(Noah) The death of professional Wrestler, Haruka Eigen, whose career spanned six companies.

29th November 2016
Middle-Edge.jp
The death of professional Wrestler, Haruka Eigen, whose career spanned six companies.

On the 28th November 2016, former professional wrestler Haruka Eigen, was found dead. He was seventy years old. Masao Kimura introduced Mr. Eigen to wrestling from sumo in 1966. After that he worked with New Japan, All Japan, Noah and three other major organizations.

According to a spokesperson from Noah, "We can confirm that he has passed away, but we cannot confirm the details". It said that he collapsed in his bathroom at about 8pm that day.
Mr Eigen, from Ishigawa prefecture, was invited by Masao Kimura ("Rusher Kimura") into wrestling, and in 1966 he entered the Tokyo Wrestling having been a sumo wrestler (Makushita 71st). After that he worked with the six major organisations.

In the All Japan era, the team "Villian Business" was formed with Masanobu Fuchi, it became a hot topic. In the 1990s they feuded with the "family army" of Giant Baba (amongst others) and became very popular.

The "Saliva Attack" is synonmous with Mr. Eigen, the audience have to defend themselves with newspaper against his spit attack. His comical fighting style also gained support from the fans. He was an eternal rival of Mitsuo Momota, who he fought in over 100 single matches.

After his retirement from the ring in March 2006, he served as managing director at Noah, after stepping down from this role he continued to appear at Noah office's and at their venues.

Professional Wrestler Haruka Eigen
He was born on January 11th 1946 in Kagoshima, Ishikawa. He took the ring name Great Togo and his own, Haruka Eigen.

In May 1966 he joined Tokyo Pro Wrestling and trained as a pro wrestler where he made his debut. After Tokyo Wrestling collapsed in 1967, he moved to Japan Pro Wrestling.

In 1973 he moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling. In 1980 in combination with Strong Kobayashi, he won the IWA World Tag Championship. In 1984 he joined Japan Pro Wrestling. After Japan Pro Wrestling folded, in 1987 he went to All Japan Pro Wrestling.

In 1988, he was asked to join the "Glasses Supermarket" which the main sponsor for SWS, but he refused as he felt there was more to be made in SWS.

In 2000 he was part of the exodus from All Japan to Pro Wrestling Noah (Antonio Inoki commented in an interview that he predicted the success of Noah).

#In March 2006 he had his final retirement match in the town where he born. In April of that year a retirement party was held at the Imperial Hotel where 800 celebrities from all over the world attended the event which was hosted by Tatsuo Umemiya and others 

Link to original article: https://middle-edge.jp/articles/pLk4c