RikidÅzan
Rikidōzan (Japanese力 道 山; kor: 역도산; born November 14, 1924 in Kankyo - nando, former Japanese Empire, present-day North Korea as Kim Sin - nak, † December 15, 1963 in Tokyo. ) Was the Shikona the Japanese Sumotori, wrestler and Wrestling functionary Mitsuhiro momota (百 田 光浩, momota Mitsuhiro ).
Career
Sumō
Rikidōzan was born in 1924 in the former Japanese colony Chosen. His birth name was Kim Sin - nak ( 김신락 ,金 信 洛). He was trained as a child to a sumo wrestler. Because of societal discrimination against Koreans in Japan its true origin, however, was still concealed even many years after his death; the name Mitsuhiro momota was also invented as its alleged origin from Nagasaki. As a member of Heya Nishonoseki he made his debut in May 1940 and worked his way up in the next six years up to the top Sumōliga, the Makuuchi Division ago. His best tournament result he achieved in June 1947 when he finished the tournament in second place behind the Yokozuna Haguroyama. Overall Rikidōzan denied 23 tournaments with a combat record of 135 victories and 82 defeats. Its highest rank in the Banzuke was sekiwake. In 1950, he finished his career in sumo, which claims to financial reasons.
Wrestling
Rikidōzan made his wrestling debut in 1950 with a draw against an American after the fight time. He regularly appeared henceforth against American wrestler at. Through his victories against this, he won the Japanese wrestling quickly in popularity. This is based on the collective depression feeling of the Japanese in postwar Japan, which longed for a hero, so they could endure their worries easily. The Booking supported his popularity value by his opponents were always committed for the role of fighting by illegal means villain. If Rikidōzan committed to fighting in America, he took over this role.
The most important success Rikidōzans was the victory over Lou Thesz on 27 August 1957 with the Rikidōzan to the NWA International Heavyweight could secure championship titles, one regional title of the National Wrestling Alliance, which was established for the cooperating Japanese Wrestling League Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance which Rikidōzan had founded in 1953. The title of the NWA International Heavyweight Champion, he should not leave until his death. Rikidōzan also won several regional titles of the NWA promotions in Hawaii and San Francisco. His trademark in wrestling was the karate chop, which was less derived from the Karate as of the striking techniques of sumo. Rikidōzan formed in addition to his own career from junior wrestler, his pupils include the even become legends Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba. Due to its success Rikidōzan accumulated a fortune, which he invested in residential property, nightclubs, hotels and Boxpromotionen.
Death
Rikidōzan died on 15 December 1963 in Tokyo. A week earlier, on December 8, a Yakuza named Katsuji Murata had hurt him in one of his nightclubs with a knife, the blade of which had been wetted with urine. The underrated in their danger of injury led to peritonitis, died of Rikidōzan.
For the Japanese wrestling death Rikidōzans had almost devastating consequences. The Japanese fans had assumed that wrestling is "real" would be. With the discovery of Rikidōzans transactions with the Yakuza is known that wrestling is only asked, prompting many fans turned away from it. Only his disciples Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba were able to save the Japanese wrestling again.
Afterlife
Rikidōzan was included in the newly established Hall of Fame by the independent wrestling magazine Wrestling Observer Newsletter 1996. His life was made into a film in 2004 in South Korea under the title Rikidōzan, the title role was played by Sol Kyung -gu.