Japan's Koji Miyamoto to Be Honored with the 2023 Jim Melby Historian Award

By Dan Westbrook

Koji Miyamoto was born in 1957 and by the time he turned 10 years old, he was captivated by professional wrestling in Japan and after having watched 1950’s American Wrestling films on Japanese TV, he knew he had to somehow become involved in the sport that was so fascinating.

In 1974, he had a chance to attend an International Wrestling Enterprise show that featured American Icon, Lou Thesz. Koji obtained Lou's autograph and marvelled at Lou's finesse and techniques in the ring. It was to this experience that Koji credits his adoration for pro-wrestling.

Koji was a follower of noted Japanese wrestling critic, Hiroshi Tazuhama while attending the University

of Hitotsubashi in the late 1970’s. At this time, Koji had a mastery of the English language and wanted to work in some way to promote Pro-Wrestling, at first with translating work for touring wrestlers for the IWE and learning the basics of the promotion in 1977.  He ended up transporting wrestlers to and from the airport and provided whatever help he could to the visiting wrestlers. He did this for men like Lou Thesz, Nick Bockwinkel, Verne Gagne, Billy Robinson and Dick the Bruiser.

The relationship with Lou Thesz helped Koji gain the confidence and trust of others in the business. Koji was hired by Lou as his business confidante and manager and this turned into a friendship that has lasted a lifetime with Lou and his wife, Charlie.  Lou and Charlie even came to Japan to attend Koji's wedding in 1986.

In early 1980, Koji graduated from college and was offered a job with NYK Shipping. This job would eventually send Koji abroad to America and Australia. Wherever he went, he studied the local wrestling scene and even made connections with many wrestlers worldwide.

In 1981, Koji was hired by Pro-Wrestling Magazine (published by Baseball Magazine Sha.) to write a weekly wrestling column. He did this under a pen-name of “Tomomi Nagare”, a pseudo name derived for his wife and “Lou” (in Kanji character) for Lou Thesz. Koji says this is because his wife and Lou Thesz are the two most important people in his life.

Between 1984 and 2023, Koji has written 20 Pro-Wrestling books in Japan under his pen-name, ranging from Lou Thesz biographies, Rikidozan, Pro-Wrestling in Japan, the IWE and Antonio Inoki.

In the 1980’s, Koji developed a great relationship with Jim Melby and exchanged results and insights. While working in San Francisco, he befriended mat veterans Kinji Shibuya and Pepper Gomez. They gave him programs and their own personal recollections that he exchanged with Jim for publishing of many periodicals on the various territorial regions.

The brainchild of Koji, The International Pro-Wrestling Historian’s Club, which he formed in 2002 is a network of highly respected historians. That year twelve historians were charter members, including the late Jim Melby, Don Luce, the late Fred Hornby, Mark Hewitt, Tom Burke, Haruo Yamaguchi, J Michael Kenyon, Steve Yohe, Scott Teal, Chuck Thornton, Koji Miyamoto, and Libnan Ayoub (of Australia). In later years, Greg Oliver, Scott Johnson, Tim Hornbaker, Dan Anderson and George Lenz were added. They work together to advance various Pro Wrestling historical projects.

Koji did joint work with Haruo Yamaguchi, another important wrestling researcher in Japan. Together, they helped Scott Teal publish a historical outline of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Japanese Pro-Wrestling during the Rikidozan era.

Additionally, Koji has been involved in planning and performing MC announcing duties with many DVD Video projects, interview talk shows and consultations for the last two decades. There are not many local and foreign major stars who have worked in Japan that Koji did not work with. Some of those he worked with include The Destroyer, Stan Hansen, Dory Funk Jr., Antonio Inoki, Seji Sakaguchi, Tenryu, Karl Gotch, Mr. Ito, Great Kabuki, Bruiser Brody, Andre the Giant, Fujinami, Tiger Mask and the list goes on.

In 2018, Koji was honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa as the Jim Melby Historian Award winner for excellence in writing and preserving the historical significance of Pro-wrestling. Now, in 2023, at the 57th Annual CAC Reunion, Koji will once again be recognized for achieving this honor by the Cauliflower Alley Club. It should be noted that this award was voted upon by some of the most influential historians gathered and by a hands-down vote, with little effort.

I have personally known Koji for many years. He is a serious and honest individual. We have exchanged wrestling notes and memorabilia and but importantly, trust and confidence. Koji has always been there and of great support while in Japan. There is no other way to say “Thank You” then to cheer him on for this outstanding accolade of a highly deserving individual.