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Katsuhisa Shibata, former New Japan wrestler and referee, and father of second generation pro wrestler Katsuyori Shibata, passed away on 1/16/10 following a heart attack. Shibata wrestled on the very first New Japan show on 3/6/72 and after retiring in February, 1976, would become a referee for the company.

He temporarily retired as a referee on 6/25/99 at Korakuen Hall but would return for sporadic appearances, recently officiating in Tatsumi Fujinami’s DRADITION promotion.