I am reading reports from Japan that All Japan veteran “The Hitman” Ashura Hara has passed away at the age of 68.

There are currently no details released on what was the cause, but he did pass away at the hospital in his homwtown of Isahaya City in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Hara, born on January 8, 1947, made his debut in 1978 and competed overseas before joining AJPW in 1981. Hara teamed regularly with Genichiro Tenryu as the two were part of the Revolution faction in the 1980′s as well as tag team champions together. Hara would also join Tenryu in WAR in the early 1990′s. Hara would though retire in October of 1994.

Following his retirement, Hara would head back to his hometown where he would join the board of education and even become a rugby coach for the local high school. Hara would be noted to taking care of his mother and father who both passed away in the mid-2000′s.

Hara’s funeral appears to be set to take place on April 30.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family at this time.