Hikaru Sato

2.1. Childhood and Education

Born in Okayama, Okayama, Sato displayed early athletic prowess. During middle school, he was involved in the track and field club, focusing on shotput, and notably achieved a third-place ranking in sumo at the prefectural level in his third year. He continued his athletic pursuits in high school, excelling in amateur wrestling. In his third year of high school, he secured third place in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman 70 kg divisions at the national championships.

2.2. Family

Hikaru Sato has a younger brother, Eitaro Sato, who is known as the drummer for the Japanese band Indigo la End.

3.1. Early Career and Development

Inspired by the fights of Minoru "Minowaman" Ikuhisa, Sato began his training in mixed martial arts with Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling in June 1999. He passed an entrance test in Nagoya in May 1999, marking his official entry into the world of professional combat. Sato made his fighting debut as a middleweight on February 27, 2000, facing Daisuke Watanabe, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss. His first victory came in his second professional bout on April 30, 2000, when he defeated American fighter Michael Sa Jin Kwok via an armbar in the first round.

Early in his career, Sato became known for his eccentric personality, which included him wearing cat ears and dressing up as a maid while walking to the ring for his fights. Over the next eight years, Sato averaged five fights per year, building his record and experience. By February 28, 2007, his number of wins surpassed his losses for the first time, holding a record of 17 wins, 16 losses, and 3 draws.

3.2. Notable Matches and Tournaments

Throughout his MMA career, Sato engaged in several high-profile bouts and achieved tournament victories. In 2001, he faced three significant opponents: on March 31, he lost to American Nathan Marquardt, then the King of Pancrase Middleweight Champion, via submission. On May 5, he defeated Ryo Chonan via unanimous decision in Chonan's professional debut. Later, on August 30, he lost to Keiichiro Yamamiya, the King of Pancrase Light Heavyweight Champion, by unanimous decision.

On January 18, 2004, Sato won the Greatest Common Multiple's (GCM) 2004 Demolition Middleweight 4Men Tournament by defeating Daisuke Nakamura in the final. This match had been postponed twice due to injuries to both fighters. Following his victory, Sato publicly challenged Josh Barnett, the King of Pancrase Openweight Champion, to a match. On December 22, 2007, Sato finally met Josh Barnett in the ring, though the match was contested under catch wrestling rules, with Barnett securing a submission victory in the first round. Sato also won the second Pro-Am Open Catch Wrestling Tournament in the under 100 kg category on January 30, 2005, defeating Seiya Naito in the final.

His most recent fights include a technical knockout win over Johnathan Ivey on February 5, 2017, which temporarily put his record at 24 wins, 23 losses, and 4 draws. However, he subsequently experienced additional losses, including a TKO loss to Ryuta Sakurai on August 20, 2017, an arm-triangle choke submission loss to Doo Hwan Kim on May 25, 2018, and a TKO loss to Kanto Fuchigami on June 27, 2021, bringing his overall record to 24 wins, 26 losses, and 4 draws. A controversial loss occurred on March 9, 2013, when he was defeated by Yoshihiro Takayama via KO from a slam; this bout was later reported as a professional wrestling match rather than an official MMA fight.

4.1. Dramatic Dream Team (DDT)

Sato began his professional wrestling training in March 2008 under Pancrase founder Minoru Suzuki. He made his debut for DDT Pro-Wrestling on May 24, 2008, defeating Shuji Ishikawa in the main event of a "Hard Hit" event. "Hard Hit" was a DDT project aimed at combining elements of mixed martial arts and professional wrestling to create a more realistic, yet still worked, style of pro wrestling. Sato continued to utilize his distinctive maid costume, often wrestling in it during his DDT appearances.

After his debut, Sato appeared in Osaka Pro Wrestling and independent events promoted by Minoru Suzuki, before becoming a regular for DDT in August 2008, defeating Michael Nakazawa in his return match under "Hard Hit" rules. He and Nakazawa subsequently formed a regular tag team. Sato received his first opportunity at DDT's top title, the KO-D Openweight Championship, on March 15, 2009, but was unable to defeat the reigning champion, Sanshiro Takagi. He also unsuccessfully challenged for the DDT Extreme Division Championship on September 27, 2009.

Sato's first professional wrestling title came on November 29, 2009, when he, Danshoku Dino, and Masa Takanashi (as the Belt Hunter×Hunter stable) defeated the Italian Four Horsemen to win the UWA World Trios Championship. After losing the title in January 2010, Sato regained it on June 13, 2010, teaming with Keisuke Ishii and Yoshihiko, a blow-up doll. His second reign ended a month later in a three-way match that also involved the DDT Jiyūgaoka Six-Person Tag Team and DDT Nihonkai Six-Man Tag Team Championships.

On November 3, 2010, Sato, reunited with Michael Nakazawa and Tomomitsu Matsunaga as the Shit Heart♥Foundation, defeated The Great Kojika, Mr. #6, and Riho to win the DDT Jiyūgaoka Six-Person Tag Team, DDT Nihonkai Six-Man Tag Team, and UWA World Trios Championship Championships. Just nine days later, Sato achieved his biggest singles championship in DDT by defeating Harashima for the KO-D Openweight Championship. However, his reign lasted only fourteen days before he lost it to Dick Togo. Following the loss of the trios titles on December 26, 2010, Soma Takao took over leadership of Shit Heart♥Foundation, expelling Sato, which led to a Hair vs. Hair match on February 27, 2011, where Sato lost and was shaved bald.

In September 2011, Sato won the second annual DDT48 general election, becoming the number one contender for the KO-D Openweight Championship, but he failed in his challenge against Kudo on October 23. The prize money of 1.00 M JPY was returned to DDT to be used for the treatment of an injured rival. The following month, Sato was placed in charge of the newly relaunched Hard Hit project, introducing distinct rules for it in March 2012. On May 3, 2013, Sato and fellow mixed martial artist Yukio Sakaguchi won the KO-D Tag Team Championship, successfully defending it three times before losing it on August 18, 2013.

On January 17, 2014, DDT announced that Sato's regular contract would not be renewed, though he continued to make appearances for DDT's sub-promotions and Hard Hit events. On June 4, 2015, Sato officially obtained all rights to the Hard Hit project, making it fully independent of DDT.

4.2. All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)

Sato began making appearances for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in July 2010, participating in the Junior League, where he notably defeated Hiroshi Yamato with a thrown German suplex. He continued to compete in AJPW's Junior League and Junior Tag League tournaments in subsequent years.

On January 26, 2013, Sato and Hiroshi Yamato, under the tag team name "Jounetsu Hentai Baka" (Passionately Perverted Idiot), defeated Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka to win the All Asia Tag Team Championship, Sato's first title in AJPW. Their reign was short-lived, as they lost the title back to Kanemoto and Tanaka just fifteen days later.

In February 2014, Sato officially joined Evolution, a stable led by Kohei Suwama and Joe Doering. Atsushi Aoki joined Evolution in July 2014. On October 22, 2014, Sato and Atsushi Aoki won the 2014 Jr. Tag Battle of Glory, defeating Último Dragón and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the finals. They went on to win the tournament for two more consecutive years in 2015 and 2016, becoming "Hentai Jieitai" (Pervert Self-Defense Forces).

On June 19, 2016, Sato defeated Atsushi Aoki to capture the World Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time, making his first successful defense against Tatsuhito Takaiwa. On July 24, Sato and Atsushi Aoki became double champions when they won the All Asia Tag Team Championship from Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto at a Big Japan Pro Wrestling event. Sato lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Soma Takao on August 28, 2016. On November 27, Sato and Aoki lost the All Asia Tag Team Championship to veteran wrestlers Atsushi Onita and Masanobu Fuchi, who became the 100th champions.

On April 28, 2017, Sato defeated Keisuke Ishii to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship for the second time. On June 20, he and Aoki regained the All Asia Tag Team Championship from Onita and Fuchi. However, Sato lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Tajiri on July 30, 2017, in his fifth defense. Following a grappling match loss to Evolution leader Suwama on August 3, 2017, Sato announced his departure from the stable. On August 27, Sato and Aoki lost the All Asia Tag Team Championship to Black Tiger VII and Taka Michinoku.

Sato continued to be a significant presence in AJPW, winning the Jr. Tag Battle of Glory again in 2019 with Yusuke Okada and in 2020 with Dan Tamura. He also held the AJPW TV Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Fuminori Abe and Yuma Aoyagi.

4.3. Other Promotions and Hard Hit Project

Beyond DDT and AJPW, Hikaru Sato has competed and held titles in several other Japanese promotions. After his regular contract with DDT ended, he began working for DDT's sub-promotion Union Pro Wrestling. On May 18, 2014, Sato defeated Isami Kodaka to win the Union Max Championship, which he defended three times before losing it on December 17, 2014, to Fuma.

Sato also held the Tokyo Intercontinental Tag Team Championship twice: first in July 2014 with Masaaki Mochizuki, which they lost in July 2015, and again in April 2016 with Ryo Kawamura. In May 2012, he debuted for the women's wrestling promotion Ice Ribbon, forming a comedic tag team with the much younger Riho, based on a storyline infatuation. He also participated in Pro Wrestling Zero1's Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament in 2010.

In 2019, Sato won the Go! Go! Green Curry Koppun Cup with Riho in Pro Wrestling Gatoh Move. He has also held the Spirit of Ganbare World Tag Team Championship in Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling with Tyson Maeguchi, the Ōmanin Ōza "Sōryū-Ō" with Ryo Kawamura (Rocky Kawamura 2) in Ryukyu Dragon Pro-Wrestling, and multiple titles in Tenryu Project, including the United National Tag Team Championship (with Hideki Suzuki), the International Junior Heavyweight Championship, and the International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (with Keita Yano). On December 27, 2023, Sato won the Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship in a one-day tournament initiated by TAKA Michinoku, overcoming 56 participants and competing in five matches on a single day. In May 2024, he made his debut for Pro Wrestling Noah, competing in a GHC Martial Arts Rules tag match.

4.4. Persona and Style

Hikaru Sato is renowned for his unique blend of legitimate martial arts skill, self-aware eccentricity, and a distinct in-ring approach that sets him apart in the world of professional wrestling.

6.1. Writing Career

Hikaru Sato is a prolific writer, contributing columns and web diaries to various media platforms. He is known to produce a significant volume of content weekly, balancing his athletic career with tight writing deadlines.

His ongoing columns include:

• "Letters from Oman International Airport" for the All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah official mobile site "Pro-Wrestling/Martial Arts DX," updated every Tuesday since February 2018.
• "Hikaru Sato's Mega Serving Champion Carnival" for Mobile SPA!, which began in August 2008. In this column, Sato chronicles his quest for a larger physique through challenging massive food portions, with the theme "EATorDIE!!!!!!"
• "Residual Fecal Sensation Film Criticism" for the mobile film information site "Eiga Hiho Club," an irregularly updated column offering unique film critiques from a fighter's perspective.
• "Hikaru Sato's World Place Discovery" for the Pancrase official fan club "HYBRID CLUB."

His past writing endeavors include:

• "Reader Participation Survival Column" for Weekly Gong (October 2008 - September 2009), a competitive column where three wrestlers vied for continued publication based on reader votes.
• DVD reviews for Monthly DMM DVD (publication discontinued).
• "Hikaru Sato's Turning Crazy in Your Eyes" for Mobile SPA!, a column that even caught the attention of New Japan Pro-Wrestling ace Hiroshi Tanahashi, much to Sato's surprise. Tanahashi once approached Sato to express his enjoyment of the column at the 2006 Pro-Wrestling Awards ceremony. Minoru Suzuki reportedly laughed upon hearing Tanahashi enjoyed Sato's "stupid" column.
• "Hikaru's Joshi Pro☆Paradise" for Mobile Gong, where Sato interviewed popular female professional wrestlers, often in maid costumes. This column concluded with the discontinuation of Gong magazine and its associated website.
• "Hikaru Sato's Parlor Fantasy Brain Clan" for the pachinko/pachislot general site "Pachinko no Kami-sama."
• "Hikaru Sato's Landlocked Island Communication" for the mobile site "Kakutogi Kingdom."

6.2. Media Appearances

Sato has made notable appearances in television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Fishing Roman" (釣りロマンを求めて_{Tsurī Roman o Motomete}^Japanese) on March 1, 2008, where he appeared as an assistant alongside Minoru Suzuki.

6.3. Relationship with Minoru Suzuki

Hikaru Sato's relationship with his mentor, Minoru Suzuki, has been a significant aspect of his career, marked by both deep respect and public confrontations. Sato began training under Suzuki, who is also the founder of Pancrase.

A particularly notable incident occurred on October 12, 2004, at a Pancrase Korakuen Hall event. Following his draw with Kyosuke Sasaki, Sato took the microphone and publicly challenged Suzuki, criticizing him for seemingly abandoning his commitment to "real fights" by focusing on New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Sato declared, "I was born in Pancrase, but I grew up in this DDT ring! Please have a one-on-one match with me in my home ring!" This challenge escalated into a backstage skirmish where Suzuki physically confronted Sato, needing to be restrained by others. Despite this public spat, which resulted in Suzuki receiving a three-month, 10% pay cut, their teacher-student relationship deepened.

Their bond was further demonstrated on May 1, 2005, when they had an exhibition match in a Pancrase ring. Suzuki also facilitated Sato's ability to train at All Japan Pro Wrestling's dojo and included him in his own 20th-anniversary show. Sato actively works at Minoru Suzuki's official merchandise shop, "Piledriver," highlighting their continued professional connection.

6.4. Key Anecdotes and Notable Traits

Hikaru Sato's unique personality has led to several memorable anecdotes throughout his career:

• Love for Idols: His fervent admiration for Ryoko Hirosue is a well-known trait. As a middle schooler, he famously cycled from Okayama to Kochi to meet her, eventually securing a two-shot photo with her father's assistance. He even wore a T-shirt featuring this photo.
• Embracing Openweight Fights: Sato finds an aesthetic beauty in competing in openweight bouts, challenging much larger opponents like Josh Barnett and Yuji Sakuragi.
• Encounter with Ricky Marvin: In 2002, during a brawl following a DEEP 2001 match, Sato's glasses flew off. A young Mexican man, later revealed to be Ricky Marvin, returned them to him. They reconnected years later when Tokyo Gurentai opened a bar.
• Maid Persona Publicity Stunts: In August 2006, Sato performed a public training session in Akihabara Park with Yosuke Yamaki while dressed in a maid costume. This highly unusual display, though risky, served as a humorous and effective publicity stunt. While his maid attire sometimes provoked anger from opponents (e.g., Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto), others, like Bryan Rafiq, found him to be a "joke guy."
• Civilian Arrest: On July 23, 2004, Sato witnessed a suspicious individual attempting to flee a pachinko parlor in Yokohama after a heated argument with the store manager. Sato pursued and apprehended the individual, who was later identified as an undocumented foreign national. He received a letter of appreciation from the Isezaki Police Station. Sato stated that as a martial artist who adheres to rules, he felt compelled to act against someone who broke societal rules, while also ensuring the individual was not harmed during the apprehension.
• Instructor Role: Sato actively instructs general students and children (in junior wrestling) at Pancrase's official gym, P's LAB Yokohama, and accompanies them to tournaments.
• Pancrase Ring Announcer: He also serves as a ring announcer for Pancrase events.
• Favorite Cosplay: Sato humorously states his favorite cosplay is "white short tights."
• The Shiraishi Incident: Following Speed Partners' acquisition of All Japan Pro Wrestling, new owner Nobuo Shiraishi made an appearance in the ring on March 17, 2013. Sato, in a controversial move, attacked Shiraishi. Sato justified his actions by stating, "If there's someone who makes light of professional wrestling, even though I'm not a signed talent, I had no choice but to go. As a member of society, it was wrong, and I apologize. But as a professional wrestler, I don't feel bad." The incident was prominently featured on the cover of Weekly Pro-Wrestling.
• Autonomous Events: On August 26, 2023, Sato held his self-produced event, "Hentai wa Yume wo Mita" (The Pervert Had a Dream), at Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki. The main event featured a no-time-limit, one-fall singles match against New Japan Pro-Wrestling's El Desperado, with whom he had a connection through social media.

7.1. Mixed Martial Arts

7.2. Grappling