14 Facts About Yoshikazu Taru

Yoshikazu Taru is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known simply as Taru.

Yoshikazu Taru is signed to Makai, while working for Pro Wrestling Zero1 and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the leader of the Voodoo Murders.

Yoshikazu Taru previously worked in Diamond Ring, Wrestle Association R and Toryumon Japan, later known as Dragon Gate.

Yoshikazu Taru debuted in WAR in December 1996 under his real name as part of Kitao's entourage.

In November 1998, as part of a working agreement between WAR and Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon, Yoshikazu Taru traveled to Mexico, where he took part in team matches along with the heel stable Crazy MAX.

Around this time, Yoshikazu Taru changed his gimmick away from his shoot-style roots, starting to use boots, leather bodysuits and more villainous traits.

Yoshikazu Taru never returned to WAR after his Mexican tenure, instead moving full-time to Toryumon.

For many years they were a powerful faction in Toryumon Japan and Dragon Gate but the group dissolved on November 2,2004, and Yoshikazu Taru left the promotion.

Yoshikazu Taru recruited his former Toryumon enemies Shuji Kondo and Yasshi, as well as the superheavyweight Giant Bernard, and changed his yakuza outlook for a more bizarre, sinister cult leader image.

Yoshikazu Taru wrestled one match against The Great Muta as The Great Ruta in November 2005.

Yoshikazu Taru challenged Satoshi Kojima for the Triple Crown on January 8,2006.

On June 1,2011, Yoshikazu Taru was suspended indefinitely by AJPW after an alleged attack on stablemate Nobukazu Hirai leaving Hirai hospitalised with an acute hematoma.

Yoshikazu Taru took a near two-year hiatus from professional wrestling after the incident.

On January 3,2015, AJPW announced that Yoshikazu Taru would be returning to the promotion on January 31 to take part in Giant Baba's memorial event.