Harry_Fujiwara

Harry Fujiwara

Harry Fujiwara (born May 4 1935) is a former professional wrestler and manager, best known by his ring name, Mr. Fuji. As a manager, he would often throw salt in the eyes of face wrestlers. Although he was billed as Japanese, he is a Japanese-American born in Hawaii.

Wrestling career

Early career (1964-1971)

Harry Fujiwara made his professional wrestling debut on December 15 1964 in his native Hawaii under the ring name Mr. Fujiwara. He won his first championship gold, the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship with Curtis Iaukea on January 7 1965. He shortened his ring name to Mr. Fuji and toured many territories, including Don Owen's Portland, Oregon based NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) where he won many championships.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (First run, 1972-1974)

Fuji debuted in Vince McMahon, Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1972 as a heel. He formed a tag team with Professor Toru Tanaka and the duo were managed by Grand Wizard. Tanaka provided his physical massive strength and Fuji brought his devious ring psychology to the team, which earned him the nickname "The Devious One". Fuji used to throw salt in his opponent's eyes, which earned him victories. They defeated Sonny King and Chief Jay Strongbow on June 27 1972 for their first WWWF World Tag Team Championship. They quickly ascended to the main event status, defending the titles against WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino on several occasions, throughout the year. During the feud, Fuji earned a shot at the WWWF title against Morales on August 22 but lost by count-out. They reigned for eleven months, making them third longest WWWF World Tag Team Champions in history. They would lose the titles to Tony Garea and Haystacks Calhoun on May 30 1973.

They continued to feud with Garea and Calhoun for the titles before defeating them on September 11 in a rematch to win their second WWWF World Tag Team Championship. With their title recapture, their feud with Garea and his new partner Dean Ho continued. On November 14, Fuji and Tanaka lost the titles to Garea and Ho. After failing in recapturing the titles from Garea and Ho, Fuji and Tanaka left the WWWF in 1974.

Georgia Championship Wrestling (1975)

Fuji and Tanaka debuted in Georgia Championship Wrestling in August 1975. On September 19 1975, they participated in a four-team tournament where they defeated former WWWF rivals Tony Garea and Dean Ho in the finals to win the vacant NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship. They would lose the titles to Bob Backlund and Jerry Brisco, a month later. Shortly, after their title loss, they left GCW and toured other territories and won several titles.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (Second run, 1977-1978)

Fuji and Tanaka returned to WWWF in 1977. They took on Freddie Blassie as their manager. On September 27 1977, they defeated Larry Zbyzsko and longtime rival Tony Garea in the finals of a tag team tournament to win their third WWWF World Tag Team Championship. They wrestled in many six-man and eight-man tag team matches during their third reign. They would eventually lose the titles to Dino Bravo and Dominic DeNucci on March 14 1978 edition of Championship Wrestling. Shortly after, they left WWWF again.

Touring the territories (1979-1981)

Fuji and Tanaka continued to tour the territories in 1979 where they won titles again. Later that same year, they stopped teaming and began wrestling individually. Fuji had success, winning several singles titles in many promotions including World Wrestling Council, NWA New Zealand and Maple Leaf Wrestling.

World Wrestling Federation (Third run, 1981-1996)

Fuji & Saito (1981-1982)

Fuji returned to World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1981, which had been renamed World Wrestling Federation in March 1979, dropping Wide from the name. He formed a tag team with Mr. Saito, which was managed by Captain Lou Albano. They began a feud with tag champions Tony Garea and Rick Martel, whom they defeated on October 17 1981 edition of Championship Wrestling to win their first WWF Tag Team Championship, though it was Fuji's fourth individual reign. They began feuding with The Strongbows (Chief Jay and Jules) in the fall of 1981. This culminated in a title match on June 28 1982 at Madison Square Garden (MSG) where Strongbows won the titles. On July 13 edition of Championship Wrestling, they defeated Strongbows in a two out of three falls match for Fuji's fifth and Saito's second WWF Tag Team Championship. The feud of these two teams ended after Fuji and Saito lost the titles to Strongbows on October 30 edition of Championship Wrestling. Shortly after, Saito left the WWF while Fuji continued to wrestle on his own.

Managerial Career (1985-1996)

Fuji retired from wrestling in 1985 and became a heel manager. As a manager, he would throw salt into his client's opponent. Fuji would "blind" his opponents by throwing salt in their eyes. He would carry a little bag of salt in his tights. The throwing of the salt was a take-off on what sumo wrestlers do as they enter the ring. The meaning is said to be a way to invite good luck before the match. His first client was George Steele. Steele turned babyface and left Fuji. Fuji's next client was Don Muraco. They both formed a popular duo, appearing in a video "Fuji Vice" which was a mockery of Miami Vice. Fuji and Muraco popularly feuded with Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat defeated Fuji in several matches during the feud. Fuji briefly managed Jim Neidhart, whose contract he later sold to Jimmy Hart. He also had Kamala eat a live chicken. In 1987, he bought the contract of Demolition (Ax and Smash) from Johnny V. He managed Demolition to the WWF Tag Team Championship as well as bringing Killer Khan and Sika back to the WWF. At Survivor Series 1988, he turned on Demolition and began managing Demolition's rival tag team Powers of Pain (Warlord and Barbarian).

At WrestleMania V, Fuji teamed with Powers of Pain in a 3-on-2 handicap match against Demolition for their WWF Tag Team Championship. Fuji and Powers were defeated after Ax pinned Fuji. Fuji sold the individual contracts of Powers of Pain to managers Slick and Bobby Heenan and brought The Orient Express (Pat Tanaka and Akio Sato) to the WWF. Orient Express got involved in a feud with The Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty). Orient Express got involved in Demolition's feud with Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal). Fuji reunited with Demolition at that point. Demolition was phased out while Orient Express took on Legion of Doom in matches. Fuji briefly managed The Berzerker in 1992.

Fuji's success and popularity as a manager came later that same year in November 1992 when he introduced the mammoth Yokozuna to the WWF. Although Fuji wore a traditional Japanese Kimono while managing Yokozuna, he is best known for wearing a tuxedo and bowler hat. Under Fuji's tutelage, Yokozuna won the 1993 Royal Rumble match and the WWF Championship from Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX. After the match, Hulk Hogan came to protest. Fuji challenged Hogan to a match with Yokozuna's title on the line, because Fuji wanted his revenge from Hogan since eight years. However, Fuji accidentally threw salt in Yokozuna's eyes which helped Hogan in winning the title in less than a minute. Fuji managed Yokozuna to his second WWF Championship by beating Hogan at King of the Ring 1993. Fuji was joined by another manager, James E. Cornette and the duo managed Yokozuna. Yokozuna fired both of them in March 1996 after turning babyface. Cornette continued to feud with Yokozuna and his teammates while Fuji left the WWF shortly after.

Retirement

After leaving wrestling, Fujiwara retired to the city of Knoxville, Tennessee. He currently works as a movie usher for Regal Entertainment Group. In 1997, he sued the makers of the video game WCW vs. nWo World Tour claiming that the character Master Fuji was based on him. The lawsuit was settled in Fujiwara's favor.

Fujiwara operated a training dojo out of Jefferson City, Tennessee, and Dandridge, Tennessee, until 2001.

Mr. Fuji was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, 2007 by his former charge and Fuji Vice co-star Don Muraco. Mr. Fuji was in a wheelchair at the time of the induction, due to nine knee operations.