# Joe Higuchi

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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name        = Joe Higuchi
|image       = 
|caption     = 
|birth_name  = {{nihongo|Kanji Higuchi|樋口 寛治|Higuchi Kanji}}
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1929|01|18}}<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7179|title=Joe Higuchi " Wrestlers Database " CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
|birth_place = [Yokohama](/source/Yokohama), [Kanagawa, Japan](/source/Kanagawa%2C_Japan)<ref name="auto"/>
|death_date  = {{death date and age|2010|11|8|1929|01|18}}<ref name="auto"/>
|death_place =
|resides     =
|children    =
|names       = Joe Higuchi
|height      = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref name="auto"/>
|weight      = {{convert|220|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|billed      = 
|trainer     = [Raúl Romero](/source/Ra%C3%BAl_Romero_(Mexican_wrestler)) and [Tojo Yamamoto](/source/Tojo_Yamamoto)
|debut       = 1954<ref name="auto"/>
|retired     = As wrestler: 1960<br>As referee: 1997<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDtaAAAAYAAJ&q=Joe+Higuchi|title=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|date=July 1, 2003|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|via=Google Books}}</ref>
}}

{{nihongo|'''Kanji Higuchi'''|樋口 寛治|Higuchi Kanji|January 19, 1929 – November 8, 2010}}, better known as {{nihongo|'''Joe Higuchi'''|ジョー樋口|Jō Higuchi}} was a Japanese [professional wrestler](/source/professional_wrestler), [road agent](/source/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms), on-air personality and [referee](/source/referee) best known for his tenures with the [Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance](/source/Japan_Pro_Wrestling_Alliance) (JWA) and [All Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/All_Japan_Pro-Wrestling). The first official Japanese referee in the [NWA](/source/National_Wrestling_Alliance), he was known as one of the best referees in the business<ref name="onlineworldofwrestling.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/joe-higuchi-japans-great-communicator/|title=Joe Higuchi, Japan's Great Communicator|date=October 16, 2007 |publisher=}}</ref> and the most popular referee in Japanese [Puroresu](/source/Puroresu) history.<ref name="showapuroresu.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.showapuroresu.com/league/nihon.htm|title=日本選手権予選|website=www.showapuroresu.com}}</ref>

He was inducted into the [Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum](/source/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum) as a member of the [Class of 2018](/source/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum).<ref name="wrestling-titles.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/hof/pwhof.html|title=The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>

==Early life==
Higuchi Kanji was born on January 19, 1929, in [Yokohama, Japan](/source/Yokohama%2C_Japan). He was a judo practitioner in his youth and became a judo instructor for the [GHQ](/source/Supreme_Commander_for_the_Allied_Powers) after [World War II](/source/World_War_II). Working as a trainer for the mostly-American soldiers, he was able to learn English and gained the nickname "Joe".<ref name="onlineworldofwrestling.com"/>

==JWA==
Higuchi had trained in professional wrestling with [Raúl Romero](/source/Ra%C3%BAl_Romero_(Mexican_wrestler)) and [Tojo Yamamoto](/source/Tojo_Yamamoto) and in 1954, he joined the All Japan Pro-Wrestling Association (which was run by [Toshio Yamaguchi](/source/Toshio_Yamaguchi) and Umeyuki Kiyomikawa) as a professional wrestler. In 1956, he competed in the Japanese Light Heavyweight division tournament where he finished as the third ranked Light Heavyweight in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresu.com/jwa/results/jwa195610japanchamp.html|title=JWA: 1956 Japanese Weight Division Championships|website=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref> He also joined the JWA, which of whom he competed with in the 1950s and retired as an in-ring competitor in 1960.<ref name="showapuroresu.com"/>

Having learned English during his time with the [GHQ](/source/Supreme_Commander_for_the_Allied_Powers), Higuchi returned to the JWA as the interpreter and point of contact for [gaijin](/source/gaijin) (foreign) wrestlers.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hFFPAwAAQBAJ&q=Joe+Higuchi&pg=PA118|title=The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling|first1=Joe "Animal"|last1=Laurinaitis|first2=Andrew William|last2=Wright|date=February 8, 2011|publisher=Medallion Media Group|isbn=9781605421537|via=Google Books}}</ref> He made his debut as a referee in 1965.

==All Japan Pro Wrestling==
An AJPW original from its inception in 1972, Higuchi gained fame as the senior referee of the promotion, a position he held from 1972 to 1990. He was also a prominent backstage official for the company and was the "go between" during talent exchanges between AJPW and [Dory Funk Sr.](/source/Dory_Funk_Sr.)'s promotion in America.<ref name="onlineworldofwrestling.com"/> He was the first official Japanese referee of the [NWA](/source/National_Wrestling_Alliance), refereeing bouts such the [NWA World Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship) match between [Jack Briscoe](/source/Jack_Briscoe) and [Dory Funk Jr.](/source/Dory_Funk_Jr.) in St. Louis, United States. In the early 80's AJPW bouts were booked more akin to the [American style](/source/History_of_professional_wrestling_in_the_United_States) and Higuchi became known for his bump-taking. He retired as a referee in 1997 and took up the position of caretaker for the gaijin talent. He left AJPW in 1999 following the passing of its founder, [Giant Baba](/source/Giant_Baba). His last officiated match was the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship bout between [Mitsuharu Misawa](/source/Mitsuharu_Misawa) and ["Dr. Death" Steve Williams](/source/%22Dr._Death%22_Steve_Williams) at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on March 1, 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=111&nr=3274|title=Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Steve Williams " Matchguide " CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>

On the independently produced DVD WCCW and the Von Erichs, Heroes of World Class, it was stated by WCCW booker [Gary Hart](/source/Gary_Hart) that Joe Higuchi was the All Japan official that contacted WCCW when the body of [David Von Erich](/source/David_Von_Erich) was found while on tour in Japan.

==Pro Wrestling Noah==
Following Giant Baba's passing in 1999, many of the AJPW talent departed the company to form [Pro Wrestling Noah](/source/Pro_Wrestling_NOAH). With his history in the business, Higuchi was brought into Noah by executive and former AJPW ring announcer Nakada Ryu as a member of the board of directors<ref name="auto1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yKlr1fZuWIEC&q=Joe+Higuchi&pg=PA176|title=King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story|first1=Harley|last1=Race|first2=Gerry|last2=Tritz|date=December 9, 2017|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|isbn=9781582618180|via=Google Books}}</ref> He became the [statutory auditor](/source/statutory_auditor) in the promotion and was also the on-air chairman of the [GHC Heavyweight Championship](/source/GHC_Heavyweight_Championship) committee in 2001.<ref name="auto"/>

On November 8, 2010, Higuchi, known as one of Japan's greatest referees,<ref name="411mania.com">{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-noah-joe-higuchi-memorial-show/|title=The Furious Flashbacks – NOAH Joe Higuchi Memorial Show – 411MANIA|website=411mania.com}}</ref> died at the age of 81.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noah.co.jp/news_detail.php?news_id=2476&td=20101108|title=訃報|website=プロレスリング・ノア公式サイト}}</ref>

==Legacy==
During his career, Higuchi refereed more than 20,000 matches over 32 years.<ref name="auto1"/> On December 5, 2010, Pro Wrestling Noah held the "Joe Higuchi Memorial Show" in Tokyo, Japan in Higuchi's honour.<ref name="411mania.com"/> He was posthumously given a [Lifetime Achievement Award](/source/Tokyo_Sports_Puroresu_Awards) at the 2010 [Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards](/source/Tokyo_Sports_Puroresu_Awards)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresu.com/awards/2010s.html|title=Puroresu Awards: 2010s|publisher=}}</ref> and was inducted into the [Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum](/source/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum) as a member of the [Class of 2018](/source/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum)<ref name="wrestling-titles.com"/> and the inaugural member of the new referee category.<ref>http://www.pwhf.org/ https://archive.today/20180127174654/http://www.pwhf.org/</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Higuchi, Joe}}
Category:1929 births
Category:2010 deaths
Category:Martial artists from Yokohama
Category:Professional wrestlers from Kanagawa Prefecture
Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers
Category:Japanese professional wrestling referees
Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joe Higuchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Higuchi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Higuchi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.