Koji Kanemoto: Profile, Career Stats, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won & Gimmicks

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Koji Kanemoto, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Kōji Kanemoto (金本浩二) (born Kim Il-Sung (김일성)) was born in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan on October 31, 1966, and he is currently 58 years old.

He is currently working for Independent Circuit under the ring name of Koji Kanemoto.

Currently, he is a member of the team of Junior Stars (with Minoru Tanaka).

Koji Kanemoto has won a total of 10 championships in major promotions during his career.

Koji Kanemoto Profile Index

Profile Info

GenderMale
Real NameKōji Kanemoto (金本浩二) (born Kim Il-Sung (김일성))
Ring Names
- Koji Kanemoto (October 21, 1994 - Present)
- Tiger Mask (III) (February 25, 1994 - October 20, 1994)
- Koji Kanemoto (January 5, 1994 - February 24, 1994)
- Tiger Mask (III) (July 13, 1993 - January 4, 1994)
- King Lee (January 31, 1993 - July 12, 1993)
- Tiger Mask (March 1, 1992 - May 3, 1993)
- Koji Kanemoto (November 6, 1990 - January 30, 1993)
Born October 31, 1966 (age 58)
NationalityJapan, South Korea
Birth PlaceKobe, Hyōgo, Japan
Billed From
- Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight
- 176 lbs (80 kg)
NicknamesFighting Chief
NotesHe was the third incarnation of the Tiger Mask character.
He is the namesake of the Koji Clutch, though he never used the move variant popularized in the West himself.

Career History

Roles
- Wrestler (November 6, 1990 - Present)

Promotions History

Promotion	from	to
PromotionINDY	March 6, 2011	Present
PromotionNOAHBrand Junior Heavyweight	October 14, 2018	January 26, 2019
PromotionDDT	February 14, 2018	June 3, 2018
PromotionZERO1	December 10, 2016	September 30, 2017
PromotionIGF	June 11, 2017	July 15, 2017
PromotionWXW	March 10, 2017	March 12, 2017
PromotionBJW	August 21, 2014	December 23, 2014
PromotionW 1	September 8, 2013	July 6, 2014
PromotionAJPWBrand Junior Heavyweight	September 11, 2011	June 30, 2013
PromotionNJPWBrand Junior Heavyweight	January 4, 1995	December 14, 2011
PromotionNOAHBrand Junior Heavyweight	August 22, 2010	December 24, 2010
PromotionDG	January 23, 2009	March 22, 2009
PromotionZERO1 MAX	January 1, 2008	May 25, 2008
PromotionWCW	November 2, 1995	December 27, 1995
PromotionAAA	February 25, 1994	June 20, 1994
PromotionNJPWBrand Junior Heavyweight	July 3, 1993	January 4, 1994
PromotionUWA	January 31, 1993	June 13, 1993
PromotionWAR	December 10, 1992	January 10, 1993
PromotionNJPWBrand Junior Heavyweight	March 1, 1992	December 14, 1992
PromotionNJPWBrand Young Lions	November 6, 1990	February 28, 1992

Images History

Sep 2023
Dec 2021
Oct 2018
Sep 2011
Jun 2004
Oct 2001
Jan 1997
Oct 1994
Feb 1994
Jan 1994
Jul 1993
Jan 1993
Mar 1992
Nov 1990
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment Details from to
Tweener March 10, 2003 Present
Heel October 8, 2001 March 9, 2003
Tweener October 21, 1994 October 7, 2001
Face March 1, 1992 October 20, 1994
Tweener November 6, 1990 February 28, 1992

Alignment	from	to
Tweener	March 10, 2003	Present
Heel	October 8, 2001	March 9, 2003
Tweener	October 21, 1994	October 7, 2001
Face	March 1, 1992	October 20, 1994
Tweener	November 6, 1990	February 28, 1992

Finishers
- Ankle Lock (October 8, 2001 - Present)
- Tiger Suplex (March 1, 1992 - October 7, 2001)
- Moonsault (November 6, 1990 - October 7, 2001)
Theme Songs
- Theme Song“Jaguar ’13” by Michiya Haruhata - Single (January 1, 2013 - Present)
- Theme Song“The Way of the Ring” (Instrumental) by Dale Oliver - with Minoru Tanaka/TNA - Team (July 4, 2014 - July 4, 2014)
- Theme Song“GOLD” by Tripolithm - Single (November 7, 2010 - December 14, 2011)
- Theme Song“Jaguar '08” by Michiya Haruhata - Single (May 6, 2009 - November 6, 2010)
- Theme Song“Bring It Back + HIGH ENERGY” (Mashup) by Zin with Masashi & Julia Claris - with Hiroshi Tanahashi - Team
- Theme Song“Tears In Rainbow” by Tube - NJPW - Single
- Theme Song“Bring It Back” by Zin with Masashi - NJPW/TEAM2000 - Team
- Theme Song“Semete Konya Wa” by Eikichi Yazawa - NJPW - Single
- Theme Song“Junction ~Whirlwind~” by NJP Unit - NJPW - Single
- Theme Song“Yokahama” by Steve Everitt - WCW - Single (December 27, 1995 - December 27, 1995)
- Theme Song“Let's Go Tiger” by Osamu Suzuki - as Tiger Mask - Single
- Theme Song“Cobra Negra / In Venice” by Bernd Steidl - as Tiger Mask - Single
- Theme Song“Omae Wa Tora Ni Nare” by Muramatsu Toru - as Tiger Mask - Single
- Theme Song“Dog Fight” by Flame - NJPW - Single
- Theme Song“Quick As Lightning” by Kenji Kawai - NJPW - Single

Titles & Accomplishments

New Japan Pro Wrestling
- x4 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 with Minoru Tanaka, 1 with Jushin Thunder Liger, 1 with Wataru Inoue, 1 with El Samurai)
- x5 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
- x3 NJPW Best of the Super Juniors (1998, 2002, 2009)
- x1 Super J Tag Tournament (2010) (with El Samurai)
Pro Wrestling NOAH
- x1 GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (with Tiger Mask)
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 2 All Asia Tag Team Championship (with Minoru Tanaka)
4 Front Wrestling
- 1 4FW Junior Heavyweight Championship
Apache Pro-Wrestling Army
- 1 WEW Heavyweight Championship
Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW
- 1 FMW World Street Fight 8-Man Tag Team Championship (with with Black Tiger V, Black Tiger VII & Great Tiger)
Pro Wrestling Zero1
- 1 NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (with Minoru Tanaka)
VKF Pro-Wrestling
- 1 VKF King of Wrestle Naniwa Championship
Universal Wrestling Association
- 1 UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship
Other Accomplishments
- NJPW National District Tournament Winner (2006 - with Shinsuke Nakamura)
- NJPW Super J Tag Tournament Winner (2010 - with El Samurai)
- NJPW Outstanding Performance Award (2002)
- NJPW Tag Team Best Bout Award (2003 - with Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Kotaro Suzuki and Naomichi Marufuji on June 10)
- WON Most Outstanding Wrestler (1998)
- 24° in PWI 500 (2003)