Legendary Japanese Wrestler Osamu Nishimura Dies of Cancer at 53

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Feb 28, 2025, 18:17 IST

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Osamu Nishimura, a prominent Japanese wrestler, has died at 53 after battling esophageal cancer. Despite his late-stage diagnosis, he continued wrestling until December 2024. Nishimura was also a Tokyo Bunkyo Ward Assembly representative and food education instructor. WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura paid tribute. His death was announced on February 28, 2025.

Legendary Japanese Wrestler Osamu Nishimura Dies of Cancer at 53

Osamu Nishimura via BANG TV Wrestling

Osamu Nishimura, one of the most prolific wrestlers from the Japanese wrestling community has passed away at the age of 53. Nishimura had been suffering from esophageal cancer since last year and lost his battle to the vicious disease this year. He leaves behind his wife and 6-year-old son. Nishimura was best known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and MUGA World Pro Wrestling (MUGA).

Osamu Nishimura loses his year-long battle against esophageal cancer

Osamu Nishimura's cancer diagnosis came late, and in March 2024, when he was diagnosed, he already had stage four esophageal cancer. He had already had a cancer scare back in 1998 when Nishimura was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his retroperitoneal space. He used natural remedies and alternative treatments to fight the cancer and was declared cancer-free two years later, in 2000.

Unfortunately for him, this time the battle was already half-lost by the time he came to know about it. The cancer had already spread to his lymph nodes by the time of diagnosis. The entire upper left side of his body, except his head, had been affected. He even underwent a craniotomy to help with his battle, but nothing seemed to be of any help by the end.

But cancer did not mean he left his wrestling days behind. His last match was in December 2024, after his diagnosis, where he teamed up with Katsushi Takemura and Shinya Aoki against Atsushi Onita, Mammoth Sasaki, and Raijin Yaguchi. Now less than a year after the diagnosis, Nishimura passed away after losing his battle against cancer.

It was announced earlier today, on Feb 28, that Osamu Nishimura had passed away. He was 53 at the time of his death. WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura also posted a condolence message after the passing of Nishimura. Other than wrestling, he was also a representative of the Tokyo Bunkyo Ward Assembly and served as a food education instructor. He was re-elected to a fourth term in 2023 and served as a councilor until he died in 2025.
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