Kantaro Hoshino
| Kantaro Hoshino | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Yeo Geon-bu (여건부) |
| Born |
October 9, 1943 Kobe, Hyogo, Japan |
| Died | November 25, 2010 (aged 67) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Kantaro Hoshino Great Yamaha |
| Billed height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Billed weight | 95 kg (209 lb) |
| Trained by | Rikidōzan |
| Debut | December 22, 1961 |
| Retired | February 19, 1995 (full-time) December 22, 2008 (last match) |
Kantaro Hoshino (星野 勘太郎 Hoshino Kantarō?, October 9, 1943 – November 25, 2010) was a Japanese born, Korean professional wrestler, manager, and promoter best known for his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. As a wrestler he was perhaps best known for his team: The Yamaha Brothers with Kotetsu Yamamoto. As a manager: he co-led with Tadao Yasuda the heel stable: the Makai Club.
Hoshino began his wrestling career after previously attempting a professional boxing career. He was trained by the father of Puroresu: Rikidozan. Using the name Kantaro Hoshino, he wrestled his debut match on December 22, 1961 against Atsuhide Koma (Mashio Koma, future NWA World Middleweight Champion).
Over the next few years, Hoshino worked his way up the card and paid his dues. In 1967, he was sent on a learning visit to the United States with fellow up and comer Kotetsu Yamamoto, with the two forming the tag team: The Yamaha Brothers with Hoshino using the name Great Yamaha. While in America, Hoshino enjoyed championship success. On August 3, 1967, the Yamaha Brothers won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. They would hold the titles for a week before losing them on August 10 to Bad Boy Hines and Len Rossi. Nine days later, Hoshino won the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship, he would hold the title until August 31.
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