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Harry Masayoshi Fujiwara (May 4, 1934 – August 28, 2016) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known professionally by his ring name [[Mr. Fuji (Character) | Mr. Fuji]] (or Master Fuji to his protégés). He was famous for often throwing salt in the eyes of fan favorite wrestlers. Notable wrestlers and tag teams managed by him include Don Muraco, Yokozuna and Demolition. | |||
Harry Masayoshi Fujiwara (May 4, 1934 – August 28, 2016) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known professionally by his ring name Mr. Fuji (or Master Fuji to his protégés). He was famous for often throwing salt in the eyes of fan favorite wrestlers. Notable wrestlers and tag teams managed by him include Don Muraco, Yokozuna and Demolition. | |||
Fujiwara was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was of Japanese and Native Hawaiian ancestry. | Fujiwara was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was of Japanese and Native Hawaiian ancestry. | ||
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Fujiwara died of natural causes, aged 82, on August 28, 2016, in Clarksville, Tennessee. He was survived by his seven children — Tyran Wong, Teri Deettula, Tami Nelson, Kimberly Brewster, Toni Will, Kelli Fujiwara Sloan and Kevin Fujiwara — as well as 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. | Fujiwara died of natural causes, aged 82, on August 28, 2016, in Clarksville, Tennessee. He was survived by his seven children — Tyran Wong, Teri Deettula, Tami Nelson, Kimberly Brewster, Toni Will, Kelli Fujiwara Sloan and Kevin Fujiwara — as well as 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. | ||
==Early career (1964–1971)== | ===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, 1966. 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. | 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, 1966. 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. | ||
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===Teaming with Mr. Saito (1981–1982)=== | ===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 [[ | 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. 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. 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 the Strongbows won the championship. On July 13 edition of Championship Wrestling, they defeated the Strongbows in a two out of three falls match for Fuji's fifth and Saito's second WWF Tag Team Championship. The feud of these two teams ended after Fuji and Saito lost the titles to the Strongbows on October 30 edition of Championship Wrestling. Fuji teamed briefly with jobber Tiger Chung Lee, but they had little success in the ring. In a brief angle, Fuji turned on Chung Lee and beat him clean in a poorly publicized grudge match. Afterward, Fuji continued to wrestle on his own and Chung Lee remained as a preliminary jobber. | ||
===Managerial career (1985–1996)=== | ===Managerial career (1985–1996)=== | ||
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Fuji's greatest success and popularity as a manager came later that same year in November 1992 when he introduced the mammoth [[Yokozuna (WWF)]] to the WWF. Under Fuji's tutelage, Yokozuna won the 1993 Royal Rumble match and two WWF Championships, first from Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX, and again from Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring. 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. | Fuji's greatest success and popularity as a manager came later that same year in November 1992 when he introduced the mammoth [[Yokozuna (WWF)]] to the WWF. Under Fuji's tutelage, Yokozuna won the 1993 Royal Rumble match and two WWF Championships, first from Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX, and again from Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring. 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. | ||
==Trivia== | ===Trivia=== | ||
* 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–incorporating paint around his eyes during his duration as manager of Demolition. | * 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–incorporating paint around his eyes during his duration as manager of Demolition. | ||