Hiroshi Hase
A pro-wrestling star who traded the ring for the political arena, becoming a governor who brings theatrical grit to public service.
Born 1961 (age 65)·Japanese politician and professional wrestler·Birthday: May 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Hiroshi Hase’s life reads like a script for two different blockbuster films. First, he was a charismatic pillar of Japanese professional wrestling, a technical master known for his suplexes and fierce rivalries in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He wasn't just a performer; he held prestigious titles, including a version of the world heavyweight championship, and served as a governing chairman within the sport. Then, in a plot twist few saw coming, he channeled his fame and discipline into a second act in politics. Elected to Japan's Diet, he became known for his direct, sometimes combative style, a remnant of his ring persona. In 2022, he ascended to the governorship of Ishikawa Prefecture, proving that the populist appeal and resilience forged in sold-out arenas could translate into a formidable political career.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Hiroshi was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hiroshi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Hiroshi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a member of Japan's House of Representatives for multiple terms before becoming a governor.
- Won the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship during his professional wrestling career.
- Elected Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture in 2022, leading recovery efforts after the 2024 Noto earthquake.
- Held the chairmanship of the Pacific Wrestling Federation, governing championships in All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Did You Know?
He famously used a bridging German suplex as his finishing move, named the 'Northern Lights Suplex.'
He is a graduate of the prestigious Senshu University, where he was a standout amateur wrestler.
He once wrestled in a famous match against The Great Muta at the Tokyo Dome in 1993.
He maintained a shaved head throughout his political career, a signature look from his wrestling days.
“From the ring to the Diet, my fight has always been for the people.”
