|
Masurao ~Yoshitsune Ki~
is a Japanese former sumo wrestler, born in Itoda, Fukuoka Prefecture. Making his professional debut in 1979, he reached the top division in 1985. His highest rank was ''sekiwake'' and he won five special prizes in his top division career. He was one of the lightest wrestlers in the top division, and very popular with tournament crowds. In his later career he suffered from a number of injuries, particularly to his knee, and he retired in 1990 at the age of 29. He was the head coach of Ōnomatsu stable and a director of the Japan Sumo Association until 2019 when he left for health reasons. Career In his youth he excelled at judo but was persuaded to give sumo a try by Oshiogawa-''oyakata'', the former '' ōzeki'' Daikirin. He entered sumo after his second year of high school, and fought his first match, under the name Tejima, at age 17 in the March tournament of 1979. In 1985 he entered the ''makuuchi'' ranks, having already taken the name Masurao. He won his first special p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oshiogawa Stable
was a Heya (sumo), stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. In its modern form it dates from March 1975 when it was founded by Daikirin Takayoshi, Daikirin, a former Nishonoseki stable (1911–2013), Nishonoseki stable wrestler. It produced eleven ''sekitori'' in total, such as Masurao Hiroo, Masurao, Enazakura, Daishi Nobuyuki, Daishi, Wakatoba Hiromi, Wakatoba and Wakakirin Shinichi, Wakakirin. In March 2005, with Oshiogawa approaching the mandatory retirement age and no obvious successor available, the stable was absorbed into the affiliated Oguruma stable. History Founded in 1975 by former ''Makuuchi#Ōzeki, ōzeki'' Daikirin Takayoshi, Daikirin after a succession dispute over Nishonoseki stable. The former head coach of Nishonoseki stable Saganohana Katsumi, Saganohana died in 1975. His heir apparent and successor was thought to be Daikirin but after being unable to come to an agreement with Saganohana's widow. This was because wrestler Kongō Masahiro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Komusubi
, or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the only division that is featured on NHK's standard live coverage of sumo tournaments. The lower divisions are shown on their satellite coverage, with only the ''makuuchi'' broadcast having bilingual English commentary. ''Makuuchi'' literally means "inside the curtain", a reference to the early period of professional sumo, when there was a curtained-off area reserved for the top ranked wrestlers, to sit before appearing for their bouts. Wrestlers are considered for promotion or demotion in rank before each grand tournament according to their performance in the one previous. Generally, a greater number of wins than losses (''kachi-koshi'') results in a promotion, and the reverse (''make-koshi'') results in demotion. There are stricter criteria ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wakakōyū Masaya
Wakakōyū Masaya (born 24 February 1984 as Masaya Yakigaya) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Funabashi, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi''. The last two characters of his ring name were taken from his mentor and coach at Ōnomatsu, the former Masurao. He was only the second wrestler from his stable to reach the top division. He was runner-up in one tournament and earned one special prize, for Fighting Spirit. He is now a sumo coach. Early life and sumo background Two years after his birth in Funabashi, his father was killed in a car accident and he was subsequently raised alone by his mother. Ōnomatsu stable being very near the home of one of his relatives, he began visiting it from a young age. This eventually led to him entering the stable in 1999. Career Fighting under his own surname of Yakigaya, he rose steadily through the ranks until reaching ''sandanme'' where he started to struggle. He managed to reach ''makushita'' in September 2002 but was dem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Katayama Shinji
Katayama Shinji (born September 6, 1979) is a former sumo wrestler from Yaizu, Shizuoka, Japan. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 13. Career Katayama practised amateur sumo at Senshu University, finishing third at the All Japan Sumo Championships. He made his professional debut in March 2002 at the age of 22, joining Onomatsu stable. He did not have enough amateur titles to enter at the ''makushita'' level, instead beginning his career at the lowest level of sumo entry, ''maezumo''. Nevertheless, he moved through the divisions quickly, reaching ''sekitori'' status upon promotion to the second highest ''jūryō'' division in July 2004. Katayama was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in May 2005. He earned eight wins against seven losses in that tournament, but did not manage to achieve ''kachi-koshi'' in the top division again. He could manage only a 7-8 score at the rank of jūryō 13 in March 2008, leaving him dangerously close to demotion to the unsalaried ranks. H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mawashi
In sumo, a is the loincloth that (sumo wrestlers) wear during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a as part of the ring entry ceremony or . For top ranked professional , it is made of silk and comes in a variety of colours. It is approximately in length when unwrapped, about wide and weighs about . It is wrapped several times around the and fastened in the back by a large knot. A series of stiffened silk fronds of matching colour called are inserted into the front of the . Their number varies from 13 to 25, and is always an odd number. They mark out the only part of the that it is illegal to grab on to: the vertical part covering the 's groin, and if they fall out during competition the (referee) will throw them from the ring at the first opportunity. Sometimes a may wear his in such a way as to give him some advantage over his opponent. He may wear it loosely to make it more difficult to be thrown, or he may wrap it tightly and spl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kimarite
''Kimarite'' ( ja, 決まり手) is the technique used in sumo by a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) to win a match. It is officially decided or announced by the ''gyōji'' (referee) at the end of the match, though judges can modify this decision. The records of ''kimarite'' are then kept for statistical purposes. The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) have officially recognized 82 such techniques since 2001, with five also recognized as winning non-techniques. However, only about a dozen of these are frequently and regularly used by ''rikishi''. A sumo match can still be won even without a ''kimarite'', by the virtue of disqualification due to a ''kinjite'' (foul), such as striking with closed fist. Basic The basic techniques ( ja, 基本技, kihonwaza) are some of the most common winning techniques in sumo, with the exception of ''abisetaoshi''. ''Abisetaoshi'' is a rarely used basic ''kimarite'' that pushes down the opponent into the ground back-first by leaning forward while grappl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sanshō (Sumo)
are the three special prizes awarded to top (''Makuuchi'') division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo ''honbasho'' or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947. Criteria All wrestlers in the top division below the rank of '' ōzeki'' are eligible. In order to be considered for a special prize a rikishi must make a ''kachi-koshi'' or majority of wins during the tournament. Among eligible rikishi, the prize winners are decided by a panel which includes press writers covering the tournament. There is no requirement that the prizes must be awarded, and it sometimes happens that one or more of the ''sanshō'' are not given. It is also common for an award to be awarded to more than one wrestler. The three prizes are *, Outstanding Performance prize *, Fighting Spirit prize *, Technique prize Typically the ''Ginō-shō'' is awarded to a wrestler or wrestlers who display the most skillful ''kimarite'', or techniques; the ''Shukun-shō'' is awarde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jūryō
Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. For more information see ''kachi-koshi'' and ''make-koshi''. Wrestlers are also ranked within each division. The higher a wrestler's rank within a division is, the stronger the general level of opponents he will have to face becomes. According to tradition, each rank is further subdivided into East and West, with East being slightly more prestigious, and ranked slightly higher than its West counterpart. The divisions, ranked in order of hierarchy from highest to lowest, are as follows: ''Makuuchi'' , or , is the top division. It is fixed at 42 wrestlers who are ranked according to their performance in previous tournaments. At the top of the division are the "titleholders", or "champions" called the ''san'yaku'' comprising ''yokozuna'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Konishiki
Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e (born December 31, 1963), professionally known as is an American former sumo wrestler.Franz LidzMeat Bomb, 05.18.92 - ''Sports Illustrated'' He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach '' ōzeki'', the second-highest possible rank in the sport. During his career he won the top division championship on three occasions and came very close to becoming the first foreign-born grand champion, or ''yokozuna'', prompting a social debate in Japan as to whether a foreigner could have the necessary cultural understanding to be deemed acceptable in sumo's ultimate rank. At a peak weight of he was also at the time the heaviest wrestler ever in sumo, earning him the nicknames "Meat Bomb" and, most famously, "The Dump Truck".Franz LidzMeat Bomb, 05.18.92 - ''Sports Illustrated'' Early career Playing truant from school one day, Atisanoe, already 170kg at the age of 18, was spotted on the beach in Hawaii by a sumo talent scout and was offered the chance to go ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wakashimazu Mutsuo
(born 12 January 1957 as Mutsuo Hidaka) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler from Nakatane, Kagoshima, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki''. He won two top division ''yūshō'' or tournament championships. He retired in 1987 and founded Matsugane stable in 1990 (now known as Hanaregoma stable). Career He came from a family of farmers. He was a classmate of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi at junior high school. Wakashimazu wrestled for Futagoyama stable, joining in March 1975. Unlike most professional sumo wrestlers, he did not join from junior high school but instead joined after completing high school. He was a high school sumo champion but needed some persuasion from his stablemaster that he would be able to put on enough weight to succeed in professional sumo. He made his debut alongside future top division regulars Daijuyama and Kirishima. He reached the salaried ''sekitori'' ranks in March 1980 upon promotion to the ''jūryō'' division and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in Jan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asashio Tarō IV
Asashio Tarō IV (born 9 December 1955 as Suehiro Nagaoka) is a former sumo wrestler from Muroto, Kōchi, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki''. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1978. He won one top division tournament championship and was a runner-up on four other occasions. He won fourteen special prizes, including a record ten Outstanding Performance Awards, and five gold stars for defeating ''yokozuna''. He retired in 1989 and became head coach of the Wakamatsu stable, which in 2002 merged with Takasago stable. He stood down as head coach in 2020. Career Joining Takasago stable in March 1978 after a successful amateur sumo career at Kinki University, he began his professional career in the third highest ''makushita'' division, and was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in November 1978. He initially competed under his own surname, Nagaoka, but in March 1979 he was given the ''shikona'' of Asashio (or "morning tide"), which had previously be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ōnokuni Yasushi
is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō. Making his professional debut in 1978, he reached the top division in 1983. In 1987 he won his first ''yūshō'' or tournament championship with a perfect record and became the sport's 62nd ''yokozuna''. However, he was only able to win one more championship before his retirement in 1991. He has remained in sumo as a coach and in 1999 became the head of Shibatayama stable. He was elected to the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors in 2018. Early life Aoki was born in Memuro, Hokkaidō. At school he did judo, but after a sumo tournament in the area, he was recruited to Hanakago stable by Kaiketsu Masateru and fought his first bout in March 1978, aged 15. He took on the ''shikona'', or ring name, of in the following tournament. When Kaiketsu set up his Hanaregoma stable in 1981, he took Ōnokuni with him. ''Makuuchi'' Ōnokuni reached the second ''jūryō'' division in March 1982, and the top ''makuuchi'' d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
