Yoshinosato (1928-1999)

Real Name - Junzo Hasegawa

Birthdate - 9/27/28 - 1/19/99

5'8" 220 lbs. - Chiba, Japan

Athletic Background - Sumo (Maegashira)

Teacher(s) - n/a

Professional Background - JWA(`54-`73), US(`61), IWE, All Japan

Aliases - none

Place in History - Junzo Hasegawa, better known as Yoshinosato, was one of the many former sumo who pursued pro-wrestling as it grew in popularity.  He reached the highest division in sumo, but never rose out of the lowest level.  After retiring in 1954, he joined Rikidozan’s JWA and found quick success.  First, he won the tournament to become the company’s initial light heavyweight champion.  He followed that up by captured the junior heavyweight title from Michiaki Yoshimura.  Lasty, Yoshinosato tagged with Kokichi Endo to become the first All Japan Tag champions.  He was sent abroad and enjoyed some international success as well.  The JWA was completely behind Yoshinosato and the product was on fire.  Then Rikidozan died and the pro-wrestling business in Japan was turned upside down.  Yoshinosato became JWA's vice-president under Toyonobori, who took over as the company's top star, and was a key member in keeping the company going during those tough years.  When Toyonobori was fired, Yoshinosato took over and was in charge as the JWA began unraveling in the early 1970s.  A failed coup by Antonio Inoki led to him being fired and forming a rival company, Nippon TV pulled out and the death blow came when Giant Baba left to form All Japan.  When the JWA closed shop, Yoshinosato worked as a commentator for the IWE for a time and later All Japan.  His final involvement with pro-wrestling being the chairman of an old-timers group.  Yoshinosato is one of several key characters from puroresu’s early boom that was almost forgotten with the rise of the All Japan and New Japan era.  While he was an important talent, his in-ring accomplishments are largely trumped by his tenure as the head of the JWA.  The once great company’s chaotic decline and collapse allowed an important power shift to happen, but he was one of the casualties of that event.