Kotaro Yoshino
{{Short description|Japanese professional wrestler}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Kotaro Yoshino
| image = 高島平区民館20200119181054 IMG 5265.jpg
| caption = Yoshino in January 2020
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|07|19|df=y}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=29347|title=Kotaro Yoshino • General Information|website=wrestlingdata.com|first=Axel|last=Saalbach|access-date=19 January 2025}}
| birth_place = Chigasaki, Japan
| names = {{ubl|Goritaro Yoshino
Kotaro Yoshino}}
| weight = 85 kg
| resides =
| billed =
| trainer = Taka Michinoku
Taishi Takizawa
Ricky Fuji
Hiro Tonai
Ayumu Honda
| debut = 2014
| retired =
}}
{{nihongo|Kotaro Yoshino|吉野コータロー|Yoshino Kotaro}} is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Active Advance Pro Wrestling where he is a former 2AW Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his appearances in various other promotions from the Japanese independent scene such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling.{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/kotaro-yoshino-13241.html|title=Kotaro Yoshino Profile & Match Listing|work=profightdb.com|author=Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)|access-date=19 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.2aw.jp/stars/yoshino/|script-title=ja:選手名鑑 吉野コータロー（ヨシノコータロー）|work=2aw.jp|author=Active Advance Pro Wrestling|language=Japanese|access-date=4 August 2021}}
Professional wrestling career
= Kaientai Dojo/Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2014–present) =
Yoshino made his professional wrestling debut during the Kaientai Dojo era of the promotion at K-DOJO GWSP4 In Itabashi, an event promoted on 29 January 2014, where he fell short to one of his coaches Ricky Fuji in singles competition.{{cite web|url=https://superluchas.com/k-dojo-resultados-k-dojo-gwsp-itabashi-29012014/|title=K-DOJO: Resultados K-DOJO «GWSP in Itabashi» – 29/01/2014|work=Superluchas.com|author=Dark Angelita|lang=es|date=30 April 2014|access-date=19 January 2025}} In Kaientai Dojo, Yoshino's first accomplishment was the 2015 edition of the K-Metal League which he won by outmatching Takayuki Ueki, Kouki Iwasaki, Yoshihiro Horaguchi and Yuma in the main block.{{cite web|url=https://www.2aw.jp/k-metal2015/|script-title=ja:K-METAL LEAGUE2015|work=2aw.jp|publisher=Active Advance Pro Wrestling|lang=ja|access-date=19 January 2025}} He won the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, most recently alongside "Dino Stones" tag team partner Dinosaur Takuma at Tokyo Super Big Show on 23 September 2017 by defeating Kaji Tomato and Taishi Takizawa.
After Kaientai Dojo rebranded to Active Advance Pro Wrestling in mid 2019, Yoshino competed in the inaugural tournament of the 2AW Openweight Championship by falling short to Taishi Takizawa in the first rounds at 2AW ChiBattle 38 on 14 July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://superluchas.com/2aw-se-anuncia-torneo-para-un-nuevo-campeonato/|title=2AW: Se anuncia torneo para un nuevo campeonato|work=Superluchas.com|author=Dark Angelita|language=es|date=5 July 2019|access-date=19 January 2025}} Yoshino won the 2AW Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, first alongside "Toll Glänz" stabblemate Tank Nagai at 2AW Grand Slam In TKP Garden City Chiba on 29 August 2021, by defeating Kengo Mashimo and Tatsuya Hanami,{{cite web|url=https://www.2aw.jp/news/news-king/20210829tkp/|script-title=ja:GRAND SLAM in TKPガーデンシティ千葉|work=2aw.jp|author=Active Advance Pro Wrestling|language=Japanese|date=29 August 2021|access-date=29 August 2021}} and secondly by teaming up with "Starlight Dreamers" tag team partner Ayame Sasamura to defeat MJ2 (Kengo Mashimo and Naka Shuma) on 25 August 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=4497|title=2AW Grand Slam In TKP Garden City Chiba|work=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|date=25 August 2024|access-date=25 August 2024}}
= Japanese independent circuit (2014–present) =
Yoshino competed at Tenka Sanbun no Kei, a cross-over event promoted by Kaientai Dojo alongside DDT Pro-Wrestling and Big Japan Pro Wrestling. He made his last appearance at the 2015 edition of the event, where he defeated Yoshihiro Horaguchi.{{cite web|url=https://www.2aw.jp/results/20150705hakata/|script-title=ja:天下三分の計2015 CLUB-K TOUR in HAKATA|trans-title=Tenka Sanbun no Kei 2015 Club-K Tour in Hakata|access-date=12 September 2021|author=Kaientai Dojo|author-link=Active Advance Pro Wrestling|website=2aw.jp|language=ja}}
Yoshino took part in three of New Japan Pro Wrestling's Lion's Gate Project events. He made his first appearance at Project 8 from 12 October 2017, where he fell short to Manabu Nakanishi in singles competition.{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/111300?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project8 | access-date=12 October 2017 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}} At Project 9 on 16 November 2017, he teamed up with Dinosaur Takuma in a losing effort against Nakanishi and Hiroyoshi Tenzan.{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/114012?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project9 | access-date=16 November 2017 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}} He wrestled his last match at Project 10 from 21 December 2017, where he teamed up with Nakanishi to defeat Tenzan and Takuma in tag team competition.{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/116499?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project10 | access-date=21 December 2017 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}
At W-1 Wrestle-1 Tour 2017 Autumn Bout on 19 November, Yoshino teamed up with Manabu Soya and Dinosaur Takuma to unsuccessfully challenge Seigo Tachibana, Shotaro Ashino and Yusuke Kodama for the UWA World Trios Championship.{{cite web|url=http://w-1.co.jp/News/detail?id=5437|script-title=ja:「WRESTLE-1 TOUR 2017 AUTUMN BOUT」11.19千葉・Blue Field大会一部対戦カード決定のお知らせ|work=w-1.co.jp|publisher=Wrestle-1|lang=ja|date=19 November 2017|access-date=19 January 2025}} At AJPW 45th Anniversary on 27 August 2017, Yoshino competed in a battle royal won by Osamu Nishimura and also involving notable opponents such as Abdullah Kobayashi, Atsushi Maruyama, Great Kojika and Kazuhiro Tamura.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-news.net/ajpw-summer-explosion-2017-45th-anniversary-show-results/96424/|title=AJPW Results: Summer Explosion 2017 [45th Anniversary Show] – Tokyo, Japan (8/27)|work=wrestling-news.net|first=Wayne|last=Daly|date=28 August 2017|access-date=19 January 2025}}
Championships and accomplishments
- Kaientai Dojo/Active Advance Pro Wrestling
- 2AW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Tank Nagai (1) and Ayame Sasamura (1)
- Chiba Six Man Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Dinosaur Takuma and Yuma (1), Chojin Yusha G Valion and Dinosaur Takuma (1), and Tank Nagai and Ayato Yoshida (1)
- Strongest-K Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Taishi Takizawa (1) and Dinosaur Takuma (1)
- Bo-so Golden Tag Tournament (2016) – with Taishi Takizawa
- K-Metal League (2015)
- Chiba Pro Wrestling
- CPW Hyakkenden Championship (1 time, current)
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
| list1 =
{{2AW Tag Team Championship}}
{{Chiba Six Man Tag Team Championship}}
{{Strongest-K Tag Team Championship}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Japan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoshino, Kotaro}}
Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers
Category:21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers
Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers
Category:Japanese professional wrestlers
Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen
Category:People from Kanagawa Prefecture
Category:Professional wrestlers from Kanagawa Prefecture
Category:2AW Tag Team Champions