Toshizo

Toshizo in May 2023

###

Sayama, Saitama, Japan

**Takayuki Yagi** (八木 隆幸, *Yagi Takayuki*) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name **Ryuji Hijikata** (土方 隆司, *Hijikata Ryūji*). He is currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), whom he is best known, as part of the Voodoo Murders stable under the name **Toshizo** (歳三, *Toshizō*).

He is a former one-time World Junior Heavyweight Champion, a former one-time All Asia Tag Team Champion (alonside Minoru) and former one-time Gaora TV Champion, while also being the winner of the 2008 and 2009 Junior Tag League (along with two different partners).

## Professional wrestling career

### BattlARTS and All Japan Pro Wrestling (2002-2010)

Hijikata started his career with the BattlARTS after a stern test after rising through the ranks he left the promotion in 2001 and joined All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002. After several years of mixed success, Hijikata managed to win the 2008 Junior Tag League alongside Katsuhiko Nakajima on March 23. A little over a month later, Hijikata continued his success by defeating Silver King for the World Junior Heavyweight Champion on April 29. He held the championship for nearly five whole months before losing it to Naomichi Marufuji on September 28. Following his title reign, Hijikata took part in the All Asia Tag Team Championship tournament in January 2009, where he teamed up with former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Suwama, but they were unsuccessful in winning the tournament and the title. Following this, Hijikata resumed using his Toshizo ring name and gimmick and, alongside Minoru, joined Voodoo Murders. Soon after joining VDM, Toshizo managed to his second consecutive Junior Tag League alongside Minoru, giving both an opportunity to compete for the World Junior Heavyweight Title, although they were unsuccessful in defeating Kaz Hayashi for the title. Following this, Hijikata left AJPW in August 2010. He eventually returned in 2013, working as a freelancer.

### Return to AJPW (2022-Present)

On May 25, 2022, Hijikata made his AJPW return under his old gimmick Toshizo as part of the Voodoo Murders would made his AJPW return alongside TARU, Voodoo Mask, Kono, and Minoru after they helped Suwama in his match with Jake Lee and Suwama would reunite with them after he turned on Dan Tamura and Hikaru Sato to leave Evolution. On June 19, Toshizo defeated Izanagi in a four-way ladder match also involving Black Menso～re and Yusuke Kodama to win Gaora TV Championship. On January 22, 2023, Toshizo lost the title to Minoru Tanaka.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Fisherman buster
	+ Running jumping high kick
* **Signature moves**
	+ Corner high kick
	+ Cross armbar
	+ Savate kick
	+ Underhook suplex

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Minoru
	+ Gaora TV Championship (1 time)
	+ World Junior Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
	+ Junior Tag League (2008) – with Katsuhiko Nakajima
	+ Junior Tag League (2009) – with Minoru
* **Tenryu Project**
	+ Tenryu Project International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Puro`
2. ↑ AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship history .
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/profiles/ryujihijikata.php
4. ↑ International Junior Heavyweight Championship history .