Hiroshi Hase

is a Japanese politician and semi-retired professional wrestler who served as the governor of Ishikawa Prefecture from 2022 to 2026. As a professional wrestler, Hase primarily worked for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and also for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Stampede Wrestling. During his affiliation with AJPW, he also served as the chairman for the Pacific Wrestling Federation (PWF), which is the governing body for all championships in the promotion. Among his numerous title wins, Hase held the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship once, making him a one-time world champion.

From October 2015 until August 2016, Hase served as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and his LDP party. Prior to his appointment in the Cabinet, he also served as a member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet, representing the 1st district of Ishikawa Prefecture.

Early life Hase graduated from Senshu University in March 1984. He then became a teacher of classic Japanese literature in a high school in Ishikawa Prefecture, before pursuing a professional wrestling career in 1985.

Hase also became an amateur wrestler, representing Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He placed ninth in the Greco-Roman wrestling tournament.

Professional wrestling career

Early years (1986–1987) Originally trained by Riki Choshu, Hase began his pro wrestling career in February 1986, training at Carlos Colón's World Wrestling Council-affiliated training facility in Puerto Rico. Later that year, Hase went to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he was trained by Stu Hart and Katsuji Adachi. He would wrestle in Stampede Wrestling under a mask in a heel tag team known as the Viet Cong Express with Fumihiro Niikura, with whom he held the Stampede International Tag Team Championship. By 1987, he turned face and started to wrestle under his name and unmasked in Stampede Wrestling. By the end of 1987, Hase would return to Japan.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1987–1996) When he returned to Japan, Hase wrestled for NJPW's junior heavyweight division, winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship twice. He defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi on 27 December 1987, and held it until 27 May 1988, losing the title to Owen Hart. His second reign began by defeating Shiro Koshinaka on 16 March 1989, and held it until 25 May 1989, losing it to Jushin Liger. In June 1989, Hase and Takayuki Iizuka went to the Soviet Union to be trained in sambo, where he learned one of his signature moves, the uranage. He would also become one of the only wrestlers, Japanese or American, to successfully graduate from the junior heavyweight to heavyweight class.

In the 1990s, Hase had many memorable encounters with famous Japanese talents first in New Japan, and later All Japan. In June 1990, Hase had a near-death experience in the ring, after being knocked out by a backdrop from Tatsutoshi Goto. Hase would form a successful tag team with Kensuke Sasaki in March 1990, winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice. On 1 November 1990, Hase and Sasaki defeated Masahiro Chono and Keiji Muto to win the title and held on to the titles until 26 December 1990, losing them to Super Strong Machine and Hiro Saito. Their second reign came by regaining them from Machine and Saito on 6 March 1991, but lost the titles on 21 March 1991, to the Steiner Brothers. Hase was involved in a classic 14 December 1992, encounter with The Great Muta, in which the "Muta Scale" was created, due to the incredible amount of blood shed by Muta, which was payback for Muta bloodying Hase on 14 September 1990.

Hase and Muto were also regular tag team partners; they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice. Their first reign began on 5 November 1991, defeating Rick Steiner and Scott Norton in a decision match. They would hold on to the belts until 1 March 1992, losing them to Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow. Hase and Muto won the Super Grade Tag League in November 1993, defeating The Jurassic Powers in the final. On 16 March 1994, Hase defeated Rick Rude to win the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship, and he re-lost the title to Rude on 24 March 1994. Hase and Muto won their second Super Grade Tag League in October 1994. On 25 November 1994, Hase and Muto defeated The Hellraisers to win their second IWGP Tag Team title. They would hold on to the titles until May 1995, as they vacated the titles after Muto won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

While still IWGP Tag Team Champion, Hase travelled to North Korea to participate in Collision in Korea in April 1995. At the two-night event, he defeated Chris Benoit on the first night then teamed up with his old tag team partner Sasaki against the Steiner Brothers on the second night. On 17 March 2013, Hase announced that he was stepping down as chairman for the PWF after nearly six years. His last day as PWF chairman was 21 June 2013.

Return to wrestling (2017–present) On 26 July 2017, Hase returned to the ring at a Pro Wrestling Masters event, produced by Keiji Muto. Wrestling his first match in 11 years, Hase teamed with Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami to defeat The Great Muta, The Great Kabuki and TNT in a six-man tag team match. On 5 August 2018, Hiroshi Hase was revealed as the special partner of Riki Choshu and Jun Akiyama on an All Japan show, victorious against Naoya Nomura, Yoshitatsu and Kazma Sakamoto. On 21 August, as he teamed up with Taiyō Kea, Shinjiro Otani, and Jinsei Shinzaki for a special one-night BATT reunion on Muto's Pro Wrestling Masters; defeating the Heisei Ishingun team of Akira, Akitoshi Saito, Shiro Koshinaka and Masashi Aoyagi. Since then, Hase has made two one-off appearances for Pro Wrestling NOAH, most recently on 1 January 2023, teaming up with Kazuyuki Fujita, Nosawa Rongai and Kendo Kashin in a winning effort against Masakatsu Funaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya and Hajime Ohara.

Political career In July 1995, Hase was elected into the Japanese House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet, as an independent candidate representing the Ishikawa Prefecture. This made him the second professional wrestler-turned-politician to be elected in a parliamentary seat, the first being Antonio Inoki.

As a lawmaker, Hase has primarily focused on issues involving education, welfare, sports, and environment.

On 7 October 2015, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announced Hase as part of his cabinet, naming him the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

In April 2020, Hase was accused of "patronizing, sexist behavior and harassment" at the Tsubomi Cafe in Shibuya, Tokyo. In the report, it was outlined that, along with fellow constituents of the Liberal Democratic Party, Hase had been using aggressive behavior towards female staff members, many of which had been abused prior to employment with the cafe. The association aligned with the cafe, Colabo, stated that Hase "touched [a woman's] waist with both his hands when she was working to set up a tent". On his website, Hase denied an allegation made by the organization of sexual assault, but apologized for his behavior.

On 13 March 2022, Hase was elected as the Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture in a crowded race.

In the 2026 Ishikawa gubernatorial election, Hase lost to Yukiyoshi Yamano, former mayor of Kanazawa, after a close race and lost re-election.

Personal life In 1994, Hase married Kyoko Takami, the daughter of writer Jun Takami.

Championships and accomplishments New Japan Pro-Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times) IWGP Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Kensuke Sasaki (2), and Keiji Muto (2) Super Grade Tag League (1993, 1994) – with Keiji Muto Tag Team Best Bout (2001) with Keiji Muto vs. Jun Akiyama and Yuji Nagata on 8 October Nikkan Sports Match of the Year (2001) – with Keiji Muto vs. Jun Akiyama and Yuji Nagata on 8 October Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #80 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 PWI ranked him #22 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with The Great Muta in 2003 PWI ranked him #27 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Kensuke Sasaki in 2003 Stampede Wrestling Stampede International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Fumihiro Niikura Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) Tokyo Sports Rookie of the Year (1988)