Sorakichi Matsuda Matsuda Sorakichi ( 1859 – August 16 , 1891 ) was a Japan ese professional wrestler of the 19th century . He became a feature attraction in America , competing in a distinctly western sport , long before it was adopted in Japanese . Sorakichi was born Koujiro Matsuda ( Kanji , Hiragana ) in Japan . He trained and competed in sumo , under the sumo name Torakichi . These names were later corrupted by American promoters and the sporting press into " Matsada Korgaree Sorakichi , " as he would be known in America for the rest of his life . To colleagues he was known as " Mat " or " The Jap . " Career . Matsuda came to the United States in 1883 and had his first match in New York City on January 14 , 1884 . He lost to the Englishman Edwin Bibby . In March , 1884 , Matsuda beat Bibby and then James Daley in New York . Over the next few months he went on the road and wrestled in Cleveland , Baltimore , Buffalo , Rochester , Philadelphia , Cincinnati , Chicago and Peoria . His opponents included Duncan Ross , Jack Gallagher , Benny Jones , Joe Acton , Carlos Martino and Ted George . Greco - Roman Champion William Muldoon was Matsuda ' s most famous opponent . Muldoon beat Matsuda in Chicago on July 18 , 1884 . Matsuda returned to New York City in August , 1884 , where he lived until June , 1885 . While in New York City he beat James Quigley and Jack Herd , drew with Karl Abs and William Muldoon , and lost twice to Abs . In June 1885 he wrestled in Cleveland and Scranton , Pennsylvania in December . During March , 1886 , Matsuda lost to the British World Heavyweight Champion Tom Cannon in Cleveland and drew with the German World Heavyweight Champion Ernest Roeber in New York City . The match against Roeber took place at the Germania Assembly Roon , in the Bowery . Matsuda was on the road the rest of 1886 , wrestling in Cleveland , Philadelphia , Ashland , Wisconsin and St . Louis . opponents included Duncan Ross , Joe Acton , Jack Carkeek , James Doner , James Faulkner and Bernarr MacFadden . During 1887 , he wrestled in Buffalo , Cleveland , Detroit , Rio de Janeiro and Baltimore . In 1888 he toured Pennsylvania ( Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , Erie and Scranton ) and also visited Lowell , Massachusetts . His opponents included Jesse Clark , Joe Acton , Jack Hart , Jim Connors , H . M . Dufar , Harvey Parker , William Muldoon , and John McMahon . In January and February , 1889 he wrestled August La Grange , William Muldoon and Ted George in Philadelphia . His last match was on May 13 , 1891 against Martin " Farmer " Burns in Troy , New York . Matsuda tried , unsuccessfully , to bring American wrestling to Japan . On August 16 , 1891 , he died broke in New York City at age 32 . In February , 1902 , eleven years after his death , Jack Carkeek told the British sporting paper Mirror of Life that he held " a high opinion of Sorakichi , the Jap , whom he considers to probably be the cleverest man in the world at his weight . The plucky little jap has suffered numerous defeats simply because he has tackled all the best men of the day , no matter what their size or weight might be , and the good little ones must ever go down to big ones " . Personal life . Matsuda ' s European American wife , complained that Matsuda and his friends squandered her inheritance and threatened her with violence when she complained . She also said that Matsuda kept his Japan ese girlfriend at their home .