Seiji Sakaguchi

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Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

**Seiji Sakaguchi** (坂口征二, *Sakaguchi Seiji*, born February 17, 1942) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and judoka, Sakaguchi holds a 7th dan red and white belt in Judo. Sakaguchi was a mainstay of New Japan Pro Wrestling and also competed for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance. His sons are professional wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Yukio Sakaguchi and television actor Kenji Sakaguchi. Sakaguchi currently works for New Japan as an advisor.

Before becoming a professional wrestler, he was a judoka with a fifth degree black belt and won the 1965 All Japan Judo Championship. Coach Koji Sone was accused by Anton Geesink's teammates in the 1965 World Judo Championships of having Sakaguchi throw the match against the more rested Matsunaga in order to allow Matsunaga take on the weary Geesink in the final round.

He debuted in August 1967 for the Japan Wrestling Association. When JWA closed down in 1973, he joined New Japan Pro Wrestling. He retired from the ring in March 1990. He was the president of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1992 to 1993.

At age 61, Seiji Sakaguchi came out of retirement to team up with Masahiro Chono against Yoshihiro Takayama and Shinya Makabe on September 14, 2003.

Sakaguchi also appeared in the 1982 American film *Forced Vengeance*. His role was a minor one, though he did appear in the film's climactic fight scene, battling star Chuck Norris.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Atomic drop
	+ Boston crab
	+ *Cobra Twist* (Abdominal stretch)

* **Signature moves**
	+ Backbreaker rack
	+ Chokebomb
	+ Knee drop

* **Nicknames**
	+ Sekai no Arawashi

* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Moeyo Arawashi"

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Cauliflower Alley Club**
	+ Other honoree (1996)

* **European Wrestling Union**
	+ EWU World Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

* **Japan Wrestling Association**
	+ All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Michiaki Yoshimura
	+ NWA International Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Giant Baba (1) and Kintaro Ohki (1)
	+ NWA United National Championship (1 time)

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Strong Kobayashi
	+ NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (3 times) - with Antonio Inoki (1) and Strong Kobayashi (2)
	+ NWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
	+ WWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
	+ World League (1976-1977)
	+ Greatest Wrestlers (Class of 2007)

* **NWA Hollywood Wrestling**
	+ NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (2 times)  - with Antonio Inoki (1) and Riki Choshu (1)
	+ NWA United National Championship (1 time)
	+ World Tag League (1971) - with Antonio Inoki
	+ World Tag League (1972) - with Akihisa Takachiho

* **NWA Polynesian Wrestling**
	+ NWA Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Lars Anderson

* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him # **146** of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003

* **Tokyo Sports**
	+ Best Tag Team Award (1975) with Antonio Inoki
	+ Best Tag Team Award (1976) with Strong Kobayashi
	+ Fighting Spirit Award (1977)
	+ Lifetime Achievement Award (1990, 2012)
	+ Outstanding Performance Award (1976)
	+ Special Award (2003)

## References

1. ↑ *ja:旗揚げ記念日* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-03-07.
2. ↑  (Feb 1966) *Black Belt Vol. 4, No. 2*. Active Interest Media, Inc., 14.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Profile at Puroresu Central . Puroresu Central. Retrieved on 2014-07-03.
4. ↑ 3月15日より選手テーマ曲がスマートフォン向けとしてiTunes、amazon、レコチョク、ドワンゴ、music.jp、 moraにて配信開始！  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-03-14). Retrieved on 2014-03-14.
5. ↑ Asia Tag Team Title . Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved on 2016-06-01.
6. ↑ NJPW Greatest Wrestlers . *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-08-23.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 *ja:東京スポーツ　プロレス大賞* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports*. Retrieved on 2014-01-20.
8. ↑ *ja:東京スポーツ　プロレス大賞* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports*. Retrieved on 2014-01-20.
9. ↑ *ja:「２０１２年度プロレス大賞」受賞者* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2012-12-11). Retrieved on 2012-12-10.
10. ↑ *ja:東京スポーツ　プロレス大賞* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports*. Retrieved on 2014-01-20.