, better known as
Rikidōzan (
Japanese: 力道山,
Korean: 역도산
Yeokdosan, November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), was a
Korean-Japanese professional wrestler, known as the "Father of
Puroresu" and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. Initially, he had moved from his native country Korea to mainland Japan to become a
sumo wrestler. He was credited with bringing the sport of professional wrestling to
Japan at a time when the
Japanese needed a local hero to emulate and was lauded as a national hero. He was murdered by a member of the
Yakuza in 1963.