Kazuo Okamura
| Kazuo Okamura | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | George Kazuo Okamura |
| Born | October 11, 1911 Oregon University |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Great Togo |
| Billed from | Japan |
| Trained by | Tsutao Higami |
| Debut | 1938 |
| Retired | 1968 |
George Kazuo Okamura (岡村 一夫, Okamura Kazuo, October 11, 1911 – December 17, 1973) was an American
professional wrestler. Better known by the ring name The Great Togo, he was one of the first wrestling heels of Japanese descent in America after World War II.[1]
Early life and education
Okamura was born to
Oregon University before starting his wrestling career.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Okamura debuted in professional wrestling in 1938. Like many other wrestlers of Japanese descent at the time, he adopted a foreign heel
valet named Hata who burned incense.[1] He became one of the most hated villains of the ring,[3][4][5] as well as one of the most feared wrestlers. Despite his technical skill, his matches often ended in disqualifications in order for his opponents to save face.[3][6]
During the 1950s, he started a long and heated feud with Argentine Rocca.[1] He later introduced his kayfabe brother Tosh Togo, who became his usual tag team partner. Their team would expand with more Japanese family members, Mas Togo (Kyokushin karate founder Mas Oyama) and Ko Endo (judoka Kokichi Endo).[3][7]
From the 1950s to the 1960s he played as
Rikidozan's manager in the Pacific Coast area.[1]
Later life and death
After his retirement, he moved along with his wife to
gastric carcinoma.[6]
Championships and accomplishments
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tosh Togo[8]
Filmography
- The Delicate Delinquent (1957) as "The Great Togo"
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-1754-4.
- ISBN 978-47-778089-2-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-48-002892-1-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-02-520945-3-8.
- ISBN 978-15-988424-4-9.
- ^ ISBN 978-02-520635-9-6.
- ^ Svinth, Joseph R. "Harold Sakata: Olympic Weightlifter and Professional Wrestler". Retrieved October 27, 2007.
- ^ "International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
External links
- Kazuo Okamura's profile at Cagematch.net
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |