Black Menso～re

Menso～re in February 2023

###

Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

**Yohei Nakajima** (中島洋平, *Nakajima Yōhei*, born August 22, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling under the ring name **Black Menso～re** (ブラックメンソ〜レ, *Black Menso～re*), where he is a former four-times Gaora TV Champion. He is best known as the masked character **Menso～re Oyaji** (めんそ～れ親父, *Menso～re Oyaji*), under which he performed for several Japanese independent promotions, most notably Okinawa Pro Wrestling, a promotion spin off of Osaka Pro Wrestling.

## Professional wrestling career

Before he made his professional wrestling debut he started his first atempt in Toryumon Japan Dojo but he failed. After he made second attempt in Dragon Gate but he failed he started to quiting of professional wrestling until he made his third attempt in El Dorado Dojo where he was accepted he became the third graduate but he and another graduate Golden Pine left to Okinawa Pro Wrestling where he made his professional wrestling debut on April 29, 2007 for Okinawa Pro Wrestling. He portrays a unique character, wearing a kariyushi shirt to the ring, wearing a mask that has a cartoonish bowl of ramen noodles on top of it, and drinking a brand of beer (Orion) which is brewed in Okinawa. Oyaji's character has been described as comedic as well as "mellow" and "drunk," in some cases forgetting to put down his can of beer before wrestling a match. Essentially, Oyaji's character is a compilation of several stereotypes of Okinawan people held by those from elsewhere in Japan.

In addition to wrestling on Okinawa Pro Wrestling cards, Oyaji will occasionally sing for audiences who have gathered to watch the company's wrestling shows. Oyaji has received multiple title shots thus far in his wrestling career. He has challenged for the Okinawa Pro Wrestling Singles Championship on two separate occasion, though he has not succeeded in winning the title. Additionally, Oyaji has unsuccessfully challenged for the MWF World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Oyaji is typically featured when Okinawa Pro wrestlers compete in larger companies, inluding three matches on New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual "Exciting Battle in Okinawa" shows between 2009 and 2011. Oyaji revealed his true identity by unmasking at an All Japan Pro Wrestling event on July 27, 2014, and announcing he would be working under his real name in the future.

On September 12, 2014, All Japan announced that Nakajima had signed a contract to become officially affiliated with the promotion. On August 16, 2015, Nakajima defeated Billyken Kid to win the vacant Gaora TV Championship. On May 28, 2016, Nakajima took part in Toryumon Mexico's *Dragonmanía XI* event in Mexico City, where he was defeated by Jun Akiyama. After three successful title defenses, Nakajima lost the Gaora TV Championship to Kazuhiro Tamura on June 9, 2016. Nakajima regained the title six days later, before losing it to Takeshi Minamino on July 14. On August 11, Nakajima defeated Minamino in a rematch to win the Gaora TV Championship for the third time. After a nine-day reign, Nakajima lost the title to Billyken Kid. On September 19, Nakajima again regained the title from Billyken Kid. On November 27, Nakajima lost the title to Jiro Kuroshio.

In July 2018, it was announced that Nakajima would team with Black Tiger VII for the upcoming Jr. Tag Battle of Glory. On July 31, it was announced that Nakajima would be pulled out of the tournament due to a personal boycott of the league, as well as citing differences with Black Tiger VII. Afterwards, Nakajima was repackaged as "Black Menso~re". He would finish the tournament with a record of two wins and four losses, finishing last in the tournament.

On January 15, 2024, it was announced that Black Menso~re would be leaving the promotion at the end of the month, following the expiration of his contract.

## Personal life

On July 7, 2021, Nakajima tested positive for COVID-19 amid its pandemic in Japan.

## In wrestling

* **Signature moves**
	+ *Ari Kanpai*
	+ *Oyaji Drink Bar*

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Carbell Ito and Takao Omori (1) and ATM and Takao Omori (1)
	+ Gaora TV Championship (5 times)
* **Kohaku Wrestling Wars**
	+ UWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ikuto Hidaka
* **Okinawa Pro Wrestling**
	+ MWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kaijin Habu Otoko
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**370** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016

## References

1. ↑ Move On Arena . *Osaka Holiday Paradise*. Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gottlieb, Matthew 2008-10-28. Is It Nationalism? History's Effect on Okinawan Identity . Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
3. ↑ Gottlieb, Matthew 2010-09-07. Orion: The National Beer of Okinawa . *The Beer Connoisseur Online*. Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
4. ↑ Byers, Ryan 2009-09-22. Into the Indies 09.22.09: Okinawa Pro Wrestling! . *411mania*. Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
5. ↑ Byers, Ryan 2010-01-05. Into the Indies 01.05.10: Okinawa Pro Redux . *411mania*. Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
6. ↑ Byers, Ryan 2010-05-01. Into the Indies 05.10.11: Okinawa Pro Three-dux! . *411mania*. Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
7. ↑ MWF World Jr Heavyweight Title . *Osaka Holiday Paradise*. Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
8. ↑ Menso-re Oyaji: Profile and Match Listing . *Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2011-12-28.
9. ↑ 【全日本プロレス】諏訪魔vsドーリングの三冠戦、青木vs光留の世界Jr戦  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-07-28). Retrieved on 2014-07-27.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 【8.16】 2015サマーエクスプロージョン　神戸大会  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-08-17). Retrieved on 2015-08-17.
11. ↑ Dark Angelita 2016-05-30. Toryumon México: Resultados “Dragonmanía XI” – 28/05/2016 – El equipo de Último Dragón se impone al de Tiger Ali en trepidante encuentro  (in Spanish). *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2016-05-30.
12. ↑ 6月9日(木)【チャリティープロレス伊勢崎69（ロック）】群馬・伊勢崎市第二市民体育館［観衆］450人(満員)  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-06-09). Retrieved on 2016-06-09.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 6月15日(水)【2016 ダイナマイトシリーズ[開幕戦】 東京・後楽園ホール ［観衆］1227人 ] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-06-15). Retrieved on 2016-06-15.
14. ↑ 7.14東京・後楽園ホール大会[観衆 1163人 ] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-07-15). Retrieved on 2016-07-15.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 8.11長野・上田創造館 [観衆299人(満員) ] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-08-11). Retrieved on 2016-08-12.
16. ↑ 8.20兵庫・神戸サンボーホール大会［観衆］551人（満員）  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-08-20). Retrieved on 2016-08-21.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 9.19後楽園ホール大会[観衆1183人 ] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-09-19). Retrieved on 2016-09-19.
18. ↑ 11.27東京・両国国技館大会試合結果②  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-11-27). Retrieved on 2016-11-27.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Purocentral`
20. ↑ Wrestling Title Histories . Retrieved on 2011-08-16.
21. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2016-09-01.