Mr. Fuji

Real Name - Harold Fujiwara
Birthdate - 5/4/35
5'10" 235 lbs. - Lenoiir City, TN

Aliases – Mr. Fujiwara, Shintaro Fuji, Master Fuji

Athletic background – Martial Arts

Teachers – Nick Bockwinkel, The Destroyer

Professional background – Hawaii(`64-`66), Portland(`66-`70), Australia(`67-`68), Dallas(`68), IWA(`71), WWWF(`72-`7?), Dallas(`72), Houston(`72), Mid-Atlantic, Georgia(`75), WWC, San Francisco(`76-`77), Amarillo(`76), WWWF(`77-`78), Hawaii(`78), AWA(`79), Memphis(`79), SECW(`79), New Zealand(`79), WWC(`80), Mid-Atlantic(`81), Toronto(`81), WWF(`81-`96)

Groups - n/a

Peak Years - `72-`78

Career Highlights - n/a

Finisher(s) -
- Kamikaze Clothesline (Neckbreaker Lariat)
- Cobra Hold (Nerve Hold)
- Reverse Splash from second turnbuckle

Favorites -
- Karate (Overhead) Chop
- Bodyslam
- Headbutt Drop
- Double Punches
- Toe Kick

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 5
science - 2
aerial - 2
power - 6
strikes - 6

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 8
selling - 7
bumping - 6
carrying - 6
heat - 8
legacy - 7

Serious Injuries – Knees (Required Surgery)

Place in History – After World War II, a generation of pro-wrestlers with German and Japanese gimmicks were able to become huge heels. While vicious Germans were hated all over, the stereotypical sneaky and sinister Japanese were able to draw heat without even trying. This type of racism was what took Harold Fujiwara from a stocky martial artist in Hawaii to one of the biggest heels of the 1970s. He was simply known as “Mr. Fuji,” he wore a devilish goatee, cut a good promo in broken English and he knew all the tricks. Fuji first hit it big in Australia when that promotion was doing great and when he returned to the States, he was quickly hotshotted to the top of the cards. In the WWWF, he partnered with fellow Hawaiian Toru Tanaka and they raised hell and drew great houses opposite some of the premier babyfaces in the sport. The two complimented each other perfectly. Tanaka was a bulldozer who provided an ambiance of legitimate toughness to the team and Fuji was a personality with some great highspots in his arsenal. Fuji and Tanaka became the best Japanese act going and they went all over the US together and separately throughout the 1970s. While Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes and some other babyfaces were sent around to pop crowds for a big show, Fuji did the same as a heel. By the late 1970s, Fuji was slowing down and he returned to the WWWF for another run as a tag team specialist. This time he was partnered with Masa Saito, who was inarguably a legitimate tough guy. After establishing himself as a heel in New York, Fuji transitioned to managing when Vince McMahon took the company national. The previous generation of the Grand Wizard, Lou Albano and Freddie Blassie were replaced by Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart and Mr. Fuji. While a limited talker, Fuji had a familiarity and racist stereotype that drew good heat in the 1980s. He kept his trademark beard, but added a tuxedo and bowler hat like his former partner Toru Tanaka's memorable Oddjob character, it clicked and he got over as an occasionally wrestling manager. His main charge was fellow Hawaiian, Magnificent Muraco, with whom he had the most exposure. Other notables were frequent WWF Tag champions Demolition and he took up any Asian heels over the next decade, including: Sika, Barbarian, Killer Khan, the Orient Express and WWF champion Yokozuna. The Yokozuna run saw his last days as a TV personality, but he was largely pushed into the background when Jim Cornette came in. Health problem forced him to stop traveling and he basically retired from the business. Although Mr. Fuji can be remembered as the perennial Japanese heel, an excellent tag wrestler or even a memorable manager, he is best remembered amongst his colleagues as a legendary ribber. There was length to which Mr. Fuji would not go to get a laugh.