Inaba Masakatsu

Inaba Masakatsu (稲葉 正勝, 1597 – 22 February 1634) was a daimyō of early Edo period, Japan, who ruled Kakioka (Shimōsa Province) and Mōka (Shimotsuke Province), and was finally transferred to Odawara Domain in Sagami Province.

Biography

Inaba Masakatsu was the eldest son of Kasuga no Tsubone, the wet nurse to Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. He was raised together with Iemitsu as one of his childhood playmates and confidants. In 1624, he received a 5000 koku estate in Makabe District, Hitachi Province, which when added to his existing holdings, propelled him past the 10,000 koku mark to become a daimyō. Kakioka Domain in Shimōsa Province was created to be his title. However, on the death of his father Inaba Masanari in 1628, Masakatsu became head of the Inaba clan, and inherited his father’s position as daimyō of Mōka Domain, at which time Kakioka Domain was abolished. Masakatsu was again transferred four years later to Odawara Domain. In 1632, he was assigned to assist Katō Tadahiro in the reconstruction of Kumamoto Castle. However, in the summer of 1633, while still at Kumamoto, he fell ill and vomited blood. He died the following year.

Masakatsu Funaki

Masakatsu Funaki (船木 誠勝) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, who has previously wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, UWF and Wrestle-1. He is also the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations and non-rehearsed shoot wrestling promotions (following five years after the inception of Shooto but predating America's Ultimate Fighting Championship). Funaki was also Pancrase's biggest star; Josh Barnett described him as the "symbol of Japan", Frank Shamrock labeled Funaki "the golden boy" of Pancrase, and Guy Mezger called Funaki "hands down the smartest and most skilled fighter in Pancrase next to Ken Shamrock".

Not only the organization's co-founder, Funaki was also one of Pancrase's most successful fighters to date, scoring submission victories over numerous MMA champions such as Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger, Yuki Kondo, Minoru Suzuki and Bas Rutten through the course of his 50-fight career. He is the only fighter in mixed martial arts to hold wins over both Shamrock brothers and Bas Rutten, and was the first man to win the King of Pancrase title twice.

Ryota Hama

Ryota Hama (浜亮太,, Hama Ryōta) is a retired Japanese sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler.

Career

Sumo

Hama joined sumo in July 1995, and he fought for the Hakkaku stable run by former yokozuna Hokutoumi. His shikona was Hokutoarashi and he reached a highest rank of makushita 6 in November 2001. Injury-prone, he fell greatly in rank and announced his retirement in May 2008. His career record was 235 wins to 169 losses, with 114 absences due to injury.

Professional wrestling

After retiring from sumo, Hama became a professional wrestler. Hama debuted in professional wrestling on November 3, 2008 losing to former Sumo champion Akebono.

On September 23, 2009, Hama and Akebono, known collectively as SMOP (Super Megaton Ohzumo Powers), won the All Asia Tag Team Championship, defeating Minoru Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai. With Akebono as his partner, Hama participated in the 2009 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing 5th out of 9 teams with four victories and four defeats.

Jiro Kuroshio

Sōjirō Higuchi (樋口 壮士朗, Higuchi Sōjirō, born September 19, 1992) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Jiro Kuroshio (黒潮 二郎, Kuroshio Jirō). He works for the Wrestle-1 promotion and is a former two-time UWA World Trios Championship holder.

Early life

Higuchi was born in Adachi, Tokyo. When he was young, he often attend professional wrestling events with his father, who was a fan. His father became friends with the elder brother of Yoshihiro Tajiri, which in turn led to a friendship with Tajiri himself. He started training with Tajiri's Hustle promotion when he was 14. However, without a definite plan towards making a professional debut plus other commitments beyond wrestling such as school, Higuchi's interest in wrestling waned and at one time he moved away from the sport. He eventually returned to wrestling by joining the Smash promotion's training camp.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Using the ring name Jiro Kuroshio, Higuchi made his professional wrestling debut on December 30, 2011 against fellow camp attendee Koji Doi at the "Smash 24" event. He adopted the name "Kuroshio" from the name of the nabemono restaurant operated by his parents, "Nabeya Kuroshio". The Smash promotion folded in March 2012 and on 5 April 2012 Kuroshio, along with Tajiri and all other wrestlers, referees and trainees, moved to the spin-off Wrestling New Classic promotion.

Andy Wu

Andy Wu (アンディ・ウー/Andi ū) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works currently for Wrestle-1.

Professional wrestling career

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2012–2013)