Tag: takayamania

News: TAKAYAMANIA Returning In 2026

Earlier today it was announced by Minoru Suzuki and picked up by Puroresu Today that TAKAYAMANIA, the annual Yoshihiro Takayama fundraiser event, will return this year with TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 5. Scheduled for 9/7 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, it will feature a number of promotions and wrestlers participating with all profits (after necessary expenses for the event) being donated to help with Takayama’s medical treatment.

Once one of the most feared and heralded big men in Japanese pro wrestling, Takayama suffered a severe cervical cord injury on May 4, 2017 and has been paralyzed since but continues rehabilitation and this event has become an annual tradition to support his recovery, in addition to bank accounts managed by Takayama’s wife. As far as broadcast plans, it will be streamed live for free on ABEMA in Japan, and hopefully on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE shortly after.

More as it becomes available.

Regarding Today’s TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 4 Event (9/3/2025) (Updated)

TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 4, the latest charity fundraiser event for iconic wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama, was held earlier today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. I am trying to find full results that aren’t paywalled (All-Japan posted one match result with their participation) and will post them once I am able to. Takayama was in attendance again (he has been mostly confined to hospital beds and wheelchairs the last few years due to severe spinal cord injuries).

The event was a live broadcast on ABEMA in Japan only and hopefully will show up on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at some point.

UPDATE: It was announced on Takayama’s official blog that the event raised a total of 1,872,033 Japanese yen, which will go towards his medical care/expenses (the bank accounts are managed by his wife). That’s around $12,700 US. The event may have been a legit sellout, if not it was very close.

Here are the results:

Match 1: Daiki Nagai beat Shouta Kofuji.

Match 2: Kazushi Sakuraba & Hideki Suzuki beat Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura by KO.

Match 3: Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu beat Hiroyo Matsumoto & Yurika Oka.

Match 4: Kazusada Higuchi, MAO & Danshoku Dieno beat Yuki Ueno, HARASHIMA & Yasu Urano.

Main Event: Katsuyori Shibata & KENTA vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Minoru Suzuki went to a 30 minute time limit draw.

Takayama was in attendance for the event once again.