Battlarts (格闘探偵団バトラーツ, Kakuto Tantei-dan Batoratsu?) (Fighting Detectives Batoratsu) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan. The promotion was formed in 1996 by Japanese wrestler Yuki Ishikawa and featured all of the wrestlers from the Fujiwara Gumi promotion, who had abandoned the promotion in favor of Battlarts. They ran shows in the Tokyo area regularly from 1998 to 2002.
Even though Battlarts' style was based around shoot-style wrestling, the promotion often cooperated with other federations and styles, including RINGS, Kingdom, Michinoku Pro and Big Japan Pro Wrestling. The biggest co-promotion occurred on October 17, 1999 when Battlarts and The Great Sasuke's Michinoku Pro Wrestling presented "Michinoku Pro vs. Battlarts", which was headlined by a tag match pitting the owners of both promotions (Great Sasuke and Ishikawa) against Jinsei Shinzaki and Alexander Otsuka.
The promotion ceased running regular shows and events in 2001 due to "management aggravation". Battlarts eventually began to run monthly shows mainly in Tokyo, Saitama, and Shizuoka Prefecture, often co-promoting with Daisuke Ikeda's Fu-ten, Kiyoshi Tamura's STYLE-E and Satoru Sayama's RJPW promotions. On September 14, 2008 at a press conference with Yuki Ishikawa and Shinjiro Otani Battlarts announced a working agreement with Pro Wrestling ZERO1.
Yoshihiro Tajiri (田尻 義博, Tajiri Yoshihiro?, born September 29, 1970), is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently working in Japan as TAJIRI.
Tajiri had originally wanted to become a kickboxer and trained in kickboxing, but after watching countless wrestling matches from Mexico, he entered the Animal Hamaguchi Wrestling gym and soon won its test match tournament. He debuted professionally in 1994 for Michinoku Pro Wrestling beating Akihiro Yonekawa and also wrestled for Wrestle Association-R. On 16 October 1994 Tajiri made his debut for IWA Japan under his real name. In 1996 he joined Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
In 1996 he left CMLL and joined the hardcore wrestling promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo. He debuted for BJW under the name Aquarius and beat Unicorn in his first match. On 19 July 1996 he beat Dr. Wagner Jr for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship and lost it to him on 27 July. On July 23, 1997 Tajiri would team up with Ryuji Yamakawa to win the vacant BJW Tag Team Championship and lost it to Gedo and Jado on December 22. The team would regain the titles eleven days later and lose it to Shadow Winger and Shadow WX. He beat Gedo to become the first BJW Junior Heavyweight Champion he would later be stripped of the title when he left the company.
Kengo Mashimo (真霜拳號, Mashimo Kengo?), a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Kaientai Dojo. His style is a combination submission wrestling and hard, martial art strikes. He is currently the ace of Kaientai Dojo.
Kengo Mashimo debuted in Puerto Rico in 2001 as one of the first Kaientai Dojo students. Once Kaientai Dojo arrived in Japan in April 2002, Mashimo started as a wrestler using a grappling and shoot style, finishing his opponents quickly by KO or TKO before starting a short series of matches with isami which Mashimo lost 3-1, but in doing so, won a lot of crowd support for his fire and spirit. Mashimo did not affiliate with any units in the early years, instead choosing to fight anyone. 2003 also saw Mashimo have his biggest match in his career since debuting as a wrestler, taking on NJPW junior legend Jushin Thunder Liger in an impressive match which opened eyes to him. He also travelled to some other promotions that year, including Riki Chōshū's World Japan. In 2004, he allied with Kunio Toshima and SUPER-X but never officially making a faction. Toshima & Mashimo won the UWA and UWF Intercontinental tag team titles, but vacated them after winning due to winning them in a Handicap match in the tournament final as Hi69's partner, MIYAWAKI was injured earlier in the night. Mashimo also got the biggest chance of his career, challenging Heat for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He also made it to the STRONGEST-K '04 finals that year after dispatching of TAKA Michinoku in the semi finals. However, Mashimo was defeated by Hi69 in the finals at Tokyo Korakuen Hall.
Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata ryuji?) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Born May 17, 1978. Started wrestling in 1998 for Yuki Isikawa's BattlARTS promotion and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he was a former AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight champion.
Hijikata started his career with the BattlARTS after a stern test after rising through the ranks he left the promotion in 2001 and joined All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002. His goal in All Japan was to become the top wrestler in the junior division. He did just that when he defeated Silver King for the AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Ryuji Hijikata took part in the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship Tournament in January, 2009 where he teamed up with former AJPW Triple Crown Champion Suwama.
In 2009, Hijikata joined Voodoo Murders and he turned to Toshizo again with its new mask.
Hijikata also competed as a member of Team Japan with Mitsu Hirai, Jr., Taichi Ishikari, and Nosawa in TNA Wrestling's 2004 World X Cup Tournament.
Takeshi Ono (born November 22, 1944) is a former Japanese football player. He has played for Japan national team.
(Japanese) Japan Football Association official site