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The DDT promotion in Japan held a press conference today that also featured Minoru Suzuki announcing the launch of "TAKAYAMANIA", a foundation to help Yoshihiro Takayama and his family with costs relating to his injuries. Takayama, 50 years old, has been paralyzed from the neck down after suffering an injury last May while wrestling in Osaka, Japan for DDT.
With cooperation from all Japanese promotions, a donation box will be set up at every event where people can donate as well as buy Takayama-related merchandise. A bank account has also been set up where people can transfer money directly. For more about details about the foundation and to donate, click here.
Takayama first broke into the business working for the UWFI before moving on to All Japan Pro Wrestling. He fought in several of the early PRIDE events, including a famous fight against Don Frye and was renowned for the level of physical punishment he was able to endure while legitimately fighting. After the passing of Giant Baba and formation of NOAH, Takayama moved to that promotion. In recent years, Takayama had been working primarily for DDT.
A statement read at the DDT press conference from Takayama which has been translated and transcribed by Chris Charlton in the following tweet:
Takayama's statement: https://t.co/aVrbDroW8Z pic.twitter.com/DxXU3NssvB
— chris charlton (@reasonjp) September 4, 2017
Over the course of his career, Takayama held the All Japan Triple Crown, New Japan's IWGP Heavyweight championship and the NOAH Global Honored Crown Heavyweight championship. He is one of only two men, the other being Kensuke Sasaki to accomplish that feat.
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