Quick Links
In the culture that surrounds professional wrestling, certain locations, items, and oddities are adopted into the very fabric of the industry, transforming rather unsuspecting things into engrained parts of wrestling lore. In the Gotanda district of Tokyo's Shinagawa ward sits a steakhouse. Just one of the thousands of restaurants in Japan's capital, one only needs to look at the pictures plastered along its exterior to see that it has become a staple of the wrestling subculture.
Ribera Steakhouse has become the site of pilgrimage for both fans and wrestlers alike in recent years, becoming a hotspot for the various historic wrestling locations dotted around Tokyo. So, just how has a small family business on a corner of Meguro Dori Avenue become an internationally known eatery?
Ribera Steakhouse Attracts American Wrestlers In Japan
Arguably the biggest American star that the Japanese rings have ever seen, Stan Hansen has recalled in interviews how Bruiser Brody had first took him to Ribera Steakhouse in the late 1970s. At first, Ribera became the restaurant of choice for many wrestlers for a fairly simple reason. A steak, that an American wrestler could find at practically every diner on the road between shows, had been somewhat of an expensive rarity in Japanese restaurants at that time. So, for wrestlers looking for a plentiful helping of red meat during their stays in Tokyo, Ribera was a revelation, offering a familiar steak menu at good prices.
There, wrestlers on tour with All Japan and New Japan found an owner who was a big fan of their work. Norikazu Yamaguchi ran the small steakhouse, crammed into the bustling streets of the world's largest metropolis. A wrestling fan himself, he was more than accommodating to the grapplers that came into his establishment, offering discounts along with great service. But, it is the material gifts that wrestlers left with that propelled the restaurant from a recommended place to eat between those in the business and into gaining a cult following.
The Ribera Steakhouse Jacket
Even more than their food, Ribera Steakhouse has become known for the famed satin jackets. With their bull logo embroidered on the breast and back, and made in a multitude of colorways, Ribera jackets quickly became a must-have fashion accessory for those making the journey to Japan. According to the original owner's son, the first fabled Ribera jacket was given to Bruiser Brody just as a gift, thanking him for his patronage. But, as Brody began to appear in magazines and travelling to shows in his satin jacket, more and more wrestlers looked to add one to their own suitcase.
They became part of the trademark pro wrestler look even more when the Road Warriors paired them with equally colorful Zubaz, instantly creating an iconic look that absolutely screams 'pro wrestling'. But, a large part of the appeal is the exclusivity of them. The owners have never sold a Ribera jacket, only ever gifting them to the wrestlers who visited the restaurant, and even then not all of them got one. To many, ownership of a Ribera jacket was a status symbol and a mark of approval of their in-ring abilities. If they were good enough to be flown over and impress the fans of Japan, they were good enough for a Ribera jacket.
The Continued Legacy Of Ribera Steakhouse
Ribera Steakhouse has continued to be a dominant presence in wrestling culture ever since its inception. It taps into nostalgia for both the peak years of wrestling, both in Japan and the United States, as well as the love for 1980s fashion trends. Ribera Steakhouse has kept up its traditions of gifting their patented jackets to wrestlers since its inception.
The dawn of social media and the growing interconnectedness of the wrestling world in the 2000s saw reinvigorated fandom for the steakhouse jackets. Independent wrestlers with their first bookings in Japan would make a point to stop off at Ribera, and whenever the WWE passed through Japan on their world tours, their top names also got their satin badges of honor. The wonders of social media have allowed pictures of wrestling's biggest and most loved stars posing in their jackets in the restaurant, building the legend of Ribera Steakhouse for all new generations of fans.
The legacy of Ribera Steakhouse and the history it is steeped in has absorbed the restaurant in its entirety. Walking in it today, patrons would not only find the outside drawing in customers with pictures of wrestling superstars enjoying their time, but also the walls of the cosy eatery. Photographs, memorabilia, title belts, trophies, all of it surrounding those coming in for a steak dinner, creating an atmosphere immersed in professional wrestling. Though they may have started as a small restaurant in its cramped quarter in Tokyo, Ribera Steakhouse has taken upon a life of its own, known to many who have never even set foot in Japan, and spoken of in near-mythic terms by even more.