Yoshiko (wrestler)

Yoshiko

Yoshiko in August 2014
Birth name	Yoshiko Hirano (平野 芳子, Hirano Yoshiko)
Born	(1993-07-26) July 26, 1993 (age 24) Katsushika, Tokyo
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Kintora World of Tiger Yoshiko Yoshikong
Billed height	160 cm (5 ft 3 in)
Billed weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Trained by	Fuka Nanae Takahashi Natsuki☆Taiyo Yuu Yamagata
Debut	January 23, 2011

Yoshiko Hirano (平野 芳子, Hirano Yoshiko, born July 26, 1993) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by the ring name Yoshiko (世志琥, Yoshiko, originally 世Ⅳ虎). She debuted with the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion in January 2011, forming a successful partnership with Natsuki☆Taiyo, with the two winning the Goddess of Stardom Championship and the 2012 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. Following Taiyo's retirement, Yoshiko won Stardom's top title, the World of Stardom Championship, in August 2014. Yoshiko's reign ended in controversy in February 2015, when she went off script during a match with Act Yasukawa, legitimately beating and injuring her. Afterwards, Yoshiko was stripped of the World of Stardom Championship, suspended and eventually announced her retirement. She, however, returned in January 2016, now affiliated with the Seadlinnng promotion.

Hirano was presented as part of World Wonder Ring Stardom's roster at the promotion's first press conference on September 7, 2010. She was trained alongside the likes of Eri Susa, Mayu Iwatani, Yoko Bito and Yuzuki Aikawa as part of Stardom's first class of trainees. Hirano was given the ring name Yoshiko, spelled with the Roman numeral for the number four, IV, read as "shi". She was given a villainous character, inspired by the yankii culture. Her debut match took place at Stardom's inaugural event on January 23, 2011, where she was defeated by Yoko Bito. Afterwards, Yoshiko formed a partnership with veteran wrestler Natsuki☆Taiyo. The team was named "Kawasaki Katsushika Saikyou Densetsu" ("Kawasaki [Taiyo's birthplace] Katsushika [Yoshiko's birthplace] Strongest Legend"). On July 24, Yoshiko was part of a match to determine the inaugural Wonder of Stardom Champion, but was defeated by Yuzuki Aikawa. On November 27, Yoshiko and Taiyo were defeated by Aikawa and Bito in the finals of the 2011 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, which was used to determine the inaugural Goddess of Stardom Champions. Yoshiko ended the year by winning a four-woman tournament contested between the class one trainees to become the 2011 Rookie of Stardom.