(JAPAN PRO) Hiroshi Ijuin: Carnera's Impressions Of Japan
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| (Carnera and the author) |
Weekly Pro
15th October 1955
The kind-hearted troublemaker
Carnera's name is extremely well-known to Japanese boxing enthusiasts, and coupled with the allure of his massive physique as a wrestler, his visit further fueled the popularity of professional wrestling.
Carnera and his troupe performed seven shows in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, and were overwhelmingly popular everywhere they went. Around that time, a British film starring him, "The Penniless Alley," was showing, but with the film, television, and matches taking over, it felt like "Carnera, the Moving Alps," stole the show and became the most popular figure in Japan. I followed their matches for about ten days, and I discovered that these "ring thugs," who seemed like murderers in the arena, were actually very gentle and lovable once they stepped out of the ring.
The night before the first match in Tokyo, a pre-show celebration was held at the Piccadilly Theater in Marunouchi, Tokyo. When asked, "A movie in which you play the lead role is being screened here, so we'd love for you to appear during the intermission," he replied, "Actually, I haven't seen the movie yet." However, on stage, he went above and beyond, throwing signed balls and signing autographs for his Japanese fans.
Carnera, who appears in "Penniless Alley*," is a typical villain, whose main selling point is his massive size. Carnera himself commented, "That scene made me feel a little awkward, even though I was in the middle of the match." This kind of kindness is so typical of him, and I found it quite endearing.
Carnera, unusually for a giant, has a well-proportioned physique and a rather endearing face. However, his booming, rumbling voice is quite intimidating, especially when heard in places like hotels. When he gets excited during a match, his voice turns into a groaning, almost song-like sound, and the sneer he lets out after landing a powerful straight punch is utterly unsettling.
A hastily constructed Japanese toilet
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| (Carnera and Azumafuji) |
He was six feet five inches tall and weighed nearly forty kan (approximately 165 kg), so a regular bed was insufficient. Even when traveling, they would combine two or three single beds to make do. The Sharpe Brothers were also giants, six feet seven inches tall, and caused trouble for the hotel staff, but Carnera also gave us trouble when we were setting up.
Another weakness is the lack of reliable plumbing in some places like Tokyo, but in rural areas, there's nothing that can handle it completely. So they made a separate toilet for him, but all kinds of people came to the inn all the time, and when they made one with a board in between, they would just tear it down. He said, "Japanese toilets are a real problem," and indeed, that was the only thing that was a real problem. Also, the temperature was 35 degrees Celsius every day, and it continued like that every day, so it was really difficult for him to use the toilet. The Maruei Hotel in Nagoya was one of the best hotels, but it had no air conditioning, and it felt like being in a Turkish bath. I'm amazed that anyone could endure such a difficult trip in a hotel like that, but it's business, and he has completely accepted it as "for the sake of the Japanese fans," so I just had to accept it. Furthermore, Carnera was born in 1908, making him 49 years old this year.
He was born into a poor family in a rural area of ??Italy. Initially, this giant's selling point was his physical strength, and he toured Europe as part of a traveling circus troupe. At that time, he didn't attract much attention, but while traveling through Paris, two of his companions encouraged him to become a boxer. It was Walter Friedman, a New York recruiter who happened to be in Paris, who picked up Carnera, which opened the door for his world championships.
Between 1928 and 1932, he had a record of 72 wins, 5 losses, and 1 no-contest in 78 fights, and in 1932, he knocked out Ernie Schaaf*, sending him to his grave—a truly heartbreaking feat. Older fans will also remember that in June, he knocked out world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey in the sixth round to win the coveted title. After that, he was TKO'd by Max Baer in the 11th round, and then by Joe Louis, he "Brown Bomber," which meant his career was on the decline. By 1937, Carnera had finally given up boxing.
World War II brought misfortune to Carnera. Of course, his life was on the decline, and the food shortage caused by the war that swept the world had apparently caused considerable trouble, as his massive body, which once weighed 35 kan (approximately 100 kg), had shrunk by more than 10 kan (approximately 300 kg). However, it seems that Carnera, who had been making ends meet by doing military labor during the war, was finally seeing some progress. Because he was a former world heavyweight boxing champion and a big star, many promoters wanted to turn him into a wrestler. His swing, which he had done as a last-minute replacement in circuses, unexpectedly came in handy. American promoters, skilled at quickly turning any world-class strength or giant into a hero, carried Carnera on the wave of the pro-wrestling boom.
Carnera, with his signature neck throw, once won a tag team championship with Sandor Szabo. He also teamed with Rikidozan to challenge the Sharpe Brothers and ended up with a draw. This giant, who has shed tears over fifty years, still retains the youthfulness of his twenties and continues to travel the world. "Compared to when I was boxing, what I'm doing now, wrestling, is the most fun." Carnera's words were likely sincere.
In Los Angeles, he has a seventeen-year-old son and a fourteen-year-old daughter with his wife, who was born in Yugoslavia. His greatest wish is to return home quickly and show his wife and children the many souvenirs he has received from Japan.
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| (From left - the author, Azumafuji, Carnera and Ortega) |
This was Carnera's first visit to Japan, and what surprised him the most was the overwhelming welcome he received everywhere he went. He was also surprised by how packed each venue was, and how quiet the audiences were, unlike in places like America. They seemed to really like Japan's climate and natural features, especially the beauty of Mount Fuji. Their kindness, particularly the gentleness of Japanese women, made a particularly strong impression on them, as they had been constantly mistreated by their wives. They envied Japanese men, thinking they were lucky.
Regarding Japanese professional wrestling, he enthusiastically stated, "I know Rikidozan well from meeting him in America, and given his abilities, a world championship match against Lou Thesz would be interesting. Japan also has men like Rikidozan and Azumafuji, so if exchanges with America become more active, strong wrestlers will surely emerge. In the future, Japan will become a fine wrestling market in the Orient. I have no intention of retiring from wrestling yet; I still intend to challenge Lou Thesz, the world champion, and compete for the title."
After Carnera, the next most popular wrestler is probably the Central American giant, Ortega. Born in Mexico, this man is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 43 kan (approximately 155 kg), is covered in hair, and has chest hair as thick as wire. He enters the ring with a swagger, wearing a Mexican hat and a brightly patterned poncho.
%20and%20Curtis.jpg) |
| (Ortega and Curtis) |
Then, after the announcer's introduction, he throws aside the maracas and removes the poncho revealing his plump, 43-kan (approximately 154 kg) giant body in the center of the ring, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers. He raises his right hand high in response to the cheers of the audience. In the ring, the climax and showmanship are skillfully woven in naturally. This is something that is always present. However, once the match begins, it becomes utterly rough and unbelievable. Hitting, kicking, and grabbing are all acceptable in professional wrestling, and fans are well aware of this, but watching Ortega's matches makes you question all of that. His specialties are neck throws and other moves, though he's not particularly known for them. Like Carnera, his selling point is his physique and rough tactics, and he's definitely the villain. He and Curtis are the Central American tag team wrestling champions, but in tag team wrestling, it's possible to gain popularity with a combination of giants, or a big men like Ortega and Curtis.
Ortega was drafted into the Marines during World War II and participated in the operation on Guadalcanal*. He himself clarifies that he wasn't on the front lines but rather in rear-echelon duty*, which shows he's a surprisingly honest man. His family lives in Los Angeles, and he has two daughters, ages eight and ten. According to Ortega, the villain in the ring is a good dad at home. He doesn't drink much alcohol. He now even uses a little broken Japanese when touring. Like Carnera, he has a deep voice, and what's more, he snores very loudly. While traveling in Kyushu, Curtis, who was staying at the same hotel, found Ortega's snoring so loud that once he had fallen asleep, he and Orton took out a razor and shaved off Ortega's prized beard. Unaware of this, Ortega was laughed at by the hotel bellboy and, completely bewildered, suddenly looked around and found his beard gone. The culprits were identified as Curtis and Orton, but there was nothing that could be done at that point, and they were finally moved. His beard grew back within the next two or three weeks, and the tour continued amicably.
Ortega seemed quite taken aback when the important details about his achievements were dropped, especially "Mexico, Pak Choi and that guy". It's already been over a month since Ortega arrived in Japan, and he's apparently really missing America. He's bought a ton of Japanese specialties like pearls for his lovely wife and is eagerly awaiting his return home.
"My Curtis" ran wild in the ring with the agility of a leopard, showing us the amazing things about professional wrestling. At 5 feet 8 inches tall, 16 and 17 kan (approximately 3.5 kg), so a place like exile to a remote island at the end of the day would be fitting. However, that wouldn't be enough to compete against the world's top wrestlers, so Curtis always avoids alcohol and medicinal herbs, and gets plenty of sleep.
Once upon a time in America, there was a wrestler named Jim Londos who became world champion at the age of 24 or 25. This man, though small, displayed unparalleled strength. To outmaneuver a giant weighing over 30 kan (approximately 150 kg) with such a small body requires not only regular practice but also this kind of mental fortitude.
They train for two or three hours every day, even on days without matches. Lifting dozens of dumbbells and never neglecting rope-work, he clearly feels a strong sense of responsibility as a professional wrestler in a show sport. Professional baseball players, for example, should learn a lot from this; if their base-running times decline year after year, it would be quite embarrassing considering the high salary they've paid.
Television star Orton showed a varied wrestling style with his impressive physique. He's a popular TV personality, often playing the good guy. In other words, he displays his skill against villains like Carnera and Ortega. Of course, he's also very fair-skinned and a handsome man who's popular with young women. Rather than being exceptionally strong, he's a man with the knack for quickly getting into a rapport with any opponent, making his matches very spectacular.
Kruskamp is Carnera's manager. Although he's over fifty, his energy is truly astonishing, as he can still go head-to-head with opponents like Rikidozan, Azumafuji, and Endo for nearly an hour. His masterful and versatile wrestling in the ring undoubtedly allowed fans to fully experience the excitement of professional wrestling...but his strengths don't end there. He has some excellent opinions that make us think about what Japanese pro wrestling should be like in the future, as well as the role of wrestlers and promoters. It was thanks to a great mentor that Carnera was able to develop to this level, and in this respect, he deserves great praise, along with Lewis, the manager who nurtured Lou Thesz into a great world champion. In the world of professional wrestling, and even in boxing, having a solid manager is essential for success on a global scale. This is because, in this world, a manager's negotiation skills can significantly impact how much fight money a fighter can earn and how to secure good fight matches. In this respect, Japanese fighters are very unfortunate. For example, Rikidozan was a wrestler, a promoter, and a manager all in one. But, this won't do, and for him to truly become a world champion, he must not be overly concerned with money and schedule. In this respect, Rikidozan must be seen as a gamble.
Both Carnera and Ortega have shown particular interest in the World Championship match between Lou Thesz and Rikishiyama, scheduled for late September or early October.
The month-long tour together has undoubtedly fostered a special camaraderie between the Japanese and American wrestlers. Carnera is eager to challenge Rikidozan f he wins, and we, too, eagerly await the day when Rikidozan becomes the first Japanese champion.
Notes
Hiroshi Ijuin: (1907 - 1963) was a former reporter for the Mainichi Shimbun , a former professional wrestling commentator, and a former rugby player
Penniless Alley:
Maruei Hotel: The hotel still exists, and gets rave reviews for its amenities.
Ernie Schaaf: Contrary to this article and what may have been believed at the time, Carnera did not kill Schaaf. Although Schaaf left the ring unconscious, and sadly never did regain consciousness, dying four days later, an autopsy revealed that Schaaf had meningitis, a swelling of the brain, and was still recovering from a severe case of influenza which had hospitalized him.
Operation on Guadalcanal: The operation on Guadalcanal, codenamed Operation Watchtower, was the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II. Lasting from August 1942 to February 1943, U.S. and Allied forces fought a grueling six-month campaign on land, sea, and in the air to seize a strategic Japanese airfield and protect supply lines to Australia. It was also the battle that Giant Baba's older brother had been killed in.
Rear-echelon duty: military operations and administrative roles conducted away from the active front lines.
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