Following a loss against Hiroshi Tanahashi on the final day of NJPW’s New Japan Soul tour at Korakuen Hall, Tiger Mask announced that he will retire in July next year. During his backstage interview, the fourth iteration of Tiger Mask said that he has decided to call it a career in July 2026.

Portrayed by Yoshihiro Yamazaki, the current Tiger Mask is the character’s longest-running and most enduring iteration. He debuted on July 15, 1995, facing The Great Sasuke in a singles match also at Korakuen Hall. Yamazaki was trained by the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, and succeeded Koji Kanemoto, who was forced to unmask after losing a high-stakes mask vs. mask match against Jushin Thunder Liger in 1994.

Tiger Mask IV Set to Retire

The Tiger Mask character itself holds a unique place in both professional wrestling and pop culture history. The character was originally inspired by a popular manga and anime series created by Ikki Kajiwara and Naoki Tsuji. The series followed a heroic masked wrestler wrestling villainous opponents, and its popularity led to the debut of a real-life Tiger Mask in 1981, portrayed by Satoru Sayama.

Sayama wore the mask from 1981 to 1984, revolutionizing junior heavyweight wrestling with his high-flying, hybrid martial arts-inspired style. After Sayama’s departure, the rights to the character were purchased by All Japan Pro Wrestling, with Mitsuharu Misawa becoming the second Tiger Mask from 1984 to 1990.

Following Misawa’s unmasking to wrestle under his real name, Koji Kanemoto took over the mantle in 1992 but lost the mask in 1994. Yamazaki then stepped in as the fourth incarnation and has since maintained the character’s legacy for nearly three decades.

Now 54 years old, Yamazaki will wrestle his final year under the mask, having won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship six times, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles twice, the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles twice, and the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship once. In addition to his title accomplishments, he is widely respected for his consistency, longevity, and loyalty to the character, remaining one of the few masked wrestlers in Japan to uphold the same persona for such an extended period.

タイガー「来年の7月、引退することにしました。7月というのは僕が7月15日っていうね、デビューした日なんですけど。年数的には今年が30年で、31年目のスタート。だけども、来年の7月、30年やったタイガーマスク、引退させていただきます」

全文https://t.co/x9gJ99vKuF#njSOUL pic.twitter.com/NvN0TWADE8

— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) July 6, 2025

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