{"id":60779,"date":"2020-01-12T15:56:40","date_gmt":"2020-01-12T20:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/?p=60779"},"modified":"2020-01-12T15:56:40","modified_gmt":"2020-01-12T20:56:40","slug":"japanese-legend-kazuo-sakurada-passes-away-at-age-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2020\/01\/12\/japanese-legend-kazuo-sakurada-passes-away-at-age-71\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Legend Kazuo Sakurada Passes Away at Age 71"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A 30-year veteran of the ring as a performer and trainer, Japan&#8217;s <strong>Kazuo Sakurada<\/strong>, best known as either <strong>Mr. Sakurada<\/strong> or the Japanese version of <strong>Kendo Nagasaki<\/strong>, has passed away at the age of 71. He died from a heart attack after his pacemaker failed.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"ja\" dir=\"ltr\">Rest in Peace Kendo Nagasaki<br \/>Kazuo Sakurada (September 26, 1948 &#8211; January 11, 2020)<br \/>\u30b1\u30f3\u30c9\u30fc\u30fb\u30ca\u30ac\u30b5\u30ad\u3053\u3068\u685c\u7530\u4e00\u7537\u9078\u624b\u306e\u3054\u51a5\u798f\u3092\u304a\u7948\u308a\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ChanChung?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#ChanChung<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/KendoNagasaki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#KendoNagasaki<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DragonMaster?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#DragonMaster<\/a> \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NWA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NWA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Amarillo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Amarillo<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Stampede?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Stampede<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CWF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CWF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WorldClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WorldClass<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WWC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WCW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WCW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/JWA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#JWA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AJPW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AJPW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NJPW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NJPW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FMW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#FMW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#SWS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NOW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NOW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BJW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BJW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/evWIbzzGUX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/evWIbzzGUX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Masa HORIE \ud83c\udf0f\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0d (@MasanoriHorie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MasanoriHorie\/status\/1216370292848594944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Originally seeking to become a sumo wrestler, he was convinced to enter pro wrestling instead in 1971, joining <strong>Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA)<\/strong> until the promotion folded in 1973. He then went to <strong>All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)<\/strong> before heading to North America in 1977.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HSVp67cwuI4<\/p>\n<p>In North America, he worked multiple NWA territories, including <strong>Mid South, NWA Central States<\/strong>, Texas&#8217; <strong>Big Time Wrestling<\/strong> (which later became World Class Championship Wrestling), <strong>Championship Wrestling From Florida<\/strong>, and much more.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kendo Nagasaki v Sgt  Slaughter\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mdF57b2v1aU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>He also worked heavily in Calgary&#8217;s <strong>Stampede Wrestling<\/strong>, where he not only wrestled but worked as one of <strong>Stu Hart<\/strong>&#8216;s trainers in the Dungeon. Alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/2017\/11\/05\/hart-dungeon-trainer-tokyo-joe-passes-away-75\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Tokyo Joe<\/strong><\/a>, the two were the principal trainers for future WWE World Champion <strong>Bret &#8220;Hitman&#8221; Hart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>He also headed to <strong>Continental Wrestling Association (CWA)<\/strong> to work in Memphis, and it was during this time that he began to use the Kendo Nagasaki gimmick, which had been made famous earlier in the UK wrestling scene with <strong>Peter Thornley<\/strong> in <em><strong>World of Sport<\/strong><\/em>. In 1985, he returned to Japan, working with <strong>New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qoovSz3pYB0<\/p>\n<p>He briefly returned to North America to work for WCW (as The Dragon Master), but headed back to Japan, working for <strong>Big Japan Wrestling (BJW), WAR<\/strong>, and <strong>DDT Pro<\/strong>, before retiring from the ring in 2001.<\/p>\n<p>Last Word on Pro Wrestling sends its condolences to the family, friends, and peers of Kazuo Sakurada.<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned to the<a href=\"http:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The CAC would like to pass along our condolences to the friends and family of Kazuo Sakurada, better known to the wrestling world as Kendo Nagasaki. Kazuo passed away last night at the age of 71. A legendary figure, especially around Florida, he will be deeply missed by all <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xIR4MqCxoW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xIR4MqCxoW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cauliflower Alley Club (@CACReunion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CACReunion\/status\/1216388254695473158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A 30-year veteran of the ring as a performer and trainer, Japan&#8217;s Kazuo Sakurada, best known as either Mr. Sakurada or the Japanese version of Kendo Nagasaki, has passed away at the age of 71. He died from a heart attack after his pacemaker failed. Rest in Peace Kendo NagasakiKazuo Sakurada (September 26, 1948 &#8211; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":649,"featured_media":60784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23,2,547,13],"tags":[5996,5997],"class_list":["post-60779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ajpw","category-featured","category-in-memorium","category-international","tag-kazuo-sakurada","tag-kendo-nagasaki"],"modified_by":"Jamie Greer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/649"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}