Tomoefuji

Tomoefuji Toshihide (born 27 January 1971 as Toshihide Kurosawa) is a former sumo wrestler from Akita Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi''.

Career

Born in Kazuno, he was scouted by ''yokozuna'' Chiyonofuji after winning several children's sumo competitions in his native Akita Prefecture. At junior high school he was a rival of the future Wakanohana. He joined Chiyonofuji's Kokonoe stable and made his professional debut in May 1986. He made the ''sandanme'' division in November 1987 but then missed two tournaments and fell back to the lowest ''jonokuchi'' division. In July 1988 he won his first (and only) '' yusho'' or tournament championship in the ''jonidan'' division with a perfect 7-0 record. He reached the third highest ''makushita'' division a year later.

While in the ''makushita'' division he performed the '' yumitori-shiki'' or bow-twirling ceremony that takes place at the end of every tournament day, from 1989 to 1990. He reached ''sekitori'' status in July 1990 upon promotion to the ''jūryō'' division and in January 1991 made his debut in the ''makuuchi'' top division. He scored ten wins in his debut and was awarded the Fighting Spirit '' sansho'' or special prize. Tomoefuji seemed to have broken the jinx against performers of the ''yumitori-shiki'' ceremony having a successful career in sumo.

In May 1992 he became the only ''sekitori'' in his stable, following the retirements of Hokutoumi and Takanofuji. Just a year earlier the stable had had two ''yokozuna'', Hokutoumi and Chiyonofuji. Tomoefuji's subsequent career was blighted by injuries. He was involved in a training accident with Akebono shortly before the July 1992 tournament, which led to Akebono having to miss his debut tournament as ''ozeki''. Tomoefuji made his debut in the ''sanyaku'' ranks at ''komusubi'' in that tournament, but had to pull out on the second day. He never managed to return to the rank. Restricted by an injury to his right knee, in September 1993 he was demoted back to the ''jūryō'' division after a poor 4-11 record. He missed two tournaments in 1994, falling to the bottom of the division, and in May 1995 he lost ''sekitori'' status altogether after falling back to ''makushita''. He fought his last competitive match in March 1998. He was still listed on the ''banzuke'' ranking sheets in September but had fallen to ''sandanme'' 85, the lowest rank ever recorded by a former ''sanyaku'' wrestler, upon which he announced his retirement from sumo. He left the Sumo Association upon retiring.

Fighting style

Tomoefuji's favourite techniques were ''hidari-yotsu'', (a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponents' ''mawashi'') ''uwatenage'', (overarm throw) and ''yorikiri'' (force out).

Career record

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of komusubi

References

External links

Complete career record

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomoefuji Toshihide
1971 births
Living people
People from Kazuno, Akita
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Akita Prefecture
Komusubi
Kokonoe stable sumo wrestlers