Professional Wrestling Day

What Is Professional Wrestling Day?

Every February 19th is "Professional Wrestling Day" in Japan. On February 19, 1954, Japan's first international professional wrestling match was held at Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo. The legendary Rikidōzan, paired with judo champion Kimura Masahiko, faced the American tag team known as the Sharp Brothers. The event drew massive crowds and was broadcast on the fledgling NTV network, captivating a nation still recovering from the wounds of war and hungry for a Japanese hero to cheer.

Rikidōzan and the Birth of Japanese Pro Wrestling

Rikidōzan — born in Korea but raised and celebrated as a Japanese icon — became the father of professional wrestling in Japan. His signature finishing move, the "karate chop" (空手チョップ, karate choppu), was depicted as the embodiment of Japanese fighting spirit defeating larger Western opponents. At a time when most households didn't own televisions, people crowded around sets in public spaces to watch his matches, and cities reportedly fell quiet during broadcasts. Rikidōzan didn't just popularize a sport — he gave a defeated nation a sense of pride and possibility.

From Rikidōzan to an Industry

The first international match of 1954 planted seeds that grew into a uniquely Japanese genre of entertainment. In the decades that followed, organizations like the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (日本プロレス), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (新日本プロレス), and All Japan Pro Wrestling (全日本プロレス) cultivated iconic figures — Antonio Inoki, Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta — who became household names. The tradition continues today, with Japanese wrestlers competing on a global stage and bringing international stars to Japan.

Professional Wrestling as Cultural Phenomenon

In Japan, professional wrestling (puroresu, プロレス) has always been taken seriously as an athletic competition, with a culture that rewards technical skill, endurance, and storytelling inside the ring. Japanese wrestling's influence on global pro wrestling — in match structure, submission wrestling styles, and ring psychology — is widely acknowledged by international practitioners.

Fun Facts About Japanese Pro Wrestling

• Television ratings: In the 1970s and 1980s, prime-time pro wrestling broadcasts regularly drew ratings above 30%, making them among the most-watched programs in Japan.
• Women's wrestling (Joshi puroresu): Japan has one of the world's richest traditions of women's professional wrestling, dating back to the 1950s.
• Wrestling and politics: Antonio Inoki was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors in 1989, reflecting the cultural stature that top wrestlers achieved.

The Spirit of the Ring Lives On

February 19th is a day to remember how a single sporting event in 1954 lit a fire that has never gone out — a reminder that sports have the power to inspire, unite, and give voice to a nation's sense of itself.