1. Overview
Daigoro Kashiwa (柏大五郎Kashiwa DaigorōJapanese, born November 25, 1976) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and referee. He is primarily known for his extensive career with the Japanese promotion Kaientai Dojo, where he was a multi-time champion and a prominent figure. Kashiwa was recognized for his unique wrestling style, which incorporated strategic amateur wrestling techniques, particularly emphasizing the use of his head in matches. After his retirement from active competition in 2018, he transitioned into a staff role within the wrestling industry.
2. Early Life and Background
Daigoro Kashiwa was born on November 25, 1976, in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. His initial foray into professional wrestling began in 2000, when he joined Kaientai Dojo during its period of operation in Puerto Rico.
3. Professional Wrestling Career
Daigoro Kashiwa's professional wrestling career spanned from his debut in 2001 until his retirement in 2018, primarily marked by his long tenure at Kaientai Dojo and appearances across various independent and major Japanese promotions.
3.1. Early Career and Independent Circuit
Kashiwa made his professional wrestling debut on October 6, 2001, at Osaka Pro Saturday Night Story, an event promoted by Osaka Pro Wrestling. He competed against Takashi Tachibana as part of a "study abroad" program, which allowed him to gain experience with the promotion. As a freelancer, Kashiwa made sporadic appearances for various other promotions.
He participated in one of the longest matches in professional wrestling history, a 108-man battle royal at Tenka Sanbun no Kei: New Year's Eve Special, a cross-over event held on December 31, 2009. This event featured wrestlers from Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT, and Kaientai Dojo, where Kashiwa competed against notable figures such as Great Kojika, Danshoku Dino, Kenny Omega, Tajiri, and Gota Ihashi.
On December 23, 2016, during the ninth night of the NOAH Winter Navigation 2016 event promoted by Pro Wrestling Noah, Kashiwa took part in an 11-man battle royal that included Akitoshi Saito, Hitoshi Kumano, Muhammad Yone, and Yoshinari Ogawa. Earlier that evening, he teamed with Saburo Inematsu in an unsuccessful tag team challenge against Momo No Seishun Tag (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada). At W-1 WRESTLE-1 Tour 2017, an event promoted by Wrestle-1 on December 3, 2017, he teamed with Ryuichi Sekine and wrestled to a time-limit draw against Manabu Soya and Nosawa Rongai.
3.2. Kaientai Dojo
Kashiwa spent the majority of his professional wrestling career with Kaientai Dojo, which later rebranded as Active Advance Pro Wrestling. After his initial training period in Puerto Rico, he returned to Japan for Kaientai Dojo's official flag-raising event at Differ Ariake on April 20, 2002. In 2003, he joined the stable Yoshida-ya, having been invited by Taka Michinoku.
Kashiwa achieved significant success in tag team wrestling within the promotion. On January 25, 2004, he teamed with Teppei Ishizaka to win the UWA & UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship. They reclaimed the title on April 25, 2004, at a battle royal held at Differ Ariake. His faction, Kashiwa-gumi, won the K-SURVIVOR final at the K-AWARD event on December 26, 2004, where Kashiwa also received the Best Performance Award. In 2005, with the introduction of Kaientai Dojo's two-league system, he became affiliated with the "RAVE" league.
In September 2009, Kashiwa joined the MONSTER PLANT stable, following his strong performance in the STRONGEST-K tournament where he defeated both Kengo Mashimo and KAZMA SAKAMOTO. In December 2009, forming a formidable team with Kengo Mashimo, they captured the STRONGEST-K Tag Team Championship from Makoto Oishi and Shiori Asahi. However, in April 2010, Kashiwa and his partner lost both the STRONGEST-K Tag Team Championship and the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship in a double title match held at Korakuen Hall.
Kashiwa also participated in notable cross-over events involving Kaientai Dojo. On December 31, 2012, at a New Year's Eve event co-promoted with Big Japan Pro Wrestling and DDT Pro-Wrestling, he teamed with Taka Michinoku and Psycho to defeat Akito, Masa Takanashi, and Mikami. In 2014, he joined Bozz Rengo, a stable led by Inematsu.
3.3. Appearances in Other Major Promotions
Beyond his primary work in Kaientai Dojo, Daigoro Kashiwa also made appearances in other prominent Japanese professional wrestling promotions.
For New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he competed in a tag team match on May 1, 2007, at WRESTLE LAND 9th ~ Deadly Target ~, where he and Jinsei Shinzaki were defeated by Toru Yano and Makai 21. Later that year, on August 26, 2007, at NJPW Last Of CTU ~ CTU Farewell In Korakuen Hall, Kashiwa participated in a ten-man tag team match. He teamed with Apple Miyuki, Hiro Tonai, Taku Anzawa, and Teppei Ishizaka, but their team lost to the CTU faction, represented by CTU Ranger Blue, CTU Ranger Green, CTU Ranger Pink, CTU Ranger Red, and CTU Ranger Yellow.
3.4. Retirement
Daigoro Kashiwa officially retired from professional wrestling on June 17, 2018. His retirement match took place at the K-DOJO GRAND SLAM in Blue Field event. In his final bout, he teamed with Ayato Yoshida in a tag team match against Kengo Mashimo and Kunio Toshima. Kashiwa and Yoshida were defeated in the match. Kashiwa personally selected Mashimo and Toshima as his final opponents, publicly stating that they were "the strongest tag team I have the most affection for in KAIENTAI DOJO."
4. Wrestling Style and Signature Moves
Daigoro Kashiwa was recognized for his distinctive wrestling style, which he described as "thinking man's amateur wrestling." This approach emphasized strategic maneuvers, particularly utilizing his head in various offensive techniques.
His recognized signature moves and finishers included:
- Diving headbutt
- Mapputatsu
- Mapputatsu 2006
- Kashiwa Stanner
- Kashiwa Clutch (a variation of the Gedo Clutch)
- Kashiwa Clutch II
- Kashiwa Clutch III
- Hare Tokidoki Daigoro
- Takumi Kick (a Buzzsaw kick, executed by raising an opponent lying face-up and kicking their left temple with the instep of his right foot)
- Various kicks
Kashiwa's entrance music was "Daigoro March" by Hideo Ota, which was featured on the King Records "KAIENTAI DOJO" album.
5. Championships and Accomplishments
Throughout his professional wrestling career, Daigoro Kashiwa earned several championship titles and received an award, primarily within Kaientai Dojo:
- Kaientai Dojo
- Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Strongest-K Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Ricky Fuji
- Chiba Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tomato Kaji
- UWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time)
- UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Teppei Ishizaka
- K-AWARD (Best Performance Award)
6. Personal Life and Anecdotes
In 2014, Daigoro Kashiwa publicly announced his marriage to his long-time girlfriend. The couple had been in a relationship since the establishment of Kaientai Dojo. His wrestling ring name, "Kashiwa," holds personal significance; it is derived from Kashiwa Reysol, a J.League professional football (soccer) team. This reflects his identity as a passionate supporter of the club and his hometown, Kashiwa, Chiba, from which the team also takes its name.
7. Media Appearances
Daigoro Kashiwa made appearances in various media outside of the wrestling ring, including television programs and commercials.
- Television
- Pro-wrestling KING (broadcast on GAORA)
- Commercials
- Pachinko New 7
8. Post-Retirement Activities
Following his retirement from active professional wrestling in 2018, Daigoro Kashiwa transitioned to a behind-the-scenes role within the wrestling industry. In 2021, he took on a staff position at 2AW, the successor promotion to his long-time home, Kaientai Dojo.