Sanshiro Takagi
By early 2006, the Shiima Xion character had become more of a glam rock star than a male model, as Xion began wearing make-up to the ring, and had also changed his hair color from black to red/blonde. His bizarre hair style soon became his trademark, with Shiima becoming best known for hairspraying his hair during matches. The androgynous character eventually caught the attention of Japanese wrestling promoter Sanshiro Takagi, who invited 19-year-old Shiima to tour Japan with his company, Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) in the summer of 2006. Shiima Xion was featured in the Introducing... article in "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's" "The Wrestler" (volume 19, 2007). The magazine was released on newsstands nationwide on December 4, 2007, with a two-page article spread on Shiima.