It has been announced on social media that this year’s Hana Kimura Memorial Event, celebrating the young wrestler & daughter of longtime wrestler Kyoko Kimura, will be held on 5/23 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Tickets will go on sale next week but those who become sponsors can take advantage of a pre-sale and choose seats.
Hana Kimura was a young rising star in Stardom and elsewhere who was the creator and leader of the Oedo Tai faction in Stardom (now H.A.T.E.) and also made appearances in the US (notably in the former iteration of Ring Of Honor). The event date marks the anniversary of the day she took her own life in 2020 after cyberbullying following her appearance on a Japan-only Netflix series. She was only 22 at the time of her death, which months later was ruled a suicide. Kyoko Kimura continues to fight for stronger criminal penalties in Japan for such incidents of bullying that lead to suicides or deaths, which led to a new law in 2022 carrying up to a year in jail and a 300,000 yen (around $2000 US) fine. This memorial event, held every year since, brings wrestlers from throughout Japan together to celebrate Hana’s life and too-short career and also is a fundraiser for Kyoko Kimura to help cover legal expenses and continuing Hana’s legacy through a non-profit organization.
Broadcast plans TBA but if the trend since the beginning continues, fans outside Japan should be able to watch the event as a PPV live & on demand on Triller/FITE.
