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Famous New Japan referee Katsuhisa Shibata dead at age 66
By Zach Arnold | January 18, 2010
Nikkan Sports reported that he died from a heart attack on Saturday. He is the father of wrestler/fighter Katsuyori Shibata.
Mr. Shibata came from the Sumo world and transferred into pro-wrestling in 1966. He was in Tokyo Pro and ended up in New Japan when the company started in 1972. He retired as a wrestler in 1977 and would be a referee in the company until 1999. Shibata was a referee at many big events, including the April 1994 Super J-Cup tournament show.
His funeral took place on Monday in Kuwana city (Mie prefecture).
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