1. Overview
Manabu Murakami, born on August 21, 1984, is a highly regarded Japanese professional wrestler known for his distinctive ring personas and versatile career. He began his journey in the Último Dragón Gym, debuting in Mexico under his real name before gaining popularity in Toryumon X with a parodic mixed martial artist gimmick. Later, he transitioned to Michinoku Pro Wrestling, where he adopted the celebrated character of Maguro Ooma, a tuna fisherman, and subsequently the more aggressive persona of Manjimaru, a Japanese pirate. His career is marked by his evolution from an eccentric technician to a wild, weapon-wielding brawler, along with significant achievements including multiple tag team and singles championships, notably the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship. Murakami has also had notable tenures in El Dorado Wrestling and has been a fixture in various prominent stables, showcasing his adaptability and enduring presence in the Japanese professional wrestling scene.
2. Professional Wrestling Career
Manabu Murakami's professional wrestling career spans over two decades, characterized by significant character transformations, stable affiliations, and championship successes across various promotions, primarily Michinoku Pro Wrestling.
2.1. Early Career and Toryumon (2001-2004)
Manabu Murakami dropped out of high school in 2001 to join the 9th generation class of the Último Dragón Gym, part of the Toryumon system. Among his high school seniors were fellow wrestlers Kagetora and Masato Inaba. He made his professional debut in Mexico on December 7, 2002, under his real name, 村上学Murakami ManabuJapanese. His tag team partner for this debut match was Takeshi Minamino, then known as Yamamoto Takeshi, and they faced the duo of Kenichi Sakai (now Ken45°) and Naoki Tanizaki. Upon his Japanese debut on August 22, 2003, during a reverse landing match for Toryumon X, Murakami introduced an eccentric gimmick as a parodic mixed martial artist. He would wear a red fundoshi and MMA gloves, often engaging in bizarre and sexual antics in the ring to disorient his opponents. This peculiar persona surprisingly gained him considerable popularity. Following the dissolution of Toryumon X, his unit was transferred to Michinoku Pro Wrestling.
2.2. Michinoku Pro Wrestling (2004-present)
Murakami's extensive tenure at Michinoku Pro Wrestling began with his first appearance at a Sendai event on July 17, 2004, after the split within Toryumon Japan. His career at Michinoku Pro has been a defining period, marked by numerous character evolutions, stable affiliations, and significant championship pursuits.
2.2.1. Character Evolution and Heel Turn
In December 2004, upon his full integration into Michinoku Pro, Murakami underwent his first major character change, adopting the ring name マグロ大間Maguro OomaJapanese and the persona of a traditional Japanese tuna fisherman from Aomori Prefecture, known for his single-hook tuna fishing. He maintained his custom of wearing a fundoshi but incorporated fishing tools into his entrance attire. Initially, Maguro Ooma engaged in feuds with wrestlers like Tsubo Genjin and Junji Tanaka. In October 2005, he underwent a significant heel turn, aligning himself with the STONED faction, which was founded by Kagetora and Gamma, and also included Takuya Sugawara. This heel turn led to another dramatic transformation of his gimmick. He shed his loincloth in favor of a more traditional outfit consisting of long pants, a shirt, and jika-tabi, evolving into a Japanese pirate-inspired character. Along with this new persona came a wild and violent wrestling style, where he was known to use a spiked baseball bat and other available weapons. On May 3, during a Michinoku Pro show, Maguro Ooma, alongside Kei Sato and Shu Sato, defeated Los Salseros Japoneses (Takeshi Minamino, Pineapple Hanai, and Mango Fukuda) to win the UWA World Trios Championship, though the title was vacated on the same night.
2.2.2. Stable Affiliations and Tag Team Success
After the decline of the Hell Demons faction, Maguro Ooma became a founding member of the Kowloon stable, which was led by Fujita Hayato. Within Kowloon, he formed a highly successful tag team with Takeshi Minamino, known as the 舎人一家Tonery IkkaJapanese, or Tonery Family. This partnership proved fruitful, as Minamino and Ooma won the Futaritabi Tag Team League in 2009. Their success continued when they defeated Kesen Numajiro and Kinya Oyanagi to capture the Tohoku Tag Team Championship. They held the title for several months before eventually losing it to the Yapper Men (Yapper Man #1 and Yapper Man #2). Following the internal strife and eventual dissolution of Kowloon, the Tonery Family, along with Ken45º, adopted a tweener alignment and followed Hayato to his new stable, BAD BOY. However, the Tonery Family partnership came to an abrupt end in 2017 when Minamino betrayed Maguro Ooma. Minamino departed from BAD BOY to form the new heel stable Super Stars with Rui Hiugaji, effectively ending the activities of the Tonery Family tag team.
2.2.3. Singles Championship Reigns and Notable Rivalries
Manabu Murakami has also pursued and achieved success in singles competition within Michinoku Pro Wrestling. In September 2013, he challenged Kenoh for the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship, delivering a highly acclaimed match despite the loss, which was notably featured with a full-page spread in Weekly Pro-Wrestling. His persistent efforts ultimately paid off on November 3, 2015, when he defeated Kesen Numajiro to win the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time, marking a significant milestone in his singles career. Beyond championship pursuits, Murakami has been involved in several prominent feuds, showcasing his diverse wrestling capabilities and intense in-ring presence.
2.3. El Dorado Wrestling (2006-2008)
With the establishment of El Dorado Wrestling in 2006, Maguro Ooma began competing for the new promotion under the new ring name 卍丸ManjimaruJapanese. The name Manjimaru is notably derived from a character in the popular Japanese manga series Sakigake!! Otokojuku. He engaged in a brutal and destructive feud with Mototsugu Shimizu, during which they caused extensive damage to El Dorado's equipment. Consequently, general manager Noriaki Kawabata ordered them to compensate for the damages. Manjimaru and Mototsugu Shimizu formed an unlikely tag team to compete in the Treasure Hunters Tag Tournament 2006, aiming to use the prize money to pay their fine. However, they were eliminated by the eventual winners, Dick Togo and Shuji Kondo.
The following week, the pair approached Kondo to request the prize money, but their plea was interrupted by YASSHI, who also sought financial assistance to clear his own debts. After a chaotic main event, Kawabata decided to partition the prize money, distributing portions to both sides. Manjimaru then proposed using their share to produce the next El Dorado show, hoping to generate enough revenue to finally settle the fine. During this self-produced show, both Manjimaru and Shimizu participated in a battle royal for full control of the prize money, which Shimizu ultimately won with assistance from Onryo. After the fine was paid, Motosugu generously gave the remaining funds to Manjimaru, who needed it for an upcoming shoulder surgery. Reconciled, the team humorously promised more destruction in the future, and Manjimaru then departed El Dorado to undergo his surgery. Murakami briefly returned to El Dorado as a member of the Hell Demons faction, but the promotion eventually ceased operations in December 2008.
2.4. Injuries and Returns
Manabu Murakami's professional wrestling career has been interrupted by several significant injuries, leading to periods of absence from the ring. In 2007, he was forced into a long-term hiatus due to a recurring shoulder injury, which required surgery. He made a successful return to Michinoku Pro Wrestling in March 2008. Later, in December 2010, he sustained a foot injury, again forcing him into a lengthy period of recovery. He subsequently returned to active competition in September 2011. Despite these setbacks, Murakami has consistently managed to make successful returns to the ring, demonstrating his resilience and dedication to the sport.
3. Wrestling Style and Gimmicks
Manabu Murakami is renowned for the dynamic evolution of his wrestling style and a series of memorable and often eccentric in-ring characters. He began his career with a parodic mixed martial artist gimmick, emphasizing an unusual and unsettling in-ring presence, characterized by his red fundoshi and MMA gloves. This early persona highlighted his unique approach to performance.
His transformation into マグロ大間Maguro OomaJapanese, the tuna fisherman, incorporated elements of traditional Japanese culture, with his fundoshi and fishing tools adding a unique visual flair. However, it was his subsequent heel turn and adoption of the 卍丸ManjimaruJapanese (Japanese pirate) persona that fully unleashed his wild and violent side. As Manjimaru, he shed the traditional attire for more modern long pants and shirts, adopting a far more aggressive and chaotic wrestling style. He became known for his willingness to use foreign objects, most notably a spiked baseball bat, and any other available weapon to inflict damage on his opponents. This shift established him as a feared and unpredictable brawler within the promotions he competed in, capable of both technical wrestling and unbridled savagery.
4. Signature Moves
Manabu Murakami employs a repertoire of signature moves that reflect his hard-hitting and aggressive wrestling style. His most recognized maneuvers include:
- Vertical Drop Brainbuster: A variation of the brainbuster where the opponent is lifted vertically upside down before being dropped directly on their head or neck.
- Manji Otoshi (卍落としManji OtoshiJapanese): A maneuver often associated with his Manjimaru persona.
- SKB
5. Entrance Music
Throughout his career, Manabu Murakami has used distinct theme music to accompany his ring entrances, enhancing his unique personas. His known entrance theme is:
- Fundoshi Jingi by Hyakunichi Koubou (百日紅呑海Hyakunichi KoubouJapanese)
6. Championships and Accomplishments
Manabu Murakami has achieved significant success in various promotions, securing multiple championships and earning recognition for his performances.
| Accomplishment | Promotion | Times Won | Date / Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEW Tag Team Championship | Apache Pro-Wrestling Army | 1 | |
| Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship | Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 1 | November 3, 2015 |
| Tohoku Tag Team Championship | Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 1 | |
| UWA World Trios Championship | Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 1 | |
| Futaritabi Tag Team League | Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 1 | 2009 |
| Michinoku Trio Tournament | Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 1 | |
| Ranked #360 in the PWI 500 | Pro Wrestling Illustrated | N/A | 2016 |
7. Personal Life and Trivia
Outside of his professional wrestling career, Manabu Murakami harbored an early ambition to become a professional baseball player, being a fan of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. However, he ultimately gave up on this dream due to his smaller stature.