Kotaro Yoshino

Kotaro Yoshino (吉野コータロー, Yoshino Kōtarō) 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.^[3][4]

Kotaro Yoshino
Yoshino in January 2020
Born	(1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 (age 31)[1] Chigasaki, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name	Goritaro Yoshino Kotaro Yoshino
Billed height	165 cm (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Billed weight	85 kg (187 lb)
Trained by	Taka Michinoku Taishi Takizawa Ricky Fuji Hiro Tonai Ayumu Honda
Debut	2014

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.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[2]

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.^[7] Yoshino won the 2AW Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, first alongside "Toll Glänz" stablemate Tank Nagai at 2AW Grand Slam In TKP Garden City Chiba on 29 August 2021, by defeating Kengo Mashimo and Tatsuya Hanami,^[8] 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.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11] At Project 9 on 16 November 2017, he teamed up with Dinosaur Takuma in a losing effort against Nakanishi and Hiroyoshi Tenzan.^[12] 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.^[13]

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.^[14] 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.^[15]

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)