Ring announcer Kimihiko Ozaki leaving NJPW

New Japan Pro-Wrestling ring announcer Kimihiko Ozaki is departing the company at the end of January

Ozaki is departing the company at the end of the month.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling ring announcer Kimihiko Ozaki took to social media to announce that he is finishing up with the company and his last show is on January 29th at Korakuen Hall. Ozaki has been a ring announcer since 2006 and has shared the announcing duties with Makoto Abe.

Below is Ozaki’s post about his decision to depart NJPW:

I have decided to retire from New Japan Pro-Wrestling after the [show] at Korakuen Hall on January 29th. It has been 19 and a half years since I started as a part-timer, and it has been a valuable experience. I will start a new path. Thank you very much!

Both Ozaki and Makato Abe get chased out of the ring by Bad Luck Fale due to Ozaki accidentally calling Fale ‘Tama Tonga’ on one occasion. The exchanges between Fale and the ring announcers have continued since.

Back in 2011, Ozaki had the opportunity to be on commentary for Wrestle Kingdom 5 which was headlined by Hiroshi Tanahashi versus Satoshi Kojima. Tanahashi recently signed a new deal with NJPW.

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A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.