Japan's wild women wrestlers
Forget visions of cherry blossoms and delicate slices of raw fish. Make way for the thud of body slams, sweat, and garish costumes in the world of Japanese women's professional wrestling. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men.
Here, Kris Hernandez, who wrestles as Kris Wolf dressed in white, and Starfire fight it out during their Stardom professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
"I fell in love with it - the drama, the excitement," the 31-year-old American said of her first encounter with this unusual side of Japan. "I was on the edge of my seat with every move, thinking 'Oh my God, how come they are not dead? Can I make a living doing this? Let me try'."
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Kairi Hojo (top) jumps at her opponent Mieko Satomura as they fight in the stands during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men.
Japanese pro wrestling
American pro wrestler Kris Hernandez, who competes as Kris Wolf, (C) meets fans Eiichi Nakazato (R) and Eishi Matsumoto in a restaurant in Tokyo, March 12, 2016.
Hernandez, who lived in San Francisco before coming to Japan, became the first foreigner to train from scratch and work her way up into Japanese women's pro wrestling. "I was pretty poor then, but I wanted to become a wrestler so badly."
She quit her teaching job and shared a house with women wrestlers, living off savings as she began a tough daily training regime including gymnastic moves.
Japanese pro wrestling
Stardom female professional wrestling guest fighter Chelsea (bottom) trains with a fellow wrestler at a boxing gym in Tokyo, October 1, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Kris Hernandez (C) and fellow wrestlers scatter across the ring during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, December 6, 2015.
"I would walk four hours across Tokyo to get to practice, do three-hour training and then get the train back," Hernandez said about her efforts to join the world of pro wrestling in Japan.
"If I saved the train fare one way, it would be all right."
Japanese pro wrestling
Hernandez (L) and Kimura Kyoko carry their fellow fighter Act Yasukawa after her last match before retirement during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese rules on hierarchy come into play in wrestling, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters.
Japanese pro wrestling
Ticker tape confetti rains on wrestler Act Yasukawa after her last match before retirement during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015. P
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Kaori Housako jumps at her opponent Mieko Satomura during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Hernandez (L) and co-guest Thomas Belfer talk about life in Japan as they record a video for the Huffington Post at its office in Tokyo, March 12, 2016.
Hernandez made her debut in August 2014 under the name Kris Wolf, wearing a costume with a wolf's head and tail. She says the sport in Japan is harder-hitting than its U.S. counterpart.
Japanese pro wrestling
A man takes pictures of ring announcer Fuka Kakimoto of Stardom, a Japanese female professional wrestling promotion, after a show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Hernandez greets fans as she enters the arena before her professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
"It's kind of militant - don't talk to the senior unless you are spoken to, clean, stay after until all the seniors leave, then you can leave. Arrive 30 minutes before the seniors," she said explaining the culture and hierarchy of Japanese wrestling.
The money is not huge - she earns $250 for a weekly show - but that's not the point.
"I was doing it because it was cool," said Hernandez, who is now on a break after suffering a concussion.
Japanese pro wrestling
Members of the audience watch female wrestlers fight outside of the ring during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Kris Wolf receives ice spray treatment during her Stardom professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
People watch women fight during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
A man poses for a picture as he sells High protein foods outside a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Jungle Kyouna gets choked during her Stardom female professional wrestling show at Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, December 6, 2015.
The rough and tumble may be an outlet for many of the wrestlers in a country where women are usually expected to be demure and cute, Hernandez said.
"Sometimes it's a part of themselves that they cannot normally express," she said.
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestlers fight during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, December 6, 2015.
Hernandez said, "I have met so many that are so sweet and shy outside the ring, and then you get into the ring and they explode."
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Mieko Satomura carries her opponent Kairi Hojo through the audience area during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Members of the audience watch wrestlers fight outside the ring during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Io Shirai carries a metal beam that supports the ring after the Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Kairi Hojo jumps at her opponent Mieko satomura during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
The President of the Stardom female professional wrestling promotion Hiroshi "Rossy" Ogawa sells brochures before the start of a wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Merchandize material is on display outside a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Wrestler Act Yasukawa (R), jumps at Kairi Hojo during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Members of the media photograph Holidead during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, December 23, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
A wrestler holds on to the rope during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.
Japanese pro wrestling
Io Shirai (top) performs a moonsault onto Mayu Iwatani during their Stardom professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, July 26, 2015.