Yu Ishino (石野結 Ishino Yu, born June 24, 1992) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Kagetsu (花月).
Ishino was trained by Sendai Girls, and made he debut in August 2008, before leaving the promotion in December 2014. During his time in Sendai Girls, Ishino began working by the ring name "Kagetsu", appearing in promotions in the Japanese independent circuit such as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, JWP Joshi Puroresu (JWP), Pro Wrestling WAVE (WAVE), Osaka Joshi Pro-Wrestling (OPW) and Oz Academy. In JWP and Oz Academy, Kagetsu held the JWP Junior Championship, the Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championship and the Oz Academy Tag Team Championship twice.
In March 2016, Kagetsu began working for World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom), where he became a one-time World of Stardom Champion, a two-time Goddess of Stardom Champion and a former two-time Artist of Stardom Champion, while also being the leader of popular heel stable Oedo Tai. Ishino also worked as the head trainer for the promotion's since 2018 until January 2020.
Professional wrestling career[]
Early Career (2008–2014)[]
Ishino was trained by Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling, joining their dojo, following his junior high school graduation in April 2008. Ishino wrestled an exhibition bout before officially debuting against Chikayo Nagashima on August 24 in a losing effort. In January 2010, Ishino changed his ring name from to Kagetsu (花月). Following a disagreement with his trainer Meiko Satomura, Kagetsu decided to leave the promotion facing Meiko Satomura in his send off match.
After leaving Sendai Girls, Kagetsu became a freelancer, working in promotions in the Japanese independent circuit such as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, JWP Joshi Puroresu (JWP), Pro Wrestling WAVE (WAVE), Osaka Joshi Pro-Wrestling (OPW), Oz Academy and REINA Joshi Pro Wrestling.
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2016–2020)[]
In March 2016, Kagetsu who had made a few rare appearances for World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom), began regularly working for the promotion facing Hiromi Mimura on March 3. Afterwars, Kagetsu began regularly teaming with Hiroyo Matsumoto, leading the two unsucessfully challenging Thunder Rock (Mayu Iwatani and Io Shirai) for their Goddesses of Stardom Championship on April 2. Afterwards, Kagetsu began portraying a more cocky and villainous persona, regularly disrespecting were opponents, leading Oedo Tai to invite his to join them. This culminated on April 17, Kagetsu turning on Lizzy Styles, during a tag team match, to join Act Yasukawa's Oedo Tai. On October 2, Kagetsu and his Oedo Tai stablemates Kyoko and Hana Kimura defeated Threedom (Kairi Hojo, Mayu Iwatani and Io Shirai) to win Artist of Stardom Championship. On June 16, 2017, Kagetsu and Kyoko defeated Iwatani and Shirai to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship, becoming double champion in the process. They lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Yoko Bito and Kairi Hojo on December 22.
On January 7, 2017, Kagetsu, Kyoko and Viper, who replaced Hana due to an injury lost the Artist Of Stardom Championship to Queen's Quest (HZK, Io Shirai and Momo Watanabe). On April 13, Kagetsu took a break from professional wrestling, before eventually returning on June 11 as the new leader of Oedo Tai, after Kyoko Kimura retired from professional wrestling.
On June 21, 2017 Kagetsu and Kyoko's daughter Hana Kimura defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto and Jungle Kyona to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship. On November 1, Kagetsu officially joined the promotion, ending his days a freelancer. After a year-long reign, Kagetsu and Kimura lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to STARS (Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima) on June 3, 2018. On June 9, Kagetsu defeated Toni Storm to win the World of Stardom Championship, before losing the title to Bea Priestley on May 4. On July 20, Kagetsu and his Oedo Tai stablemates Andras Miyagi and Sumire Natsu defeated STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima and Tam Nakano) to win the Artist of Stardom Championship, before losing them on November 23 to Queen's Quest (AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita).
On December 26, Kagetsu announced that he would retirement from professional wrestling, before announcing that he would make his final appearance for Stardom on January 26, 2020. However, Kagetsu wrestled his final match for the promotion on February 15, taking part of a gauntlet match against members of the Stardom roster that ended in a time limit draw. On February 24, Kagetsu wrestled his retirement match, in his own produced event, facing his trainer Meiko Satomura in a losing effort.
Personal life[]
On May 13, 2022, Ishino came out as a transgender man in a video posted in his channel, changing his given name from "Yukari" to "Yu".
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves:
- Ebisu Drop (Sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- Ebisu Otoshi (Samoan driver)
- Oedo Coaster (450º splash) – 2016-2020
- Signature moves
- Asian mist
- Chokehold
- Chokeslam
- Cross armbreaker
- Kaze no Tsuki (Reverse wheelbarrow bodyscissors takedown rolled into a jackknife pin)
- Missile dropkick
- Stepover cutthroat triangle choke
- Spear
- Superplex
- Samoan drop, sometimes from the top rope
- Entrance themes
- "Future World" by HELLOWEEN
- "Involve All"
Championships and Accomplishments[]
- JWP Joshi Puroresu
- JWP Junior Championship (1 time)
- Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 18 of the top 100 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 100 in 2018
- Oz Academy
- Oz Academy Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kaho Kobayashi
- World Wonder Ring Stardom
- Artist of Stardom Championship (2 times) – with Hana Kimura and Kyoko Kimura (1) and Andras Miyagi and Surime Natsu (1)
- Goddess of Stardom Championship (2 time) – with Hana Kimura (1) and Kyoko Kimura (1)
- World of Stardom Championship (1 time)
- Best Tag Team Award (2017) with Hana Kimura