Report Last Updated - 1/08 (Winter)
Real Name - Takao Yoshida
Birthdate - 10/26/73
5'8" 198 lbs. - Yotsukaido, Chiba, Japan

Aliases - Takecaras, Robo Michinoku, Pepe Warrior, PEPE Michinoku, Great TAKAsuke, Mr. T, Gay Michinoku, BLUE-K

Athletic background - Mixed Martial Arts

Teachers - Great Sasuke

Professional background - Universal(`91-`93), Michinoku Pro(`93-`97), FMW(`93-`94), BattlARTS(`96), Pancrase(`97), ECW(`97), WWF(`97-`01), IWA-PR(`99-`01), K-Dojo(`02-), Michinoku Pro(`02-), Zero-One(`02), BJW(`03-`04), HUSTLE(`04), All Japan(`04-), Dragon Gate(`05), NOAH(`07), New Japan(`07-)

Groups - Kaientai DX (Deluxe), bWo, Kaientai, F-Words, Yoshida-Ya, RO&D, Michinoku Blazers, Mexico Amigos, Kashiwa Dojo

Career Highlights -
- Along with partner, Sho Funaki, joins Kaientai Deluxe (Dick Togo, Shiryu, and MEN's Teioh)
- Beats Koji Nakagawa for the Independent World Junior Heavyweight title
- Defeats Brian Christopher to fill the WWF Light Heavyweight title's vacancy and reigns for a year
- Wrestles WWF Champion Triple H in a high-caliber match on Monday Night Raw
- Finally returns to Japan and starts his own company - Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo)

Finisher(s) -
- Super K Special (Superkick)
- Just Facelock (Crossface Hold)
- Michinoku Driver (II)
- Dick Killer (Arm-trapped Crossface Hold)
- Just Facelock 2006 (Modified Crossface Hold)
- Super K2 (Jumping Sidekick)
x Michinoku Driver (I)

Favorites -
- Springboard Plancha
- Asai Moonsault
- Springing Corner Knee
- Eye Poke
- Elbow

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 6
science - 5
aerial - 4
power - 7
strikes - 6

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 7
selling - 8
bumping - 7
heat - 7
carrying - 7
push - 8
potential - 4

Serious Injuries - Shoulder (Required Surgery)

Outlook - In the early 1990s, junior heavyweights in Japan revolutionized the landscape of pro-wrestling. Bringing the lucha libre style and blending it with puroresu created a style that was dynamic and exciting. The first wave of these wrestlers became legends and the second wave may not have become as famous, but they were afforded the opportunities their predecessors were often not. Tadao Yoshida was a skinny punk who took a modified version of his mentor’s name and TAKA Michinoku became one of the best pure highflyers in the world. In Michinoku Pro, TAKA became a unique heel as part of the Kaientai Deluxe stable. As the company took off, its talent became commodities and eventually found themselves wanted overseas. While the Great Sasuke was being courted by the WWF, it was TAKA and later his friend Sho Funaki that stayed. Michinoku was in his physical prime and should have been a top junior heavyweight, but instead he was doing comedy acts and job matches in the US. Settling in Puerto Rico, TAKA set up a dojo and began preparing the talent that he would build a company in Japan with after his contract was up. That company, Kaientai Dojo, was slowly built up as its wrestlers gathered experience. TAKA was its main star and still found time to have runs with practically every other company in Japan. TAKA Michinoku, now in his mid-30s, is still close to the athlete he was ten years ago. He is a more seasoned wrestler now and can work smarter and be more effective. Michinoku will continue to work as he has for the past five years and with the same level of success he has had.