Mr. Fuji

Mr. Fuji
Ring name(s)	Mr. Fujiwara[1][2] Shintaro Fuji[1][2] Mr. Fuji[1][2][3]
Billed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1][2][3]
Billed weight	270 lb (120 kg)[1]
Born	May 4, 1937 (1937-05-04) (age 74)[1][2] Honolulu, Hawaii[1][2]
Resides	Dandridge, Tennessee[1]
Billed from	Osaka, Japan[3]
Trained by	Nick Bockwinkel
Debut	December 15, 1965[2]
Retired	1996[2]

Harry Fujiwara (born May 4, 1937)^[1][2] is an American former professional wrestler and manager, best known by his ring name Mr. Fuji.^[4] He was infamous for often throwing salt in the eyes of face wrestlers. Although he was billed as Japanese, he is a Japanese-American born in Hawaii.

Wrestling career

Early career (1964–1971)

Fujiwara made his professional wrestling debut on December 15, 1965 in his native Hawaii under the ring name Mr. Fujiwara. He won his first championship, the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship, with Curtis Iaukea on January 7, 1965.^[5] He shortened his ring name to Mr. Fuji and toured many territories, including Don Owen's Portland, Oregon based NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling where he won many championships.^[1]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1972–1974)

Fuji debuted in Vince McMahon, Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1972 as a heel. He formed a tag team with Professor Toru Tanaka and the duo were managed by Grand Wizard.^[6] Tanaka provided his physical massive strength and Fuji brought his devious ring psychology to the team, which earned him the nickname "The Devious One".^[6] Fuji used to throw salt in his opponent's eyes, which earned him victories.^[1][3] They defeated Sonny King and Chief Jay Strongbow on June 27, 1972 for their first World Tag Team Championship.^[7][8] They quickly ascended to the main event status, defending the titles against WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino on several occasions, throughout the year.^[1] During the feud, Fuji earned a shot at the WWWF title against Morales on August 22 but lost by count-out.^[9] They reigned for eleven months, making them the third longest WWWF World Tag Team Champions in history. They would lose the titles to Tony Garea and Haystacks Calhoun on May 30, 1973.^[10]

They continued to feud with Garea and Calhoun for the titles before defeating them on September 11 in a rematch to win their second WWWF World Tag Team Championship.^[8][11] With their title recapture, their feud with Garea and his new partner Dean Ho continued. On November 14, Fuji and Tanaka lost the titles to Garea and Ho.^[12] After failing in recapturing the titles from Garea and Ho, Fuji and Tanaka left the WWWF in 1974.

Georgia Championship Wrestling (1975)

Fuji and Tanaka debuted in Georgia Championship Wrestling in August 1975. On September 19, 1975, they participated in a four-team tournament where they defeated former WWWF rivals Tony Garea and Dean Ho in the finals to win the vacant NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship.^[13] They would lose the titles to Bob Backlund and Jerry Brisco a month later. Shortly after their title loss, they left GCW and toured other territories and won several titles.

Return to the WWWF (1977–1978)

Fuji and Tanaka returned to WWWF in 1977. They took on Freddie Blassie as their manager.^[6] On September 27, 1977, they defeated Larry Zbyzsko and longtime rival Tony Garea in the finals of a tag team tournament to win their third WWWF World Tag Team Championship.^[8][14] They wrestled in many six-man and eight-man tag team matches during their third reign.^[6] They would eventually lose the titles to Dino Bravo and Dominic DeNucci on March 14, 1978 edition of Championship Wrestling.^[15] Shortly after, they left WWWF again.

Touring the territories (1979–1981)

Fuji and Tanaka continued to tour the territories in 1979 where they won titles again. Later that same year, they stopped teaming and began wrestling individually. Fuji had success, winning several singles titles in many promotions including World Wrestling Council, NWA New Zealand and Maple Leaf Wrestling.^[1]

Return to the WWF (1981–1996)

Teaming with Mr. Saito (1981–1982)

Fuji returned to World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1981, which had been renamed World Wrestling Federation in March 1979. He formed a tag team with Mr. Saito, which was managed by Captain Lou Albano.^[16] They began a feud with tag champions Tony Garea and Rick Martel, whom they defeated on October 17, 1981 edition of Championship Wrestling to win their first Tag Team Championship, though it was Fuji's fourth individual reign.^[8][17] They began feuding with The Strongbows (Chief Jay and Jules) in the fall of 1981. This culminated in a title match on June 28, 1982 at Madison Square Garden (MSG) where Strongbows won the titles.^[18] On July 13 edition of Championship Wrestling, they defeated Strongbows in a two out of three falls match for Fuji's fifth and Saito's second WWF Tag Team Championship.^[8][19] The feud of these two teams ended after Fuji and Saito lost the titles to Strongbows on October 30 edition of Championship Wrestling.^[20] Shortly after, Saito left the WWF while Fuji continued to wrestle on his own.

Managerial career (1985–1996)

Fuji retired from wrestling in 1985 and became a heel manager. As a manager, Fuji would "blind" his opponents by throwing salt in their eyes. He would carry a little bag of salt in his tights. His first client was George Steele.^[1][3] However, Steele would go on to become a fan favorite and left Fuji. Fuji's next client was Don Muraco. They both formed a popular duo and appeared in a video package called "Fuji Vice", which was a mockery of Miami Vice. Fuji and Muraco then began a feud with Ricky Steamboat, resulting in Steamboat defeating Fuji in several matches during the feud. Fuji briefly managed Jim Neidhart, whose contract he later sold to Jimmy Hart.^[1] In 1987, he bought the contract of Demolition (Ax and Smash) from Johnny V. He then managed Demolition to the Tag Team Championship as well as bringing Killer Khan and Sika back to the WWF.^[1] At Survivor Series, he turned on Demolition and began managing Demolition's rival tag team, the Powers of Pain (Warlord and Barbarian).^[1]

At WrestleMania V, Fuji teamed with the Powers of Pain in a 3-on-2 handicap match against Demolition for their Tag Team Championship. Fuji and Powers were defeated after Ax pinned Fuji.^[21] Fuji sold the individual contracts of Powers of Pain to managers Slick and Bobby Heenan and brought The Orient Express (Pat Tanaka and Akio Sato) to the WWF. Orient Express got involved in a feud with The Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty).^[1] Orient Express got involved in Demolition's feud with Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal).^[1] Fuji reunited with Demolition (who by this time had a third member, Crush) at that point. Demolition was phased out while the Orient Express took on Legion of Doom in matches.^[1] Fuji briefly managed The Berzerker from 1991 to 1993.

Fuji's greatest success and popularity as a manager came later that same year in November 1992 when he introduced the mammoth Yokozuna to the WWF. Under Fuji's tutelage, Yokozuna won the 1993 Royal Rumble match and two WWF World Championships, first from Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX, and again from Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring.^[1] Later that year, Fuji was joined by "spokesman" James E. Cornette. In late 1993, Fuji once again began managing Crush after he turned on Randy Savage.

Yokozuna fired Cornette in March 1996 after becoming a fan favorite. Fuji was last seen accompanying Yokozuna as a fan favorite to the ring for a six-man tag team match involving Yokozuna against "Camp Cornette" at WrestleMania 12. Cornette continued to feud with Yokozuna and his teammates while Fuji left the WWF shortly after.

Although Fuji wore a traditional Japanese kimono while managing Yokozuna, he is best known for wearing a tuxedo and bowler hat, akin to the James Bond series character Oddjob.

Retirement

After leaving wrestling, Fujiwara retired to the city of Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1997, he sued the makers of the video game WCW vs. nWo World Tour, claiming that the character "Master Fuji" was based on him. Though the base of this character was actually Japanese wrestler Yoshiaki Fujiwara, it was actually close enough to Mr. Fuji that the lawsuit was settled in Fujiwara's favor.

Fujiwara operated a training dojo out of Jefferson City, Tennessee, and Dandridge, Tennessee until 2001.

Mr. Fuji was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, 2007,^[4] by his former charge and Fuji Vice co-star Don Muraco. Mr. Fuji was in a wheelchair at the time of the induction, due to nine knee operations. Since then, in a running gag, John Morrison and The Miz would often take time out of their WWE.com show, The Dirt Sheet, to cite Mr. Fuji as an old school favorite. On occasion, they would throw salt into an unsuspecting victim's face, and show old stock footage of Fuji laughing evilly. They would also claim to hang out with him at the "Palace of Wisdom".

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Cobra clutch^[1][2][3]
  • Kamikaze Clothesline (Running lariat)^[1][2]

• Signature moves
  • Diving leg drop
  • Shoulder claw

• Managers
  • Lou Albano^[3][16]
  • Fred Blassie^[3]
  • The Grand Wizard^[3]

• Wrestlers managed
  • George "The Animal" Steele^[1][3]
  • Magnificent Muraco^[1][3]
  • "Cowboy" Bob Orton^[3]
  • Moondogs^[1]
  • Killer Khan^[1][3]
  • Jim Neidhart^[1]
  • Sika^[1][3]
  • Kamala^[1][3]
  • Demolition (Ax and Smash)^[1][3]
  • Powers of Pain (The Barbarian and The Warlord) ^[1]
  • The Berzerker^[1][3]
  • The Orient Express (Pat Tanaka, Akio Sato, and Kato)^[1][3]
  • Crush^[1]
  • Yokozuna^[1][3]
  • Owen Hart^[1][3]
  • Davey Boy Smith^[1][3]

• Nicknames
  • "The Devious One"^[2][6]

Championships and accomplishments

• Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Toru Tanaka^[22]

• Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Toru Tanaka^[22]

• Maple Leaf Wrestling
  • NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version) (1 time)^[22]

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Genichiro Tenryu^[22]

• NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Curtis Iaukea (1) and Karl Von Steiger (1)^[1]

• NWA New Zealand
  • NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (New Zealand version) (1 time)^[1]

• NWA San Francisco
  • NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time)^[1]

• Pacific Northwest Wrestling
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[22]
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Haru Sasaki (3) and Tony Borne (1)^[22]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #445 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003^[23]

• Southeastern Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Toru Tanaka^[1]

• World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
  • IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tiger Jeet Singh^[1]

• World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)^[3]
  • WWWF/WWF World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Toru Tanaka (3) and Mr. Saito (2)^[24]

• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[1]
  • WWC North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Pierre Martel^[1]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Worst Manager of the Year (1984, 1985, 1987–1995)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as} "OWOW profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/mr-fuji.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} "Cagematch profile". http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=1070. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v} "WWE profile". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/mrfuji/. Retrieved 2011-03-29. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Batista, Dave; Roberts, Jeremy. Batista Unleashed. WWE Books. p. 21. ISBN 1-4165-4410-4. 
5. ^ "Hawaii Tag Team Title". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/hi-t.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka Profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/f/fujitanaka.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
7. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1972". Angelfire. June 27. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/72.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. ^{[dead link]}
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} "World Tag Team Championship official title history". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
9. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1972". Angelfire. August 22. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/72.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales defeated WWWF Tag Team Champion Mr. Fuji via count-out" ^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1973". Angelfire. May 30. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/73.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Tony Garea & Haystacks Calhoun defeated WWWF Tag Team Champions Prof. Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji to win the titles" ^{[dead link]}
11. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1973". Angelfire. September 11. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/73.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated WWWF Tag Team Champions Tony Garea & Haystacks Calhoun to win the titles when the referee stopped the match, ruling Calhoun unable to continue after Tanaka threw salt into the champion's eyes and choked him with his own horseshoe" ^{[dead link]}
12. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1973". Angelfire. November 14. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/73.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Tony Garea & Dean Ho defeated WWWF Tag Team Champions Prof. Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji to win the titles" ^{[dead link]}
13. ^ "N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
14. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1977". Angelfire. September 27. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20080430084521/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/77.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "WWWF Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Prof. Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji (w/ Freddie Blassie) defeated Larry Zbyzsko & Tony Garea to win the titles" 
15. ^ "WWWF Show Results 1978". Angelfire. March 14. Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20080216223631/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/78.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci defeated WWWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka to win the titles when DeNucci pinned Tanaka with an airplane spin that knocked down Fuji in the process" 
16. ^ ^{a b} "Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito Profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/f/fujisaito.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
17. ^ "WWF Show Results 1981". Angelfire. October 13. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/81.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito (w/ Captain Lou Albano) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Tony Garea at 9:48 to win the titles when Saito pinned Martel after Fuji threw salt into the champion's eyes as Martel attempted a crossbody off the top, allowing Saito to roll through on the move to get the win" ^{[dead link]}
18. ^ "WWF Show Results 1982". Angelfire. June 28. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito to win the titles at 9:48 when Jules pinned Fuji after Fuji missed a dive in the ring" ^{[dead link]}
19. ^ "WWF Show Results 1982". Angelfire. July 13. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow to win the titles in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match; fall #1 - Fuji pinned Jules at around the 30-second mark after throwing salt into both he and Chief Jay's face while Saito distracted the referee" ^{[dead link]}
20. ^ "WWF Show Results 1982". Angelfire. October 30. http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-05. "Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) to win the titles at 6:08 when Jay pinned Saito with a Thesz Press" ^{[dead link]}
21. ^ "WrestleMania V official results". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm5/results/. Retrieved 2008-08-28. 
22. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Cagematch title listings". http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=1070&view=erfolge#erfolge. 
23. ^ "PWI Years 500". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-26. 
24. ^ "World Tag Team Championship history". http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/. 

External links

Professional wrestling portal

• WWE Hall of Fame Profile of Mr. Fuji

Persondata
Name	Fujiwara, Harry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 4, 1935
Place of birth	Honolulu, Hawaii
Date of death
Place of death