Rikidōzan

Also known as Kim Sin-rak, Rikidozan, Rikidouzan

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.

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

via Last.fm · RIKIDŌZAN

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
Professional wrestler.children: 3, including Mitsuo and Yoshihiro
Professional wrestler.family: Pak Myong-chol (son-in-law)
Professional wrestler.retired: December 7, 1963 (last match)
Professional wrestler.caption: Rikidōzan as the Japanese Heavyweight Champion in 1954
Sumo wrestler.native_name: 力道山光浩
Sumo wrestler.name: Rikidōzan Mitsuhiro

via Wikipedia infobox

~19 min read

Encyclopedic overview

18 sections

Contents

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

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.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Rikidōzan” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.