Mitsuharu Misawa (三沢 光晴, Misawa Mitsuharu; born Mitsuharu Kotake (小竹 光晴), June 18, 1962 – June 13, 2009) was a Japanese…
Mitsuharu Misawa (三沢 光晴, Misawa Mitsuharu; born Mitsuharu Kotake (小竹 光晴), June 18, 1962 – June 13, 2009) was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter. He spent most of his career with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he became the promotion's leading wrestler during the 1990s, before founding Pro Wrestling Noah in 2000. Misawa was one of AJPW's Four Heavenly Kings (プロレスの四天王, Puroresu no shiten'nō), alongside Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue; their matches became closely associated with AJPW's ōdō, or King's Road, style. Misawa debuted for AJPW in 1981 and wrestled as the second Tiger Mask from 1984 until unmasking in 1990. His victory over Jumbo Tsuruta that June established him as a rising main-event wrestler, and after Tsuruta's career was curtailed by illness, Misawa became AJPW's principal star. He won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship five times; his first reign, from 1992 to 1994, lasted 705 days, the longest in the championship's history. His rivalry with Kawada produced their June 3, 1994 match, which has been cited as one of the greatest professional wrestling matches of all time and became especially influential among overseas fans through tape trading. After Giant Baba died in 1999, Misawa became president of AJPW, but conflicts with Baba's widow and majority shareholder Motoko Baba led to his removal from the position in May 2000. He then led most of AJPW's native roster out of the company and founded Pro Wrestling Noah, serving as its president and one of its leading wrestlers. Misawa became the inaugural GHC Heavyweight Champion and held the title three times. As Noah's business declined in the later 2000s, he continued wrestling a full schedule despite accumulating injuries and worked to establish younger wrestlers as the promotion's future stars. On June 13, 2009, Misawa died at age 46 after taking a back suplex during a tag-team match in Hiroshima. The reported injury was a cervical fracture resulting in atlanto-axial dislocation. His death prompted renewed discussion in Japan about the regulation and safety of professional wrestling. Over his career, Misawa was an eight-time world champion, winning the Triple Crown five times and the GHC Heavyweight Championship three times, and he was named Wrestler of the Year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1995, 1997, and 1999.
Famous People from Yūbari, Hokkaido
Yūbari, Hokkaido: 10 people
Kinoarashi Kazutoshi (born 9 July 1961 as Kazutoshi Ishiyama) is a former sumo wrestler from Yūbari, Hokkaidō, Japan.…
Kinoarashi Kazutoshi (born 9 July 1961 as Kazutoshi Ishiyama) is a former sumo wrestler from Yūbari, Hokkaidō, Japan. He joined professional sumo in 1977 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1982. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He fell to the sandanme division through injury before staging a successful comeback to the top division in 1987. He retired in 1991.
Katsuhiro Akimoto (秋元 克広, Akimoto Katsuhiro) is a Japanese politician and the incumbent mayor of Sapporo, the largest…
Katsuhiro Akimoto (秋元 克広, Akimoto Katsuhiro) is a Japanese politician and the incumbent mayor of Sapporo, the largest and capital city of Hokkaido, Japan. Following victory in the 2023 Sapporo mayoral election, Akimoto is currently serving his 3rd term as mayor.
Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko; April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs…
Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko; April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was known for her "overwhelming singing ability" and was mainly successful between late 1970s and early 1980s. Her discography consists of more than 20 albums. After a brief hiatus due to battling esophageal and breast cancers, she returned to music in 2019. On November 9, 2023, Ohashi died in Tokyo at the age of 73.
Joh Sasaki (佐々木 譲, Sasaki Jō; born March 16, 1950) is a Japanese writer and journalist, chiefly known for his…
Joh Sasaki (佐々木 譲, Sasaki Jō; born March 16, 1950) is a Japanese writer and journalist, chiefly known for his historical fiction and mystery novels.
Asanobori Toshimitsu (born 3 June 1948 as Toshiaki Shimofuri) is a former sumo wrestler from Yubari, Hokkaidō, Japan.…
Asanobori Toshimitsu (born 3 June 1948 as Toshiaki Shimofuri) is a former sumo wrestler from Yubari, Hokkaidō, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1963 and reached the top division in March 1969. His highest rank was maegashira 2. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He left the Sumo Association in June 1979.
Hidenobu Takahide (高秀 秀信, Takahide Hidenobu; 18 August 1929 – 29 August 2002) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician…
Hidenobu Takahide (高秀 秀信, Takahide Hidenobu; 18 August 1929 – 29 August 2002) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician from Yūbari, Hokkaidō. After graduating from Hokkaido University, Takahide joined the Ministry of Construction in 1952 and was appointed as the ministry's administrative vice minister in June 1984. In March 1990, Takahide ran for the Yokohama mayoral election to succeed Michikazu Saigō, who died during his mayoralty the previous month. Backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, he was elected mayor and served for 12 years. He was installed president of Japan Association of City Mayors in June 2001. Takahide lost to Hiroshi Nakada in the mayoral election held on 31 March 2002, despite the backing from four major political parties, the local office of the Democratic Party of Japan, and industrial and labor organizations. Five months later, he died of esophageal hemorrhage at age 73.
Churyo Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 忠良, Hepburn: Satō Chūryō; 1912 – 2011) was a Japanese sculptor and painter. He was born in…
Churyo Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 忠良, Hepburn: Satō Chūryō; 1912 – 2011) was a Japanese sculptor and painter. He was born in Miyagi Prefecture and grew up in Hokkaido. In 1932 he moved to Tokyo to become a painter. Becoming influenced by Aristide Maillol and Charles Despiau, Sato decided to specialize in sculpture. He graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. From 1934 on, Sato spent the next seventy years making art works primarily from bronze to much acclaim. He was a dedicated artist working from 8 am until 8 pm every day and died on 30 March 2011 at the age of 98.
Setsuo Yokomichi (Japanese: 横路節雄; January 2, 1911 – June 14, 1967) was a Japanese politician. He was the father of…
Setsuo Yokomichi (Japanese: 横路節雄; January 2, 1911 – June 14, 1967) was a Japanese politician. He was the father of Takahiro Yokomichi, Governor of Hokkaido from 1983 to 1995.
Chihiro Ishiguro (石黒 千尋, Ishiguro Chihiro) is a Japanese voice actress. She records voices for both male and female…
Chihiro Ishiguro (石黒 千尋, Ishiguro Chihiro) is a Japanese voice actress. She records voices for both male and female characters in animation films. She is affiliated with Office Anemone, formerly affiliated with Aoni Production until December 2010. She made her career debut in 2007, by voicing Torimaki in the animation film Shugo Chara!. She is from Yubari, Hokkaido.