Kantaro Hoshino
Encyclopedia
Takeo Hoshino was a Japanese born, Korean professional wrestler, manager, and promoter best known for his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling
. As a wrestler he was perhaps best known for his team: The Yamaha Brothers with Kotetsu Yamamoto. As a manager: he co-led with Tadao Yasuda
the heel
stable: the Makai Club
.
. Using the name Kantaro Hoshino, he wrestled his debut match on December 22, 1961 against Atsuhide Koma (Mashio Koma, future NWA World Middleweight Champion
).
Over the next few years, Hoshino worked his way up the card and paid his dues. In 1967, he was sent on a learning visit to the United States
with fellow up and comer: Kotestu Yamamoto with the two forming the tag team
: The Yamaha Brothers with Hoshino using the name Great Yamaha. While in America, Hoshino enjoyed championship success. On August 3, 1967, the Yamaha Brothers won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
. They would hold the titles for a week before losing them on August 10 to Bad Boy Hines and Len Rossi. Nine days later, Hoshino won the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship
, he would hold the title until August 31. By the end of the decade Hoshino returned to the JWA. In 1970, Hoshino teamed with Antonio Inoki
in the first NWA World Tag League tournament which they won defeating Nick Bockwinkel
and John Quinn in the finals.
Following the JWA closing in 1973, Hoshino jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling
where he remained for the rest of his career. By the mid 1970s, he reunited with Yamamoto to reform the Yamaha Brothers.
On January 21, 1979, The Yamaha Brothers entered the International Wrestling Enterprise and defeated Animal Hamaguchi and Great Kusetsu to win the IWA World Tag Team Championship. They would hold the titles for a month before dropping them to Hamaguchi and Mighty Inoue on February 23.
In 1980, Yamamoto retired from wrestling ending the Yamaha Brothers. Hoshino spent the remainder of his in-ring career in the low midcard no longer competing for championships or tournaments. After 15 more years of wrestling, Hoshino retired on February 19, 1995 wrestling Osamu Kido
to a 10 minute draw.
. During his time in the Makai Club, Hoshino would earn some popularity with New Japan fans with his "BISSHIBISSHI" catchphrase. On May 1, 2003, Hoshino returned to the ring in a 9 man New Japan alumnus Battle Royal which he co-won with former partner: Kotetsu Yamamoto. After the Makai Club broke up in 2004, Hoshino would hold a President Hoshino 10,000,000 Yen Offer Tag Tournament which was won by Hiroyoshi Tenzan
and Shinsuke Nakamura
.
On March 6, 2007, Hoshino would become one of the first inductees in the NJPW Greatest Wrestlers Hall of Fame.
On December 22, 2008, 47 years to the day after he debuted, Hoshino wrestled his last match defeating Gedo
in a street fight.
On February 4, 2009, Hoshino suffered a stroke
and his health declined until eventually passing away on November 25, 2010 due to Pneumonia
. He was 67 years old.
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
. As a wrestler he was perhaps best known for his team: The Yamaha Brothers with Kotetsu Yamamoto. As a manager: he co-led with Tadao Yasuda
Tadao Yasuda
Tadao Yasuda is a retired sumo and professional wrestler from Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. He competed in sumo from 1979 to 1992, under the shikona of Takanofuji, achieving the rank of komusubi, and afterwards turned to professional wrestling, in which he competed from 1994 to 2011.-Sumo career:He made his...
the heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
stable: the Makai Club
Makai Club
Makai Club was a professional wrestling stable that competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, it was led by Tadao Yasuda and managed by Kantaro Hoshino.-History:...
.
Career
Hoshino began his wrestling career after previously attempting a professional boxing career. He was trained by the father of Puroresu: RikidozanRikidozan
, better known as Rikidōzan , was a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, known as the "Father of Puroresu" and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. Initially, he had moved from his native country Korea to Japan to become a sumo wrestler...
. Using the name Kantaro Hoshino, he wrestled his debut match on December 22, 1961 against Atsuhide Koma (Mashio Koma, future NWA World Middleweight Champion
NWA World Middleweight Championship
The NWA World Middleweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship, promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
).
Over the next few years, Hoshino worked his way up the card and paid his dues. In 1967, he was sent on a learning visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with fellow up and comer: Kotestu Yamamoto with the two forming the tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
: The Yamaha Brothers with Hoshino using the name Great Yamaha. While in America, Hoshino enjoyed championship success. On August 3, 1967, the Yamaha Brothers won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the Tennessee area from the 1940s through the late 1980s. It was originally named the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship from its inception through 1977, when it was renamed the AWA Southern...
. They would hold the titles for a week before losing them on August 10 to Bad Boy Hines and Len Rossi. Nine days later, Hoshino won the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship
NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title for lighter wrestlers, board-controlled by the National Wrestling Alliance since December 1999....
, he would hold the title until August 31. By the end of the decade Hoshino returned to the JWA. In 1970, Hoshino teamed with Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
in the first NWA World Tag League tournament which they won defeating Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Bockwinkel
Nicholas Warren Francis "Nick" Bockwinkel is a retired American professional wrestler. He mainly competed in the American Wrestling Association in the United States...
and John Quinn in the finals.
Following the JWA closing in 1973, Hoshino jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
where he remained for the rest of his career. By the mid 1970s, he reunited with Yamamoto to reform the Yamaha Brothers.
On January 21, 1979, The Yamaha Brothers entered the International Wrestling Enterprise and defeated Animal Hamaguchi and Great Kusetsu to win the IWA World Tag Team Championship. They would hold the titles for a month before dropping them to Hamaguchi and Mighty Inoue on February 23.
In 1980, Yamamoto retired from wrestling ending the Yamaha Brothers. Hoshino spent the remainder of his in-ring career in the low midcard no longer competing for championships or tournaments. After 15 more years of wrestling, Hoshino retired on February 19, 1995 wrestling Osamu Kido
Osamu Kido
is a Japanese professional wrestler that wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He participated in the foundation of New Japan of 1972 and the foundation ofUWF in 1984...
to a 10 minute draw.
Retirement and Death
After retiring Hoshino continued to work with New Japan as a promoter where he help promote New Japan shows in Kobe. In 2002, Hoshino returned to New Japan as a co-leader of the stable: The Makai ClubMakai Club
Makai Club was a professional wrestling stable that competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, it was led by Tadao Yasuda and managed by Kantaro Hoshino.-History:...
. During his time in the Makai Club, Hoshino would earn some popularity with New Japan fans with his "BISSHIBISSHI" catchphrase. On May 1, 2003, Hoshino returned to the ring in a 9 man New Japan alumnus Battle Royal which he co-won with former partner: Kotetsu Yamamoto. After the Makai Club broke up in 2004, Hoshino would hold a President Hoshino 10,000,000 Yen Offer Tag Tournament which was won by Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name . With Satoshi Kojima, in 2008, they won the Real World Tag League in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the G1 Climax Tag League in NJPW becoming in the only tag team which has done...
and Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Super Rookie :...
.
On March 6, 2007, Hoshino would become one of the first inductees in the NJPW Greatest Wrestlers Hall of Fame.
On December 22, 2008, 47 years to the day after he debuted, Hoshino wrestled his last match defeating Gedo
Gedo
Gedo is an administrative region , formerly part of the historic Upper Juba Region in southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. Gedo is a region created in 1980s and is bordered by the Ogaden in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province in Kenya, and the Somali regions of Bakool, Bay,...
in a street fight.
On February 4, 2009, Hoshino suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and his health declined until eventually passing away on November 25, 2010 due to Pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He was 67 years old.
In Wrestling
- Finishing Moves
- Flying Bodypress
- Punch
- Entrance ThemesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- Battle Without Honor or HumanityBattle Without Honor or Humanity"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" is an alternate version of "Shin jingi-naki tatakai", an instrumental piece by Tomoyasu Hotei, originally used in the 2000 film Another Battle by Junji Sakamoto, in which Hotei also performs as an actor. The original version was also available in Hotei's live...
- As part of the Makai Club
- Battle Without Honor or Humanity
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Wrestlers Managed
- Tadao YasudaTadao YasudaTadao Yasuda is a retired sumo and professional wrestler from Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. He competed in sumo from 1979 to 1992, under the shikona of Takanofuji, achieving the rank of komusubi, and afterwards turned to professional wrestling, in which he competed from 1994 to 2011.-Sumo career:He made his...
- Kazunari MurakamiKazunari Murakamiis a Japanesefreelance professional wrestler and a retired mixed martial artist, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and Big Mouth LOUD, of which he was a founding member...
- Ryushi YanagisawaRyūshi YanagisawaRyūshi Yanagisawa is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer. His real name is Atsushi Yanagisawa . As a martial artist, he competed in K-1, Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling and Fighting Network RINGS and holds victories over Oleg Taktarov, Paul Varelans, Vernon White, Jason...
- Makai #1Junji Hiratais a Japanese professional wrestler who wrestles for the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, and currently uses the ring name .-Career:Hirata made his debut in New Japan on August 26, 1978 against Yoshiaki Fujiwara...
- Ryota Chikuzen/Makai#2
- Makai #3
- Katsuyori Shibata/Makai #4Katsuyori Shibatais a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. In professional wrestling, he is known for his hard hitting offense and his realistic bouts.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
- Mitsuya Nagai/Makai #5
- Ken ShamrockKen ShamrockKenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
- Dai MaijinGiant SilvaPaulo César da Silva , better known by his ring name Giant Silva, is a former Brazilian basketball player and mixed martial artist and current professional wrestler...
- Tadao Yasuda
Championships and Accomplishments
- International Wrestling Enterprise
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 Time)- with Kotetsu Yamamoto
- Japan Wrestling Association
- 1st Annual Tag League (1970)- with Antonio InokiAntonio Inokiis a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
- 1st Annual Tag League (1970)- with Antonio Inoki
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- AWA Southern Tag Team ChampionshipAWA Southern Tag Team ChampionshipThe AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the Tennessee area from the 1940s through the late 1980s. It was originally named the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship from its inception through 1977, when it was renamed the AWA Southern...
(1 Time)- with Kotetsu Yamamoto - NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Southern Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title for lighter wrestlers, board-controlled by the National Wrestling Alliance since December 1999....
(1 Time)
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- NJPW Greatest Wrestlers (Class of 2007)
- New Japan Alumnus Battle Royal (2003)- with Kotetsu Yamamoto
- Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
- Service Prize (1995)
- Special Prize (2010)
- Technique Prize (1977)