Joe Higuchi (1929-2010)

Real Name - Kanji Higuchi

Lifespan - 1/19/1929 - 11/8/2010

Yokohama, Japan

Occupational Background - Judo Instructor, Pro-Wrestler

Mentor(s) - Raul Romero, Tojo Yamamoto

Professional Background - AJPWA(`54-), JWA(`5?-`72), All Japan(`72-`00), NOAH(`00-`10)

Peak Years - 1970s

Place in History - In the pro-wrestling world, referees have played a variety of roles over the years.  However, there is no one best known as a referee that had a great impact on the sport than Joe Higuchi.  While he is best remembered as the man struggling to keep order during the wild All Japan matches of the 1970s and 1980s, Higuchi’s role as an intermediary between the office and the foreign talent was crucial to the operation.  Kanji Higuchi grew up in Yokohama in the post-war years.  He was exposed to different cultures and languages and while working as a judo instructor for the government.  He picked up English as well as the nickname “Joe” and eventually was initiated into the world of pro-wrestling that was gaining popularity in the country.  He spent several years as a wrestler, but his language skills and ability to connect with foreign talent were what the JWA office were most impressed by.  Higuchi transitioned to refereeing in the ring and became exceptional.  Like many memorable referees, he had his distinct qualities - his bald head, his bright shirts and his willingness to take some bumps to get over the chaos of a situation.  In All Japan, he was the senior referee and developed a unique popularity in the role of authority within the ring.  His ability to be in the right place at the right time was uncanny, which meant staying out of the way, not seeing foreign objects and not blocking photographers at ringside.  Although he retired in 1997, Higuchi continued working for the company and was part of the exodus following Giant Baba’s death.  In NOAH, he became the member of the company’s board of directors and was the chairman of their championship committee, so he read the title proclamation before matches.  Lung cancer claimed his life in 2010, but he will probably be the most popular and famous pro-wrestling referee in Japan.