| Akira Nogami | |
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| Ring name(s) | AKIRA Akira Nogami |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Billed weight | 218 lb (99 kg; 15.6 st) |
| Born | March 13, 1968
Narashino, Chiba |
| Debut | October 12, 1984 |
Akira Nogami is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, who has wrestled for the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) promotion.
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After graduating from high school in 1984, Akira Nogami was initiated into the New Japan dojo. He debuted in October of that year against Keiji Mutoh, making him one of the youngest wrestlers in New Japan history, at the age of 16. In 1990, he left on an overseas learning excursion to Europe in Otto Wanz's Catch Wrestling Association and returned to NJPW a year later, and developed his AKIRA persona. Akira scored a big win over Jushin Thunder Liger in August 1991 to begin his one and only reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
After losing the title to Norio Honaga in November 1991, he graduated to the heavyweight division. In June 1992, he teamed up with Hiroshi Hase to participate in the NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament, held by World Championship Wrestling. They defeated the Headhunters in the first round, but Akira suffered an eye injury and was replaced by Shinya Hashimoto for the remainder of the tournament. In 1993, he formed the Japanese Jollyjacks with Takayuki Iizuka. After proving that the team was no threat to the IWGP Tag Team Championship, the J-J-Jacks disbanded in 1996, as Iizuka teamed up with Kazuo Yamazaki, with whom he won the titles.
Nogami suffered a serious eye injury in 1998 and returned in February 1999, wearing face paint, sporting blond hair, and returning to his AKIRA persona. During 2000, he had a recurring role in the TV show Kamen Rider Kuuga. From 2001 onward, he wrestled mainly in the junior heavyweight division and engaged in some classic matches. After failing to reach a new contract agreement with New Japan in 2004, Nogami declared himself a freelancer and began competing only part-time.
Since leaving NJPW, Nogami has become a regular in Keiji Mutoh's All Japan Pro Wrestling where he has been a consistent threat to the juniors. He currently has a successful acting career that consumes much of his time, but still appears on numerous events each year always bringing with him exceptional skill, speed, and charisma.
Nogami announced that he would be returning to New Japan to team up with Jushin Liger against Jado & Gedo on the C.T.U farewell show. On February 24, 2008, he and Liger won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Nogami's first title in over 16 years. He is currently part of the Legend stable with Liger, Masahiro Chono, and Riki Chōshū.
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