(Rikidozan) Banzai!

Rikidozan and Kimura just after their one-hour draw with Mike and Ben Sharpe in Tokyo

Wrestling World

July 1954

Article by Al Mayer

Bobby Bruns Sets New Mat Attendance Records in His Sensational Tour of Japan

 This is a story as up-to-date and modern as the H-Bomb itself. It is the story of a project now accomplished, which a short decade ago could only have been visualized as a dream. The master mind behind it was Bobby Bruns, a former world wrestling champion, one time captain of the U. S. Olympic water polo team, a graduate of Illinois University, and intimate friend of the martyred Mayor Cermac of Chicago, who gave his life in saving that of the late President Roosevelt from attemped assassination in Miami, Florida.

 Bruns conceived the idea of bringing Japan into the orbit of big time wrestling through the medium of Inter-national Professional Wrestling, which will bring at regular intervals American wrestlers to Japan to compete in championship contests, and vice versa. The first series of these international matches was concluded on March 9th of this year, when Bruns introduced the Sharpe Bros—Ben and Mike—to Japanese ‘wrestling fans in a record-breaking tour never equalled in Japan, and that goes for the tour of the Giants and the famous Globe Trotters. 

 Bobby Bruns and the Sharpe Bros. left Honolulu, Hawaii by air on February 16th and opened the tour in Tokyo Feb. 19th. Three consecutive nights of wrestling were given in Tokyo—Feb. 19, 20, and 21. On Feb. 23 they were in Kumamoto, on the 24th Kokura, on the 26th and 27th in Osaka, on the 28th in Kobe, on March 1 in Gifu, on the 2nd in Nagoya, on the 3rd in Shizuoka, 4th in Utsunomiya, 6th in Tokyo, 7th in Yokahama and on the 9th of March for the final performance in Tokyo again. On the 13th of March they were back home in San Francisco!

 Here are some of the records: In exactly 26 days from the day they left Honolulu to their return in San Francisco, a little less than a month, they travelled 25,000 miles, Bruns, the Sharpe Bros., and their Japanese opponents, who included such champions as Kito Kimura, the great Yamaguchi and of course Rikidozan, gave fifteen performances which attracted better than 200,000 paid customers with millions more viewers who saw them on television. Throughout Ше tour, crowds began to line up at eight o’clock in the morning for the show which didn’t start until 6 p.m.!

 No visiting athletes to Japan were so royally received or entertained as were Bruns and his wrestlers. Ticker tape parades were arranged for them in every city they visited. Receptions, teas and parties were showered on them together with gifts of all kinds. The “Old Warrior,” as the Japanese affectionately call him. Bruns received gifts, from Governor's of Prefectures, which included silk Kimonos, antique vases, etc. and on the last night in Tokyo, Bobby was presented with a Japanese Warrior's helmet of gold, steel and enamel.

 The colorful Sharpe Bros., made a big hit in Japan. They are the type of wrestlers the Japanese like to see in action. The Sharpes and other name wrestlers will be selected each year to make the profitable trip to Japan, now so thoroughly organized by Bobby Bruns

 Plans are now being worked out to include the Phillipines in the new set-up, so that it can be included in next year's tour. All professional wrestling in Japan is now under the supervision and control of the Japanese Pro-Wrestling Association, with a Commissioner of Wrestling and Chairman of Rules completing the authoritative governing body of the sport. If The Philippines join up, and it looks extremely likely, they will appoint their own Commissioners, who in turn will со-operate with the Japanese solons.

 From this end of the organization all wrestlers will be booked through Al. Karasick's Honolulu Booking Office, while Japanese wrestlers coming to the U. S. will also be booked exclusively for American engagements through Al. Karasick's office.

 Although the present tour was accomplished in less than a month, the ground work and everything which went to make it a success was the result of more than four years work. Bruns promoted in Japan before, in fact he was there for more than a year, developing Japanese wrestlers and interesting the Japanese in the modern style of American grappling. Previous to that the Japanese were mainly interested in Judo and JuJiutsu wrestling. They still make use of the art but they have competition now, because most American stars are also judo and ju-jiutsu experts. Bruns, for one, is conversant in both styles and also Sumo wrestling. Besides that Bobby speaks Japanese fluently and it is his knowledge of the language which aided him in bringing the new organization to a successful conclusion. 

 Only the best Japanese wrestlers, those who have either defeated top American stars in Japan, or else have shown outstanding ability, will be selected to make the American trip. They will first go to Honolulu, where they will be tested with top notch American stars. Al. Karasick brings the best men to Hawaii for his regular weekly shows at the Civic Auditorium, and if the Orientals are able to make good with these men, then Al's office will book them to other promoters on the mainland desiring their services.

(Note, I have kept the spelling and grammar exactly as it appears in the article)

Welcoming parade, with Ben Sharpe and Japan’s champion in first car, Bruns and Mike Sharpe in second car. Nearly a million cheered them.

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