Dangerous Flower: The Ballad of Hana Kimura -

Hana Kimura’s memorial site. “Hana” means “flower” in Japanese, thus her memorial is covered in beautiful flowers.

Hana Kimura, a woman who made waves in the Japanese wrestling scene during her career. Before her tragic passing, Hana was featured on a Japanese Netflix reality show that was scripted and featured numerous Japanese models and social media stars. After her scripted argument with a fellow cast member aired, Hana began receiving hundreds of death threats and horrible messages online. Some questioning her wrestling and acting, to some questioning if she can be considered Japanese due to her mixed identity. Hana would send out one final message online before ultimately taking her own life on May 23rd, 2020.

Hana (left) and her mother, Kyoko (right).

Hana was a second-generation wrestler as her mother, Kyoko Kimura, was also a well known women’s wrestler at the time. Hana began training at Wrestle-1’s Professional Wrestling Academy in the 2010s and debuted in her first ever match on March 30th, 2016. On September 18th, 2016, Hana won her first championship, the JWP Junior Championship by beating Yako Fujigasaki.

Hana participated in her mother’s retirement show in 2017. On the show Hana would have two matches, the first one where she beat her mother in singles action, the second was a tag team with her mother in which they won. Hana was extremely close to her mother, as she grew up with little to no connection with her father. Hana’s mother, Kyoko, even assisted in her pro wrestling training.

Hana in WRESTLE-1 and Hana Kimura and Kyoko Kimura fighting at Kyoko’s retirement show

2017 was a busy year for Hana, she was splitting her time between three different companies and in early 2018, even did an international tour where she visited America, Mexico, and England. In 2019, Hana officially left her Wrestle-1 company roots to fight full-time for STARDOM. She did wrestle for Stardom in the past up until this point sporadically. She wrestled for the heel (evil) faction Oedo Tai and during her time in the faction she held the Artist of Stardom Championships with Kyoko the leader and Kagestu. Hana also held the Goddess Of Stardom tag titles with Kagestu during her time in Oedo Tai.

During Kagetsu’s final match in the 2018, 5-Star Grand Prix on September 24, Hana would betray Oedo Tai leader Kagestu with an attack with a chair, causing Kagetsu to lose and fail to reach the finals. Following the match, Hana would declare that she was no longer affiliated with Oedo Tai and would be go on to be on her own.

Hana Kimura during her time with Oedo Tai

Months later after she left Oedo Tai, Hana would sign with the STARDOM full-time in March 2019. STARDOM held a draft and Hana was to lead the “International Army” group. This “International Army” would come to be known as the iconic “Tokyo Cyber Squad” and featured many wrestlers from various backgrounds. During the draft, Hana’s last pick would be the young Rina. Rina was about 12–13 years old and was crying because she was the last to be chosen. Hana picked Rina and soon took her under her wing. Rina would be trained by Hana and even adopted Hana’s signature moves that she still uses to this day.

Tokyo Cyber Squad quickly became one of the companies top groups, and Hana having lots of charisma truly helped. It was quite obvious, even when she was “green” that she had IT to be a wrestler. Growing up, Hana faced lots of ridicule and didn’t have many friends in her school days. Despite all this, Hana, even at such a young age, showed a desire to uplift people and bring people happiness because she liked how it felt.

Hana and Rina, the young girl taken under her wing and A shot of a majority of Tokyo Cyber Squads members

On May 16th, 2019, Hana and her teammates Konami and Jungle Kyona, would win the Artist of Stardom championships (a trio championship). These three brought lots of attention and recognition to the championships because of their charisma, chemistry, and in-ring work.

In 2019, Hana would also win the 5-Star Grand Prix, a point based tournament where the winner would go on to face the world champion for their belt. Hana, after winning this grand prix, would face Bea Priestley (Now Blair Davenport) in a losing effort for the World of Stardom Championship AKA “the red belt”. Even in losing, Hana proved her worth to those who didn’t already believe in her and showed she deserved to be a future star and world champion.

Konami (left), Hana (middle), and Jungle Kyona (right) with the Artist of Stardom championships and Hana sporting her crown after winning the 5-star GP with Tokyo Cyber Squad Members by her side.

On February 4th, 2020, Hana would make history in the Tokyo Dome and be featured in the first women’s match to be held in that arena since 2002. Her tag partner for the match, Giulia, was also one of her greatest rivals in wrestling. To make the cherry on top, Hana and Giulia would win the match together.

On March 24th, 2020, Hana would participate in the Cinderella Tournament and face Mayu Iwatani in the first round. Unbeknownst to everyone at the time, this would be Hana’s final match. The two women wrestled to a draw and both lost in the tournament.

Hana dragging Mayu Iwatani in the Tokyo Dome and Hana offering Mayu a banana before their match in the Cinderella Tournament

To this day Hana Kimura’s mother, Kyoko, is still fighting for justice over Hana’s death. Kyoko has filed multiple lawsuits and three men have been arrested and fined for their active involvement in cyberbullying Hana. Kyoko also launched a non-profit organization aimed to end bullying called “Remember Hana”. Japan passed a law where “online insults” could be punishable by one year in jail or $2,000 fine. This law was in response to the bullying Kimura faced online.

Kyoko Kimura fighting for her daughter’s justice

Hana received an out pour of love after the announcement of her passing from wrestlers all across the globe. The impact she has had on viewers and wrestlers alike brings the entire Joshi fandom together in remembrance of her. Since 2021 Kyoko Kimura would hold Hana Kimura memorial shows in the month of May. In memory of her featuring different talent from all over in the Japan wrestling scene coming together to do what Hana Kimura loved and that was wrestle.

Hana Kimura Memorial Shows held yearly since 2021

Much like my previous article on the tragic passing of Plum Mariko, I wanted to highlight Hana’s life and who she was, rather than how she left us. I wanted to take a moment, if you’ll allow, to talk about the personal impact Hana’s life made on me. It’s summer of 2019, and I was secretly getting sick of pro wrestling. I’d really only watch WWE up until this point, and I was tiring of the same routine. I came across a video on Twitter of Hana Kimura’s entrance and a few spots of her wrestling, I was hooked! My whole life I had become known as the “wrestling girl” and I was fine with that, but what do you do when the wrestling girl stops caring for wrestling? You light a flame under her butt that’s what you do. Light a flame under my butt Hana did, it’s like I could feel my eyes widen and the smile form on my lips “I’ve got to see more of this! More of her!” I thought to myself. My entire life, and still to this day, I’ve dreamed of performing in the ring and Hana is the true reason I didn’t give up fighting for that dream.

Hana Kimura surrounded by streamers

I’d watch any match, any interview, any segment (that was translated), that I could find of hers online. I’d dream of fighting in a Stardom ring, I’d dream of being in her group and fighting her in the ring. I began following other girls in Stardom like Tam Nakano, Mayu Iwatani, and Starlight Kid and truly became a fan of the company. As months went on, and I watched more shows I fell in love with wrestling again and it’s thanks to Hana Kimura. When that day happened, when she passed away, it felt like I lost a close friend whom I still mourn to this day. Which may sound silly to some, mourning the loss of someone you’ve never met. Hana was just that kind of person though, she made everyone feel loved and welcomed. If you’re a wrestling fan or someone interested in wrestling, I highly suggest watching Hana Kimura’s work as she was truly something special in the ring. Forever our flower, Hana Kimura.