Shinobu Kandori

is a Japanese politician, professional wrestler and retired judoka. She serves as a member of the House of Councillors, representing the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Yokohama, Kanagawa, she ran unsuccessfully for the House of Councillors in 2004 but was allowed to join the house in 2006 when Heizo Takenaka, a member of the house, resigned.

As a professional wrestler she worked for several women's promotions from the 1980s to the 2000s, including Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and its offshoot, Ladies' Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW), of which she became the president in 2002. She held several championships, including the LLPW Singles Championship in 1993 and 1997, and the WWWA World Single Championship in 1998.

During her career, Kandori also had some hardcore matches. On March 14, 1997, Kandori had a bloody deathmatch, where the ring ropes were replaced with barbed wire, against Megumi Kudo in FMW.

Judo Kandori captured the bronze medal at the 1984 World Judo Championships. She later planned to compete at the 1988 Summer Olympics, but halfway to the Olympics she lost motivation for judo competition. Kandori considered becoming a trainer, but she became interested in professional wrestling, and eventually retired from judo in order to pursue a pro wrestling career.

Professional wrestling career Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (1986–1987) Kandori joined the recently established Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling in 1986. Before the time of her debut, she trained under Kotetsu Yamamoto and Yoshiaki Fujiwara in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling dojo, where she got to spar with male wrestlers thanks to her athleticism and skill. Although Matsumoto was the star heel in rival promotion All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, Kandori turned into an even more antagonistic character in JPW, setting her as an outsider who opposed heels and faces alike.

With her popularity quickly rising, Kandori came to be considered one of JWP's shitenno along with Sato, Rumi Kazama and Nancy Kumi. Her real life relationship with Sato, however, would sour after Sato gave Kandori a real eye injury during a practice. In a match on July 6, 1987, Sato went off script and legitimately attacked Kandori, hitting repeatedly her still healing eye, without being warned or punished by the promotion afterwards. The situation finally exploded in an infamous incident on July 18, 1987, when a mutually agreed-upon shoot wrestling match ended with Kandori punching Sato several times and putting her in real armlocks, inflicting an injury that led to Sato's retirement. The incident angered organized crime members, who attempted to kidnap Kandori after the event; she escaped with the help of a coworker.

Kandori moved temporally to the United States and intended to retire too, but she was convinced to return by professional wrestling journalist Makiko Ida. By Ida's suggestion, Kandori pushed for a high level match against Chigusa Nagayo, the star of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. However, All Japan required Kandori to be free from her JWP contract, which she failed to secure, causing the match to be cancelled. Shinobu showed an improved submission defense, while her opponent fought more cautiously. Goundarenko threw Shinobu with ura nage and tried to smother her from the back, but the pro wrestler escaped. Then, blocking a hip throw and a kata guruma attempt, Kandori took her back and closed a guillotine choke, forcing Goundarenko into submission for the win.

Rizin Kandori was expected to face Gabi Garcia on December 31, 2016, at Rizin Fighting Federation's year-end show in Saitama, Japan. However, a rib injury forced her to pull out of the fight. She was replaced by Yumiko Hotta. Kandori was set to face Garcia again on December 31, 2017, but this time the fight was canceled due to Garcia missing weight by .

Championships and accomplishments Judo World Judo Championships 1984 World Judo Championships Bronze Medalist

Professional wrestling All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling WWWA World Single Championship (1 time) Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rumi Kazama UWA World Women's Championship Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling LLPW Singles Championship (2 times) LLPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Takako Inoue Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize (1995, 1998) Universal Wrestling Association UWA World Women's Championship (1 time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Yumiko Hotta Submission (armbar) LLPW - L-1 2000: The Strongest Lady

Tokyo, Japan Win

Svetlana Goundarenko Submission (guillotine choke) LLPW - Ultimate L-1 Challenge

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Svetlana Goundarenko Submission (neck crank) LLPW - Ultimate L-1 Tournament

Tokyo, Japan Win

Fieni Klee Submission (rear naked choke) LLPW - Ultimate L-1 Tournament

Tokyo, Japan Win

Liz Africano Submission (rear naked choke) LLPW - Ultimate L-1 Tournament

Tokyo, Japan