Kintaro Kanemura

In the unforgiving realm of Japanese professional wrestling, few careers have been as storied or unpredictable as that of Kintaro Kanemura. Born Yukihiro Kanemura on August 9, 1970, in Mie Prefecture, Japan, Kanemura's path to becoming the "King of Independent" was marked by a series of twists and turns that would test his mettle, both in and out of the ring.

Kanemura's foray into professional wrestling began on July 13, 1991, at the tender age of 21. Initially competing under the moniker "WING Kanemura," he quickly gained a reputation as a high-flying, hard-hitting all-rounder capable of delivering bone-jarring moves to his opponents. This early success, however, was tempered by Kanemura's struggles with personal demons and a tumultuous relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), the behemoth promotion that would dominate his early career.

It was during this period of creative stagnation that Kanemura turned to the burgeoning independent circuit, where he found a new lease on life. Under the tutelage of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Kanemura honed his craft, developing a unique blend of high-flying moves and brutal, hard-hitting tactics that would become the hallmark of his in-ring style.

As the years passed, Kanemura's reputation grew, earning him a spot among the top tier of Japanese professional wrestlers. His crowning achievements include winning the prestigious WEW Tag Team Championship, All Asia Tag Team Championship, BJW Death Match Heavyweight Championship, KO-DO Openweight Championship, and WEW Heavyweight Championship.

Kanemura's storied career came to a close on December 27, 2016, when he officially announced his retirement. Though his path was marked by ups and downs, Kanemura leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of Japan's most beloved and respected professional wrestlers – a true "King of Independent." His signature moves, including the Blast Yama Special and Diving Senton, will forever be etched in the collective memory of fans who witnessed his remarkable journey.