Sorakichi Matsuda

Biography

Sorakichi Matsuda came to the United States as one of the earliest Japanese wrestlers to compete on American soil, carrying both the expectations of his countrymen and the curiosity of a new wrestling audience. He earned respect through his skill, resilience, and willingness to meet the era’s strongest grapplers, carving a path for wrestlers of diverse backgrounds.

Though his life was brief, the impression he left was lasting, and those who learned of his contests remembered him as an energetic pioneer; his remains rest at Woodlawn Cemetery, a quiet tribute to a bold sporting spirit.