CONCUSSION INC.

author Irvin Muchnick

PACHINKO
MAN

The Life and Meaning 

of Pro Wrestling Legend Rikidōzan

Adam Johnson, author of The Orphan Master’s Son, winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: "An important and long overdue contribution to the study of Japanese pop culture and Korean diaspora, and Irvin Muchnick is just the author to bring this amazing story to life."

Robert Whiting, Author of The Chrysanthemum and Bat and Tokyo Underworld: "An impressive, knowing biography of an iconic, legendary ring figure in Japan and Korea, and a primer on the world of professional wrestling at the same time -- densely researched, rich in detail, brimming with fascinating facts, memorable tidbits and insights"

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle Read the full article here "Muchnick said of the book, 'It's my love letter to Japanese and Korean culture.' All of his writing has been love letters, really. Like wrestlers, it's cleverly disguised."

Publication date is January 2027. Orders direct from the author are expected to ship slightly earlier. Direct orders include autographed copies with free shipping to U.S. addresses. Reserve yours by remitting $24.95 in U.S. currency to  paypal@muchnick.net. (Canadian orders, add $10 for shipping. All other foreign orders, add $20.)
 

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From the catalog page of distributor Simon & Schuster: “Dropping into the world of KPop Demon Hunters and the “Korean wave” is the first English biography published in the West of professional wrestling superstar Rikidōzan He was Japan’s biggest celebrity — second only to the emperor. But his public image was a lie.”

ECW Press,

distributed by Simon & Schuster

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR PACHINKO MAN

”Important and long overdue contribution to the study of Japanese pop culture and Korean diaspora, and Irvin Muchnick is just the author to bring this amazing story to life.”
Adam JohnsonPulitzer Prize winner for his novel The Orphan Master’s Son
”Impressive, knowing biography of an iconic, legendary ring figure in Japan and Korea, and a primer on the world of professional wrestling at the same time — densely researched, rich in detail, brimming with fascinating facts, memorable tidbits and insights.”
Robert Whitingauthor of The Chrysanthemum and the Bat and Tokyo Underworld
“Rikidōzan in many ways was the most influential pro wrestler in history. He was the architect and biggest star of Japanese wrestling, which in his day was culturally larger than pro wrestling has ever been anywhere in the world. He was a national hero and symbol in both Japan and North Korea at a level that unless you understood the cultures at the time, you simply couldn't fathom…. Irv Muchnick explains the rise of the Rikidozan phenomenon, through the double-crosses, mob ties, legendary television events and its most violent and real conclusion. If you are a fan of Japanese culture, or pro wrestling history, this is a book that's a must read.”
Dave MeltzerWrestling Observer Newsletter

Irvin Muchnick, the late sportswriting great Frank Deford said, “produces magnificent investigative journalism.”  Reporting for Underwater: The Greed-Soaked Tale of Sexual Abuse in USA Swimming and Around the Globe (2024) spurred government and sports governance investigations in five countries. He also took on the public health crisis in football with Concussion Inc. (2015) and Without Helmets or Shoulder Pads (2023). His classic books explaining the pro wrestling phenomenon in American society include Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Sex, Death, and Scandal (2007) and Chris & Nancy: The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling’s Cocktail of Death (now in its third “Ultimate Historical Edition”).

Muchnick was born in St. Louis and lives in California. A former assistant director of the National Writers Union, he was lead respondent of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming freelance writers’ copyrights and economic rights, Reed Elsevier v. Muchnick.

Read the profile of the author by Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Books

UNDERWATER

The Greed-Soaked Tale of Sexual Abuse in USA Swimming and Around the Globe

 A deep dive into the unsafety of youth athletes — in the U.S. and abroad — under the commerce-driven Olympic system

$19.95

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Also available from:

CHRIS & NANCY

The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling’s Cocktail of Death

  Third and “Ultimate Historical Edition.” Full account of the sensational 2007 episode that still shines light on the dark side of the wrestling industry and of American business, media, and politics.

$22.95

Order
Also available from:
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Investigative journalism isn’t ‘peer-reviewed literature.’ It’s a contact sport.

Contact

info@muchnick.net

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