Kojika Shinya

Kojika Shinya - 小鹿 信也 (born April 28, 1942) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hakodate, Hokkaido. He made his debut in September 1959 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. His highest rank was sandanme 76 and he retired in July 1962.

## **Early Life**

Shinya Kojika was born on April 28, 1942, in Hakodate, Hokkaido. His father lost his eyesight when he was still a child and he supported the family by peddling since his third year of elementary school. After graduating from junior high school, he got a job at a canning factory in Yubetsu, Hokkaido. When he was 17, he left for Hakodate Station with the desire of making a name for himself, leaving his family behind during the process. While waiting for a ferry at Hakodate Station, he was approached by a member of Kokonoe Oyakata's (the 41st yokozuna Chiyonoyama) support group due to his strong build. During the fairy ride, he was treated well by the supporters and Kojika decided to join professional sumo. Upon arriving at Tokyo's Ueno Station he joined Dewanoumi stable.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in September 1959 and wrestled under his surname "Kojika" (小鹿). He finished with a 4-4 record in his first tournament and was promoted to jonidan for the following January 1960 tournament. He reached the sandanme division in November 1961, with his highest rank being sandanme 76. He retired in July 1962 after three uneventful years in professional sumo.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

After retiring from sumo, Kojika decided to become a professional wrestler and was trained by Rikidozan. Kojika made his debut on October 13, 1963 for Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) against Kakutaro Koma. In 1967, he left Japan to wrestle in North America.

While in the United States, he wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) promotion where he won the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship once, the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship once, and the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship twice. After a few years in the United States, Kojika returned to Japan and stayed with Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance until the company folded on April 14, 1973. After the folding of JWA, Kojika went to Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) where he reunited with Motoshi Okuma. From 1976 to 1981, he and Okuma won the All Asia Tag Team Championship three times. They were together until 1986 when Kojika retired from wrestling.

In 1973, Kojika returned to the United States to wrestle in Texas as Kung Fu Lee. He would feud with Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Ricky Romero and Akio Sato. He left Texas in 1974. In 1980, he went to Hawaii to work for NWA Polynesian.

Kojika returned to wrestling in 1995, co-founding Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) with Kazuo Sakurada where it was a style based on deathmatches and King's Road style. He started wrestling again in 1996. He retired for the second time in 2002. He continued co-promoting Big Japan. In 2006, Kojika return to wrestling for the second time. He still wrestles for Big Japan and numerous Japanese promotions at 80 years old. Kojika returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2019 after having last worked for them in 1986. He is also the oldest active wrestler in the world.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 57-59-7/116 (18 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 6-8/14 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 47-47-7/94 (14 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)

## **Gallery**

Kojika during his early career (c. 1959)Kojika (right) with a stablemate (c. 1962)
## **Sources**

* Kojika Shinya Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kojika Shinya Rikishi Information