Joe Higuchi

, better known as was a Japanese professional wrestler, road agent, on-air personality and referee best known for his tenures with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) and All Japan Pro-Wrestling. The first official Japanese referee in the NWA, he was known as one of the best referees in the business and the most popular referee in Japanese Puroresu history.

He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of the Class of 2018.

Early life Higuchi Kanji was born on January 19, 1929, in Yokohama, Japan. He was a judo practitioner in his youth and became a judo instructor for the GHQ after World War II. Working as a trainer for the mostly-American soldiers, he was able to learn English and gained the nickname "Joe". He also joined the JWA, which of whom he competed with in the 1950s and retired as an in-ring competitor in 1960. He made his debut as a referee in 1965.

All Japan Pro Wrestling An AJPW original from its inception in 1972, Higuchi gained fame as the senior referee of the promotion, a position he held from 1972 to 1990. He was also a prominent backstage official for the company and was the "go between" during talent exchanges between AJPW and Dory Funk Sr.'s promotion in America.

On the independently produced DVD WCCW and the Von Erichs, Heroes of World Class, it was stated by WCCW booker Gary Hart that Joe Higuchi was the All Japan official that contacted WCCW when the body of David Von Erich was found while on tour in Japan.

Pro Wrestling Noah Following Giant Baba's passing in 1999, many of the AJPW talent departed the company to form Pro Wrestling Noah. With his history in the business, Higuchi was brought into Noah by executive and former AJPW ring announcer Nakada Ryu as a member of the board of directors He became the statutory auditor in the promotion and was also the on-air chairman of the GHC Heavyweight Championship committee in 2001. died at the age of 81.

Legacy During his career, Higuchi refereed more than 20,000 matches over 32 years. and was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of the Class of 2018