial Arts shows since 1994, when Yoji Anjo went and challenged Rickson at Rickson's Dojo in Los Angeles on December 7, 1994. Rickson destroyed Anjo in three minutes.
Jiu-Jitsu is the oldest form of martial arts here in Japan. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu champion Conde Koma (Mitsuyo "Eisei" Media / 1880 - 1941) arrived in Belem, Brazil in 1915. He taught the basis of ancient fighting style to San Paulo policemen and Army college cadets, as well as ordinary citizens, including a teenager, Carlos Gracie. Carlos taught their techniques to his brothers, Oswaldo, Gastao, Jorge, and Helio. They opened the first Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1925.
Since 1994, Japanese fighters and pro wrestlers have lost to Rickson in fight after fight for six years. If Rickson surrenders, the Japanese Mixed Martial Arts world will lose its core and target. But Jiu-Jitsu has its origin in Japan, so Japanese fighters and pro wrestlers have to beat Rickson, who has made a huge sum of quick money here in Japan. I pray that a pro wrestler would beat him because Mixed Martial Arts have made pro wrestling their footstool on many occasions.
July 29, 1994---Tokyo Bay NK Hall, Urayasu, Chiba
Vale-Tudo Fighting Championship / Japan Open 1994
Rickson Gracie beat Yoshinori Nishi (1R 2:58 Sleeper Hold)
April 20, 1995---Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
Vale-Tudo Fighting Championship II / Japan Open 1995
Rickson Gracie beat Yoshihisa Yamamoto (RINGS) (3R 3:49 Sleeper Hold)
Rickson Gracie beat Koichiro Kimura (1R 2:07 Sleeper Hold)
Rickson Gracie beat Yuki Nakai (1R 6:22 Sleeper Hold)
October 11, 1997---Tokyo Dome
PRIDE-1
Rickson Gracie beat Nobuhiko Takada (1R 4:47 Ude-hishigi Gayku-juji)
March 15, 1998---Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa
PRIDE-2
Royler Gracie beat Yuhi Sano (Naoki Sano) (33:14 Ude-hishigi Gyaku-juji)
Renzo Gracie beat Sanae Kikuta (6R 0:43 Choke Sleeper)
October 11, 1998---Tokyo Dome
PRIDE-4
Rickson Gracie beat Nobuhiko Takada (1R 9:30 Ude-hishigi Gyaku-juji)
November 21, 1999---Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo
PRIDE-8
Renzo Gracie beat Alexander Otsuka (Battlarts) (10 minutes x 2 R + 5 minutes time up draw and referee's decision)
Kazushi Sakuraba (Takada Dojo) beat Royler Gracie (2R 13:16 referee's stop)
January 30, 2000---Tokyo Dome
PRIDE Grand Prix 2000
Royce Gracie beat Nobuhiko Takada (3-0)
May 1, 2000---Tokyo Dome
PRIDE Grand Prix 2000
Kazushi Sakuraba (Takada Dojo) beat Royce Gracie (6R TKO)
May 26, 2000---Tokyo Dome
Coliseum 2000
Rickson Gracie beat Hisakatsu Funaki (Pancrase) (1R 11:46 Choke Sleeper)
A lot has happened concerning the Atsushi Onita vs. CZW (with Terry Funk) so-called PPV show and CZW wrestlers (Zandig, Wifebeater, Nick Gage, and Justice Pain) coming to Japan.
ADV Films announced that the PPV would take place at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 25. But, they haven't put the tickets on sale yet, nor do they do any advertisements or anything. Zandig and other wrestlers worked for Big Japan Pro from May 25 to June 2, but they haven't been paid by ADV Films yet. Zandig & Gage beat Tomoaki Homma & Ryuji Yamakawa to win the Big Japan Tag Team title at Nagaoka City Welfare South Hall in Niigata on June 2, and Wifebeater & Pain beat Zandig & Gage to win the title at Champs Arena on Sewell Rd., Sewell, New Jersey on June 10. They are scheduled to work for Big Japan Pro again from June 21 to 23 and June 27 to July 2. However, Zandig is really upset with the entire ADV films deal, and they won't come back to Japan until all of them are paid in full. It seems like there is a big lack of communication among three companies.
Sometimes some companies, which are outside of pro wrestling business, take an interest in pro wrestling. They should be appreciated and welcomed. But, they have to understand our minds and watch wrestlers in a live show before getting into business with them, NOT preparing plants and freebie tickets first.
Please address all questions and comments about Japanese wrestling to Masanori at
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