(JAPAN PRO) The "Moving Alps" appears in Japan
15th August 1955
The Japanese Team Wins Easily
Despite the sweltering heat, the Kuramae Kokugikan was packed to the brim on July 16th. While most of the crowd was there to witness the spectacular movements of the "Moving Alps," they were also eager to see Azumafuji's progress and Rikidozan's performance, further honed by his time in the United States.
How will these Japanese fighters fare against these world-class supermen?
What kind of man is Ortega, who is said to be heavier than Carnera, and the rule-breaking Curtis, who is said to have already qualified for a third attempt against Lou Thesz, the world champion who Rikidozan will be challenging this fall, are sure to arouse interest, as are questions about what kind of match they will put on.
The match began with two Japanese wrestlers.
Fujitayama, sporting a beard instead of a topknot*, is quite popular. Although it has only just begun, he has long been familiar with the audience, and his every move elicits laughter from the crowd. As long as professional wrestling is a form of entertainment, Fujitayama will be an essential part of Japanese wrestling*. At first, Surugaumi was constantly pushing him back, but he finally rallied and won, clasping both of his shoulders. If he keeps up this pace, he'll be able to hold his own in America and get even stronger.
Abe, like Fujitayama, has a bit of a beard, which is convenient. When wrestlers are about the same weight and build, it's difficult to tell the difference between them during a match, even for a judo referee.
Abe was tormenting Tanaka's legs, but he got too carried away and went for his head and grabbing him by the beard. Tanaka turned the tables, and threw Abe backwards, hurling him over the ropes and on to Commissoner Sakai's* table, three meters away. The time expired and the match ended in minutes.
Both are serious athletes and skilled technicians. They may not be popular with the general public, but if you watch them closely, you'll see that they have a certain charm. I wonder if wrestlers like these, with proper training, could become undefeated champions in the future. In the end, Yoshinosato was more powerful and won with a counter-move using his left leg.
Curtis vs Toyonobori
Curtis is a powerlifter who has won the US National Powerlifting Championships and the World Junior Powerlifting Championships twice, while Toyonobori is considered one of the strongest men in Japan, if not the strongest in the pro wrestling world; he recently lifted an 85-koku (approximately 340 kg) iron weight with ease.
The match between these two was truly entertaining. Toyonobori is a serious, straightforward type, while Curtis is a seasoned showman, and during the match, he would sometimes glare menacingly at Toyonobori, and at other times give him a creepy unsettling smile.
During the lock up, Toyonobori kept teasing Curtis, by repeatedly pulling his hair. Then, as Curtis went to grab him, he tripped and fell. As he reached for the ropes to steady himself, Toyonobori forcefully pulled himself back to the centre of the ring. The audience roared with laughter, and Toyonobori's serious expression only added to the amusement. Later, when Curtis was on his back, Toyonobori attempted a leg lock, which looked dangerous, but Curtis skillfully escaped by swaying his upper body from side to side, using that movement to his advantage. While similar techniques may exist in Japan, I was impressed to see them used here for the first time.
Curtis committed a foul in the corner, resulting in his disqualification, but his subsequent act of appealing to the audience and stirring up the crowd was a truly masterful display of showmanship.
Carnera vs Kokichi Endo
Carnera wore green trunks, while Endo wore black. Looking at them from afar, Endo looked like an impressive fighter, but when you saw him standing in front of the world's greatest giant, Carnera, he looked like just another opponent in a ten man judo match. Endo tried to throw Carnera, but Carnera grabbed Endo's legs with both arms, pulled them out, and pinning his upper body down, he locked him a strong hold, which greatly weakened Endo.
Endo, perhaps sensing an opportunity or perhaps given the chance, got to his feet. He then stretched out both his arms, bent his body, opened his mouth and challenged Carnera. This move, resembling a playful sparring stance or a reckless, all-out attack, is an admirable fighting attitude. Soon, Endo and Carnera locked hands and grappled. At that moment, Carnera, keeping his fingers intertwined, grabbed Endo's fingers tightly, pulled him upwards, and executed a powerful hip throw while simultaneously falling to the mat. While this technique of interlocking fingers is prohibited in judo, this move proved incredibly effective, sending Endo flying across the mat in a graceful arc. Given Carnera's strength and skill, there was simply no way for Endo to defend himself. Carnera's fighting style was truly magnificent and imposing, embodying unparalleled authority and power.
Endo, who was lifted high and thrown to the mat, and then pinned, displayed remarkable resilience and fighting spirit.
Ortega VS Azumafuji
Ortega is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 370 pounds; Azumafuji is 6 feet tall, and also weighs 370 pounds. Ortega, with his long career in professional wrestling, is certainly more muscular and imposing than Azumafuji.
Azumafuji's first match in Japan was a very close and tense affair.
Ortega suddenly grabbed Azumafuji's left arm and executed a throw, successfully landing it three times. Initially, Azumafuji seemed hesitant and slow to react, prompting the audience to shout, "What's wrong with Azumafuji?!" But then, Azumafuji rallied and swiftly grabbed his opponent with both hands. Ortega apparently responded to this, but Azumafuji, perhaps mistakenly thinking he was still on the sumo ring, pushed him towards the ropes. Ortega raised both hands, and the referee ordered the match to be stopped. As soon as Azumafuji released his grip, he delivered a powerful slap, causing the audience to erupt in excitement. Azumafuji grabbed his opponent's torso with his right arm and attempted an arm throw (a type of throw used in sumo), but slipped on the sweat and fell forward. While they grappled near the corner on the east side of the ring, Azumafuji's head apparently banged against the mat, causing him to bleed. Ortega continued to attack, ignoring the blood, as Azumafuji's face became covered in it.
While Ortega's assistant was tending to him with a towel in the corner, and the crowd was loudly booing, Rikidozan suddenly jumped into the ring and delivered three or four karate chops to Ortega, knocking him down. The crowd erupted in cheers. Ortega was ultimately disqualified for the foul.
Orton & Kruskamp vs Surugaumi & Rikidozan
Orton arrived today, and he is apparently a television championship holder in the United States. He was probably around six feet three or four inches tall, with a well-built physique, and seemed like a rather straightforward wrestler who didn't resort to many underhanded tactics.
He wrestled against Rikidozan first.
Rikidozan performed some impressive throws, earning applause, but then his right arm was locked up, and he struggled a bit. During their match, the bald-headed Kruskamp was also quite active, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the spectators. Rikidozan fought valiantly, changing opponents three or four times, demonstrating his superior skill. The crowd was captivated by the dynamic and unpredictable nature of his attacks. Surugaumi replaced Rikidozan, but struggled against Orton's offensive maneuvers. After narrowly escaping a dangerous situation and recovering, Surugaumi delivered a powerful karate chop, thus turning the tide of the match. While two opponents were giving Surugaumi a hard time in their corner, Rikidozan angrily intervened to save him. Surugaumi usually ends up losing most of his matches, but he's incredibly tenacious and never gives up easily. When he attempted a neck throw on Kruskamp, but he slipped out of it and everyone laughed heartily. Orton tagged in against Rikidozan, and after he was thrown down two or three times, he tagged in Kruskamp. Kruskamp was also thrown down two or three times by Rikidozan, and the match ended in 19 minutes and 37 seconds with Rikidozan winning by pinfall.
It's incredibly hot, making things very difficult. Sweat is dripping down Rikidozan's body as he leans against the ropes.
In the second bout, Surugaumi, struggling against Kruskamp, was replaced by Rikidozan, who then stepped onto the rope and stomps on Kruskamp's bald head two or three times. These kinds of fun moments happen from time to time, and they're part of the crowd-pleasing technique. Shortly after Surugaumi tagged in, Orton pinned him, and the match ended in 18 seconds.
In the third round, Rikidozan pinned Kruskamp to win in 2 minutes, 35 seconds.
Kruskamp's showmanship often got the crowd excited, easing the crowd's mood away from the intensity of the match.
It's wonderful to see Japan Pro gradually improving thanks to Azumafuji's return to Japan and the constant efforts of Rikidozan and other wrestlers. Inviting more and more world-class wrestlers to Japan to compete in matches is the secret to attracting even more Japanese fans to professional wrestling, and will also help Japanese professional wrestling to thrive.
Azumafuji will likely improve even more with further effort, but in his current state, there are still not many breathtakingly fine performances, leaving the audience feeling unsatisfied, but he has great resolve, so there is much to look forward to as he reaches his potential in the future. Rikidozan's skills have improved since moving to the US, and his brisk movements and the speed of his techniques have become even sharper. I hope that Japan Pro will continue to flourish.
Notes
Tadayoshi Fujitayama
Mitsuo Surugaumi
No topknot: Fujitayama was too bald and didn't have enough hair to make a topknot.
Osamu Abe: "Taiseizan". Known as the "Bearded Referee" in later years, he was born in Hokkaido in May 1925. He worked for Japan Pro, Tokyo Pro Wrestling and International Pro Wrestling. He was also an actor, appearing in the 1958 film "Anger Rikidozan", in which Rikidozan saves a school of disabled children.
Yonetaro Tanaka: Rikidozan's attendant, who followed him into wrestling in 1954. Giant Baba's debut opponent. He became a referee following Rikidozan's death and worked for New Japan in 1973, but his skills were so poor that fans hated him and even Inoki punished him. He was also known as a terrible bully to the younger wrestlers.
Tadamasa Sakai: Like most commissioners in this era, Tadamasa Sakai was a politician. Born in 1893, he was a member of both the Abe family, by marriage the Sakai family, who adopted him as an adult. He died in 1971 at the age of 77, having lived through a momentous period in Japanese history.
Teizo Watanabe: Former Judoka, who was said to have coached Mil Mascaras. He died in Morocco on July 4th 1979 (where he had a family, as well as a family in Japan) and while his remains have not been found, a tombstone has been set up for him in Ikegami, next to the Honmonji temple where Rikidozan is buried.
Junzo Yoshinosato: Rikishi. September 27th 1928 - January 19th 1999 (he died a few days before Baba). He became the third president of Japan Pro during the fallout following Rikidozan's death (he said if he were better educated, it would not have happened as he was not suited to be President), and helped run a promotion for former wrestlers. He was also an early Japanese wrestling programming commentator. There was also a plan for New Japan and Japan Pro to merge, but this never happened.
Toyonobori: Michiharu Toyonobori, a former sumo wrestler, he had wanted to join the Imperial Japanese Navy, but being born in 1931 meant that by 1947 when he was old enough, the war was over an Japan's army was disbanded. He joined Japan Pro, but fell into the murky world of gambling. Appointed a director after Rikidozan's death, and after spending a period of time as the ace, he left the running of the company (which he had no interest in) to others. He was finally fired, and given the 20 million yen he had gambled away as a severance pay, which means he didn't receive it, it was just used as it. Out of revenge, he persuaded Antonio Inoki not to return to Japan Pro, where he would be second to Baba, but to join his Tokyo Pro Wrestling, but the company collapsed within three months due to a lack of television coverage, weak marketing, and of course, his compulsive gambling with all the proceeds at the Bicycle track, which he basically snatched. His gambling debts grew, he was fired from International Pro Wrestling too, and while Rikidozan might have protected his gambling problem in the 1950s, this was now the 1970s and his creditors were after him, and he had to take jobs in manual labor just to escape them. After leaving wrestling in 1974 (seemingly following a reconciliation with Inoki) he vanished and no one knew what had become of him, saying that he was either a Yakuza bodyguard or was homeless. The sad truth was that he had developed diabetes, and was being cared for by monks at a temple. He died in 1988 of myocardial infarction at the age of 67. The funeral was private, and the general public did not know of his death until a couple of months later.
Curtis: Either Bud Curtis or King Curtis Iaukea (whose nephew is/was Maunakea Mossman, who wrestled for All Japan in the Baba era.)
Primo Carnera: Italian boxer and wrestler
Kokichi Endo: At the time of writing, Kokichi is one of the few people in this article who is still alive, probably because he was a Judoka and was not subject to the health conditions of the sumo wrestlers. After the collapse of Japan Pro, he chose New Japan over All Japan, and worked as a commentator following his retirement in January 1956. His pro wrestling career lasted only from November 1951.
Comments
Post a Comment
Spam will be deleted immediately