ISHIN

Ishin in April 2023

###

Musashino, Tokyo, Japan

**Ishin Iihashi** (飯橋 偉進, *Iihashi Ishin*), currently known as **ISHIN** (stylized in all capital letters), (born October 27, 1997) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Dragon Gate (DG).

Ishin (along with his brother) is the first thoroughbred professional wrestler in Japan, being the sons of former sumo wrestler turned professional wrestler Koji Ishinriki, and former Joshi wrestler Utako Hozumi. In November 2022, Ishin turned heel joining Z-Brats. Afterwards, he renamed himself to "ISHIN" and subsequently won the Open The Triangle Gate Championship and later the Open The Brave Gate Championship on two different occasions.

## Professional Wrestling Career

### Dragon Gate (2021–Present)

Ishin trained for their professional wrestling career in the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate's wrestling school called "Dragon Gate Nex", being part of the Dragon Gate Future class, wrestling several exhibition bouts before he and his officially debuting against Dragon Gate veterans Don Fujii and Yasushi Kanda on September 20, 2021 at Dangerous Gate in a losing effort. Due to his parents being professional wrestlers, Ishin reference his parents, tributing her mother with her Juliana's-style accessories, a hot pink feather boa and matching fan ring gear.

As is customary for most professional wrestlers, Riki and Ishin spent most of his matches losing to other, more experienced wrestlers, which would help put over other wrestlers while at the same time give Riki and Ishin some in-ring, televised, experience. On February 20, 2022, Ishin along with fellow Dragon Gate Future rookie Takuma Fujiwara took part in the tournament to crown the new Open The Triangle Gate Champions, being defeated in the first round by finalists, Z-Brats (H.Y.O, BxB Hulk and Shun Skywalker). Following their match, General Manager Ryo Saito announced that the rookies of class of 2021 would be facing each other at Memorial Gate in Wakayama in a five-way match, with the winner receiving a title match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship against Dragon Dia on March 5 at Champion Gate in Osaka. At the event on February 23, Ishin eliminated fellow rookie Takumi Hayakawa, before being both eliminated by the eventual winner Takuma Fujiwara. In May, Ishin took part in the 2022 King of Gate, being eliminated in the first round after drawing with Takuma Fujiwara.

On August 11, Ishin faced Mochizuki Junior in a losing effort. Afterwards, both were caught up in a father and son rivalry between Iihashi and his father Ishinriki and Junior and his father Masaaki Mochizuki, following a confrontation between the latters. On September 8, Ishinriki and his son Ishin faced Mochizuki and his son Junior in a winning effort, with Ishin pinning Mochizuki. Afterwards, Ishin challenged him to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship alongside his father. This led to Mochizuki questioning, who would team with them, as Ishin's brother Riki and their mother Utako Hozumi were retired. Hozumi, who was present at ringside, came into the ring and announced Fujiko, who was Don Fujii in drag, to be her sister and would compete along with her family, setting up the title match at Dangerous Gate. At the event on September 19, Ishin, Ishinriki and Don Fujii unsucessfully challenged Masaaki Mochizuki, Mochizuki Junior and Susumu Mochizuki successfully defended the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Ishin, Ishinriki and Don Fujii. Following the reconciliation of both families, Ishin was taken under M3K's wing, even using their custom attire, but despite Ishin and Junior forced to team together, Ishin refused to be associated with M3K, before eventually joining the stable on November 6 at Gate of Destiny. At the event, Masaaki Mochizuki, Mochizuki Junior and Susumu Mochizuki lost the Open The Triangle Gate Championship to KAI, Shun Skywalker and Masked Z. After the match, the mysterious Masked Z was revealed to be Ishin, who turned on the stable join Z-Brats, subsquently renaiming himself to "ISHIN" (stylized in all capital letters).

On January 22, 2023, ISHIN, KAI and Skywalker lost the Open The Triangle Gate Championship to Ben-K, BxB Hulk, and Kota Minoura. In February, ISHIN and H.Y.O took part in the 2023 Rey de Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On June 4, after winning the 2023 Royal Sanbo, ISHIN called out Jason Lee and challenged him to a title match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship. However, ISHIN surpassed the weight limit of 82kg, due to weighing in at 88kg and if he could not make the weight then the match would turn to a non-title match. On July 1, ISHIN cleared the weight limit for the match, setting up the title match for the event. The following day, at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, ISHIN defeated Lee to become new champion. He lost the title to Kzy on October 9 at Gate of Origin, with ISHIN blaiming the loss on Kzy having Ryu Fuda at ringside, leading to a rematch on October 14, where ISHIN regained the title. He lost the title to H.Y.O on December 5. On December 24 at Final Gate, ISHIN, KAI and Z-Brats' newest member Yoshiki Kato defeated YAMATO, Dragon Kid and Punch Tominaga to win the Open Triangle Gate Championship.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Death Penalty/Alcatraz Choke* (Crossface chickenwing/rear naked choke, with bodyscissors combination)
	+ *Komata Chokeslam* (Crotch-lift Saito suplex transitioned into a standing chokeslam)
	+ *Rinku* (Over the shoulder swinging sitout side slam)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Abdominal stretch
	+ *Alcatraz* (Seated camel clutch/crossface chickenwing combination, sometimes while applying a dragon sleeper) - adopted from his father
	+ Camel clutch
	+ *Credential* (Gannosuke clutch)
	+ *Dosukoi Suplex* (High-angle Saito suplex) - adopted from his father
	+ Half nelson dropped into a sitout wheelbarrow facebuster
	+ Octopus hold
	+ Springboard dropkick
* **Nicknames**
	+ "Julianna Fighter"
	+ **"Masked Z"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Future Dreams" by Yatsuka Nakagawa
	+ "Brothers" by Yatsuka Nakagawa feat. Utako Hozumi, Ishinriki, and Jon Underdown
	+ **"Letting Zoom"** by YO-HEI (used as part of Z-Brats)

## Championships and Accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Brave Gate Championship (2 times)
	+ Open The Triangle Gate Championship (2 times, current) – with KAI and Shun Skywalker (1) and KAI and Yoshiki Kato (1, current)