Rikidōzan
Sign in to saveMitsuhiro Momota (born Kim Sin-rak; November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), better known by the ring name Rikidōzan (), was a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler and sumo wrestler. He was known as the father of professional wrestling in Japan, nicknamed "The Father of Puroresu" (), and is considered one of the most influential people in professional wrestling history.
Person · Open Library
- Born
- 1924
- Died
- 1963
- Works
- 1
Top works
- Rikidōzan
via Open Library + Wikidata
Film & TV
Acting
Known for
- The Rikidōzan1983
- Kings of the Square Ring1978
- Brutal battle1959
- Lou Thesz vs. Rikidozan World Title Battle1957
- Pure-Hearted Unit1957
- Rikidozan: Man of Fury1955
- Detour to Love — Self1955
- Rikidozan no tetsuwan kyojin — Rikidozan1954
via TMDB
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 1
- Total plays
- 1
<a href="https://www.last.fm/music/RIKID%C5%8CZAN">Read more on Last.fm</a>
Key facts
- Professional wrestler.name
- Rikidōzan
- Professional wrestler.image
- Rikidōzan.jpg
- Professional wrestler.names
- Mitsuhiro MomotaRikidōzan
- Professional wrestler.height
- 1.75 m
- Professional wrestler.weight
- 110 kg
- Professional wrestler.birth_date
- November 14, 1924
- Professional wrestler.birth_name
- Kim Sin-rak (김신락)
- Professional wrestler.birth_place
- Kankyōnan-dō, Chōsen
- Professional wrestler.death_place
- Tokyo, Japan
- Professional wrestler.billed
- Nagasaki
- Professional wrestler.trainer
- Bobby BrunsHarold Sakata
- Professional wrestler.debut
- October 28, 1951
Key dates
- Born
- 14 November 1924
- Died
- 15 December 1963
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Early life
- Sumo career
- Professional wrestling career
- Debut, American excursion, and megastardom (1951–1958)
- NWA International Heavyweight Champion (1958–1963)
- Acting
- Personal life
- Public image
- Death
- Championships and accomplishments
- Sumo top division record
- Legacy
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- Further reading
- External links
Mitsuhiro Momota (born Kim Sin-rak; November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), better known by the ring name Rikidōzan (), was a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler and sumo wrestler. He was known as the father of professional wrestling in Japan, nicknamed "The Father of Puroresu" (), and is considered one of the most influential people in professional wrestling history.
Born in Korea under Japanese occupation, in an area that is now part of North Korea, Momota initially practiced ssireum before moving to Nagasaki to become a sumo wrestler. As a member of the Nishonoseki stable, he was given the shikona Rikidōzan Mitsuhiro (). He competed in sumo until 1951, retiring as a sekiwake, and was introduced to professional wrestling by members of the American National Wrestling Alliance. Credited with popularizing professional wrestling in Japan at a time when its people needed a hero to emulate, he was lauded as a national icon.
Gallery (12)
Connections
Categories
1924 births1963 deaths20th-century Japanese sportsmen20th-century male professional wrestlersCreators of sportsDeaths by stabbing in JapanDeaths from peritonitisIMDb title ID different from WikidataImperial Japanese Army personnel of World War IIJapanese male professional wrestlersJapanese murder victimsJapanese people of Korean descent