By: Thom Fain

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW) claims they have made history this week by producing the largest Japanese women’s wrestling event ever held in the United States, with a special showcase in Houston today being followed by a record-breaking attendance in the Dallas suburbs. It comes during AEW All In Texas weekend, marking a turnaround from the underwhelming crowds that plagued Joshi promotions during WrestleMania week in Las Vegas.

The OC in Forney has both a 6,500 seat arena, and a 500+ seat black box theater.

The TJPW shows in Texas are a collaboration with Texas-based startup Tokyo Story USA. The production company behind the events, Tokyo Story claimed its formation was sparked by a “serendipitous” 2023 encounter in Austin that involved Texas deputy sheriffs at a BBQ cookoff, who found their way to Tokyo’s Akihabara district and discovered a love for Otaku culture.

Of course, TJPW has built its identity around mixing professional wrestling with idol culture and J-Pop aesthetics since its founding in 2012 while company co-aces Maki Itoh and Miyu Yamashita have toured America aggressively since 2022.

TJPW’s Texas debut features seven matches with 20 wrestlers, including three Texas-based independent wrestlers: Vert Vixen, Maya World, and Dallas native Alejandra Quintanilla. The card in Dallas also includes a homecoming performance from former TJPW star Yuka Sakazaki, now with AEW, who will team with Ring of Honor standout Billie Starkz against TJPW’s current roster.

The events showcase TJPW’s commitment to cultural exchange, showcasing wrestlers like Miu Watanabe, who doubles as a singer in the idol trio UpUp Girls, performing live music from inside the ring.

Tokyo Story’s involvement represents a growing trend of American entrepreneurs facilitating Japanese cultural exports, with the company serving as a bridge between Japanese wrestling traditions and American audiences hungry for new entertainment experiences during major wrestling weekends.

In 2024, STARDOM American Dream in Philly sold out the old ECW Arena with around 1,000 in attendance for a show that set off cross-promotional feuds between AEW’s Toni Storm and Mariah May and STARDOM’s Mina Shirakawa and Mayu Iwatani.