Japanese wrestling promotion Stardom confirmed Saturday evening that wrestler Hana Kimura had passed away. Kimura was 22 years old. Kimura had been professionally wrestling since the age of 18, but had long been a part of the wrestling scene due to her mother Kyoko Kimura also being a wrestler. Kimura was a popular and well-loved wrestler across the world and many believed her to be a superstar in the making.
The announcement of Kimura's death came after she had posted distressing messages on social media implying suicidal thoughts. A rough translation of her now-removed tweets reads as, "Nearly 100 opinions every day. I couldn't deny that I was hurt. I'm dead. Thank you for giving me a mother. It was a life I wanted to be loved. Thank you to everyone who supported me. I love it. I'm weak. I'm sorry. I don't want to be alive anymore. Thank you everyone. I love you. Bye."
A series of photos shared on Kimura's Instagram story showed her smiling, however the first photo shared Saturday's date and the final photo said simply, "Goodbye." Other photos shared on her Twitter account showed graphic self-harm.
Kimura had been the victim of online harassment for an extended period due to her participation in the Japanese television show Terrace House. She had a confrontation with a popular housemate, leading to many targeting Kimura in retaliation. This harassment included death threats. She had originally joined the cast of Terrace House with the hopes of introducing more people, especially young girls, to professional wrestling.
Wrestling Observer reports that Kimura was planned to be pushed by Stardom, Japan's largest women's wrestling promotion, as one of their two biggest stars this year. Kimura was spotlighted in a match at the huge Tokyo Dome on January 4, the start of what was supposed to be her extended push. It was the first time a women's match had been held in the Tokyo Dome since 2002. Japan's wrestling scene has been shut down since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, however.
Since the announcement of Kimura's passing, an outpouring of support has come from the wrestling industry across the world. It's clear that Kimura was beloved by many, whether they were in the wrestling industry, fans, or otherwise.
Source: Wrestling Observer