{{short description|Japanese professional wrestler}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name=Shigeru Akabane |image=Shigeri Akabane.jpg |image_size=200px |names=Shigeri Akabane<br>Little Tokyo<br>Tokyo |height= 4 ft.<ref name=DeathSlam/> |weight= 98 lbs.<ref name=Poster/> |birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|7|5}} |death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|9|6|1941|7|5}}<ref name=DeathSlam/> |birth_place = Tokyo, Japan<ref name=DeathSlam/> |death_place = St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.<ref name=DeathSlam/> |resides= |billed= |trainer=Lord Littlebrook |debut=Early 1970s<ref name=Poster>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/huron_sd_7dec1972.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802133157/https://slamwrestling.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/huron_sd_7dec1972.jpg |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |title=1972 wrestling event poster featuring Little Tokyo |work=Slam Wrestling |access-date=August 23, 2024}}</ref> |retired=1998 }} {{nihongo|'''Shigeru Akabane'''|赤羽 茂|Akabane Shigeru|July 5, 1941 &ndash; September 6, 2011}}, best known under his ring name '''Little Tokyo''', was a Japanese professional midget wrestler who competed in North American promotions from the 1970s into the 1990s including appearances for American Wrestling Association (AWA), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation, (WWF) most notably appearing at WrestleMania III in a mixed tag team match with Lord Littlebrook and King Kong Bundy against Hillbilly Jim, the Haiti Kid and Little Beaver in 1987. He held the NWA World Midget's Championship on three occasions

==Professional wrestling career== Akabane began his professional wrestling career in the early 1970s in his native Japan working under his real name. At some point during his first year in the business a troupe of professional midget wrestlers toured Japan with Lord Littlebrook striking up a friendship with Akabane.<ref name=DeathSlam/> The friendship led to Akabane travelling to the United States where he became part of a touring troupe of midget wrestlers, known as "Little Tokyo" playing off his Japanese heritage and martial arts background. In August 1974 Akabane, as Little Tokyo, was recognized as the NWA World Midget's Champion.<ref name=BookMid/><ref name=WebMid/> Records are not clear on when Little Tokyo lost the championship but he was once again billed as the World champion in 1981.<ref name=BookMid/><ref name=WebMid/> On December 25, 1981, Little Tokyo lost the championship to Tiny Tom as part of Big Time Wrestling's Christmas Star Wars show.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/starwars.html#xmas81 | title=Christmas Star Wars | date=December 25, 1981 | publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Historical Cards: Wrestling Star Wars (December 25, 1981. Dallas, Texas) |work=PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts |publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2007 Edition|page=172}}</ref> One year later Little Tokyo appeared at WCCW's Christmas Star Wars losing to Lone Eagle on the under card.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/starwars.html#xmas82 | title=Christmas Star Wars | date=December 25, 1982 | publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name=AlmanacXMas82>{{cite news|title=Historical Cards: Christmas Star Wars (December 25, 1982. Dallas, Texas) |work=PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts |publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2007 Edition|page=172}}</ref> On May 30, 1983 Little Tokyo defeated Cowboy Lang to become a three time world champion.<ref name=BookMid/><ref name=WebMid/> On September 28, 1985 at American Wrestling Association's SuperClash '85 event Little Tokyo successfully defended the title against Midget Mr. T.<ref name=Clash1>{{cite web|title=SuperClash I | url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/awa/superclash.html#sc | date=September 28, 1985 | accessdate=April 4, 2015 | publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> On January 12, 1986, the same Little Mr. T ended Little Tokyo's third and final reign as World Midget Champion.

Little Tokyo's most notable match took place on March 29, 1987 when he worked for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) at their WrestleMania III show. At the show he teamed with mentor Lord Littlebrook and King Kong Bundy against Hillbilly Jim, the Haiti Kid and Little Beaver. The match ended when all 4 midget wrestlers attacked the {{convert|458|lb|kg|abbr=on}} King Kong Bundy after Bundy attacked Little Beaver.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429201526/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 29, 2015|title=Steamboat – Savage rule WrestleMania 3|last=Powell|first=John|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|access-date=October 14, 2007}}</ref>

On January 1, 1988, Little Tokyo became the first holder of the Windy City Wrestling Midget Championship when he defeated Cowboy Cottrell.<ref name=WCW/> On September 29, 1994, on the last show ever held by Universal Wrestling Federation, Little Tokyo defeated Karate Kid to become the first and only holder of the UWF Midget World Championship.<ref name=UWFmidget/> Little Tokyo won the WCW Midget for a second time in 1996.<ref name=WCW/><ref name="WCPW"/> Akabane retired in 1998.

==Retirement and death== At the age of 69, Akabane was diagnosed with base tongue cancer. Doctors said it was cureable and family and friends gathered around him for support. He was living in St. Joseph, Missouri at the time.

On September 6, 2011, Akabane died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 70, while getting up to use the bathroom.<ref name=DeathSlam>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2011/09/06/little-tokyo-remembered-with-laughter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524223501/https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2011/09/06/little-tokyo-remembered-with-laughter/ |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |title=Little Tokyo remembered with laughter |last=Oliver |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Oliver |work=Slam Wrestling |date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name=DeathPWT>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_53023.shtml|title=Former midget wrestler Little Tokyo dies Tuesday|date=2011-09-06|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2011-09-07}}</ref>

==Championships and accomplishments== *'''National Wrestling Alliance''' :*NWA World Midget's Championship (3 times)<ref name=BookMid>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | chapter=World Midget's Championship | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref><ref name=WebMid>{{cite web | title=NWA World Midgets' Title |publisher=Wrestling Titles | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-mg.html | accessdate=April 5, 2015}}</ref>

* '''Professional wrestling''' **Midgets' World Championship (3 times)<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/world/world-mg.html | title=World Midgets' Title }}</ref> *'''Universal Wrestling Federation''' :*UWF Midget World Championship (1 time, only)<ref name=UWFmidget>{{cite web|title=UWF Midget Title|work=Pro Wrestling History|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/indy/uwf/uwftitles.html#midget|accessdate=2008-01-26}}</ref>

*'''Windy City Wrestling''' :*WCW Midget Championship (2 times, first)<ref name=WCW>{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|edition=4th|chapter=Illinois: Windy City Wrestling Midget Title [Sam DeCero] |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name="WCPW">{{cite web |url=http://www.windycityprowrestling.com/wcpw-titlehistory.html |title=Midget... |author=Windy City Pro Wrestling |authorlink=Windy City Pro Wrestling |year=2000 |work=Title Histories |publisher=WindyCityProWrestling.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001217103200/http://www.windycityprowrestling.com/wcpw-titlehistory.html |archivedate=December 17, 2000 |accessdate=November 12, 2011}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/midgets/little-tokyo.html Profile at OWW] {{NWA World Midget's Championship}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Little Tokyo}} Category:1941 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers Category:Midget professional wrestlers Category:Professional wrestlers from Tokyo Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century Japanese professional wrestlers Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen Category:NWA World Midget's Champions