In Search of the Real Tiger Mask

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While the opportunity for a title rematch never arose as promised to Uyenoyama, another door with potentially greater opportunity opened for the American; he is slated for Dream’s upcoming Japan Grand Prix bantamweight tournament. Uyenoyama hopes for an eventual return to Shooto, but he admits that a return to Dream is something he cannot deny. Unfortunately, this still leaves the legitimacy of Katsumura’s reign in question.

“I feel kind of the same way,” says Katsumura, agreeing to the subsequent criticism and doubt that the non-title loss has wrought. “Certainly, if it can happen, it’s a rematch I want. I thought we were going to do it, but it didn’t [happen] and I don’t know why. I didn’t have a choice in it, unfortunately.”

Despite both longing for a rematch that now seems distant at best, Krazy Bee’s Atsushi Yamamoto lies ahead for Uyenoyama in the Dream tournament. Meanwhile, former Shooto 132-pound Pacific Rim champion Okazaki awaits Katsumura at Shooto Tradition 2011. The main event on Friday will be the first time Katsumura officially defends his title and the second time that Okazaki will vie for it. At 7-1-1, Okazaki’s only loss came to the aforementioned Ueda in a fight that began the stalwart wrestler’s reign.

Okazaki rebounded with a win over Hiromasa Ogikubo to capture the Pacific Rim title and a subsequent defense against Tetsu Suzuki, ensuring his ranking and an immediate turnaround for a second crack at the world title. Given his otherwise stellar record and in-ring performances, many pundits, even in Japan, are leaning toward the Osaka-based fighter to steal the title from Katsumura.

“He fought with Ueda for the title and lost, but that’s his only loss. He’s won all his other fights so he’s incredibly good,” says a wary Katsumura. “Okazaki can strike and grapple and do everything, but he’s a lot better in striking than I am, I believe.” Given that even Katsumura concedes his opponent is the favorite in the fight, it makes his decision to split his time between driving supplies to Tohoku and training that much more remarkable.

“As an athlete, I know that I might receive criticism for not devoting everything to training for such an important fight, but even though I’m a fighter, I’m also a human being,” Katsumura explains. “Coming not from the perspective of a fighter but as Katsumura Shuichiro, the person, I asked myself what there was that I could do. Taking a few days off to help in Tohoku and to spread the word is more important than training.”

Though Katsumura is hesitant to admit it in such stark terms, his stance is one in which moral failure lies with those who act only to seek attention for its own ends, at the expense of those who have suffered. He is keenly aware that there are those who, in the wake of the recent disasters, have been moved to action, not out of humanitarian concern but to build a name and craft a narrative focused on one’s self off of the backs of the Tohoku disaster’s survivors. While the emergence of these types of people is inevitable, Katsumura is wary of becoming one.

It is thus with no small effort that Katsumura reconciles his otherwise natural need to do charity with that of accepting recognition for it.

Despite the potential for criticism, Katsumura has come to accept recognition and a label in “The Real Tiger Mask” that is reminiscent of troubled times of the past because it now presents a way to inspire others to help him build a brighter future for the people of Tohoku. He may not realize it, but his critics -- if, in fact, any exist -- can find all the justification they need in this fact, as well as the revelation that his charity work is more important than committing to a full fight camp in a title defense that most expect him to lose.

It is this selfless will to charity that, in concert with his acceptance of the Tiger Mask mantle, makes Katsumura not only an admirable champion and human being but a fitting and true successor of the Tiger Mask legacy, whether he wants that distinction or not.

Yuko Komiyama and Go Yamamoto contributed to this story.

Those interested in contributing to the ongoing relief and rebuilding effort in Japan are encouraged to donate directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Donations can be made online via Paypal.