Real Name - Michiaki Yoshimura
Lifespan - 9/19/26 - 2/15/03
5'10" 205 lbs. - Gifu, Japan

Aliases - none

Athletic background - Sumo (Kindai College)

Professional background - AJWA(`54-55), JWA(`55-`73)

Peak Years - `57-`64

Career Highlights -
- Meets JWA's top star, Rikidozan, in a pretty major interpromotional match
- Beats Surugaumi for the national junior heavyweight title and holds it for the next three years
- Goes to a 45-minute draw with Karl Gotch that solidifies his name in Japan
- Along with Toyonobori wins the vacant All-Asian tag belts from Curtis Iaukea & Don Manoukian
- Teams with Giant Baba to win the NWA International tag titles and they reign successfully for a year

Place in History - Perhaps the first great worker Japan ever produced, Michiaki Yoshimura came from a strong sumo background where he was a national champion in college and became a premier star in the early TV years of puroresu. He was one of the few stars from outside companies that Rikidozan kept around because he had so much to offer. Lean and muscular with boyish good looks, the "Fireball Kid" was a strong junior for the JWA and became one of its top stars in the 60s. After a lengthy run as the junior kingpin, Yoshimura bulked up and returned in 1960. He was a frequent partner of Rikidozan, unquestionably the company's top worker and seemed in line for bigger things. After Riki was stabbed and died in 1963, Yoshimura was a crucial figure in JWA's holding on for the next few years. He was the number two star when Giant Baba came along and a frequent tag partner. Over the next few years he was primarily the veteran giving the rub to up-and-comers in tag teams as he formed championship teams with Baba, Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi. He was a competant straightforward booker and established the next generation of stars before retiring as the JWA was sinking. Making a clean break from pro-wrestling, Yoshimura simply coached college sumo and slipped from people's memories. A significant supporting character whose contributions cannot be appreciated enough. From being a class worker in the ring to a good booker and perhaps the negotiator that saved puroresu from dying along with Rikidozan, Michiaki Yoshimura is amongst puroresu's most important figures.