Io Shirai (top) performs a moonsault onto Mayu Iwatani during their Stardom professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestler Jungle Kyouna is getting choked during her Stardom female professional wrestling show at Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan, December 6, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)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, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestler Mieko Satomura carries her opponent Kairi Hojo through the audience area during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestler Kairi Hojo jumps at her opponent Mieko satomura during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)A wrestler holds on to the rope during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestlers fight during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan, December 6, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestler Kaori Housako jumps at her opponent Mieko Satomura during a Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestler Kris Wolf receives ice spray treatment during her Stardom professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)Wrestler Act Yasukawa (R), jumps at Kairi Hojo during their Stardom female professional wrestling show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, December 23, 2015. Professional women's wrestling in Japan means body slams, sweat, and garish costumes. But Japanese rules on hierarchy also come into play, with a culture of deference to veteran fighters. The brutal reality of the ring is masked by a strong fantasy element that feeds its popularity with fans, most of them men. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "WOMEN WRESTLERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIESTHOMAS PETER (REUTERS)
