Kikutaro

In December 2016, Kikutaro moved from Japan to the United States. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 2006, he began competing for All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he continued to work through the years. He often wrestled in the opening match, but also offered himself as an ally to Keiji Mutoh in his feud against Voodoo Murders and other factions.

As Ebessan was OPW's registered trademark, Kikuzawa was forced to give away his Ebessan character to another wrestler before leaving the company in 2005. Kikuzawa modified his character and used the name Ebetaro, but he would end up settling down for a new, original gimmick. He became Kikutaro, a masked, exaggerated self-parodic alter ego who behaved both goofy and self-important, wearing always colored tracksuits and baseball caps. He kept most of his comedic spots and impersonations, however, as well as his feud with Kuishinbo Kamen, adding now the new Ebessan to the enmity.

While wrestling for Osaka Pro, he began wearing a mask as a character named Ebessan based on Ebisu, the Japanese god of good fortune. Using comedic spots to get over with the crowd, Ebessan was immediately accepted by the Osaka Pro crowd. He moved up the ranks quickly and soon made Osaka Pro his full-time home in 2001. Ebessan became particularly well known for his rivalry with Kuishinbo Kamen, the two having many fun and comedic matches. They even worked as a tag team from time to time.

Kikuzawa started his wrestling career in 1994, wrestling under his birth name for Japanese hardcore wrestling promotions including FMW and W*ING, he eventually signed with Osaka Pro Wrestling and Dramatic Dream Team (DDT), where he continued to use his real name while competing for DDT.

Mitsunobu Kikuzawa (菊澤 光信 , Kikuzawa Mitsunobu) (born November 17, 1976), better known as his wrestling persona Kikutaro (菊タロー , Kikutarō) and formerly Ebessan (えべっさん , Ebessan) , is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler primarily competing for Kensuke Office, Osaka Pro Wrestling and Wrestle-1. Though best known for wrestling under a mask, he also regularly works unmasked under the ring name Kikuzawa (stylized in all capital letters), representing Tokyo Gurentai. Kikuzawa has also made appearances in North America, competing in promotions such as Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Ring of Honor (ROH).