J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to the Champions of Japanese Wrestling

Since the debut of Rikidōzan in 1951, Japanese professional wrestling has created a legion of grappling superstars, taking a distinctly Western art form and making it something uniquely their own. It began with a simple story-a valiant Japanese star taking on enormous American invaders, the narrative a reflection of Anti-American sentiment that remained strong after Japan's defeat in World War II. Even before television sets were widespread, Japanese fans would gather around TVs at departme...