Takamisakari vs Kasugao May07.jpg

Takamisakari Seiken (born May 12, 1976 as Seiken Katō) is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1999 and established himself in the top division in 2002 after a brief appearance in 2000. He received five special prizes for his achievements in tournaments and earned two gold stars for defeating ''yokozuna''. The highest rank he reached was ''komusubi'', which he held on two occasions. He was one of the most popular wrestlers in sumo in his time, largely due to his eccentric warm-ups before his matches. He retired in January 2013 to become a coach at Azumazeki stable, having taken the ''toshiyori-kabu'' Furiwake-''oyakata''. In January 2020 he became head coach of Azumazeki stable, following the death of the former Ushiomaru.

Career

Born in Itayanagi, Kitatsugaru District, Katō was an amateur sumo champion at Nihon University, winning the College Yokozuna title in his final year. He began his professional sumo career as a ''makushita tsukedashi'' (a promising amateur allowed to start at a level significantly higher than entry level) in March 1999, wrestling under his own name. He reached ''jūryō'', the second-highest division, in January 2000, at which point he changed his fighting name to Takamisakari.

Three tournaments later, in July of the same year, he was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division, becoming only the second wrestler (and first Japanese born) from his Azumazeki stable to achieve this feat. In September he acted as ''tsuyuharai'' ("dew-sweeper", an honorary attendant) in stablemate ''Yokozuna'' Akebono's ring-entering ceremony, but he was injured on the third day of that tournament. Enforced absence from the next two tournaments saw him demoted all the way back to the unsalaried ''makushita'' division, where he had begun his career. It took him until March 2002 to work his way back up to the ''makuuchi'' division, and in September he reached ''komusubi'', his highest rank. He only held this rank for one tournament, however, dropping back to ''maegashira'' in November. He has earned five special prizes, and has two gold stars for defeating ''yokozuna'', both earned in the July 2003 tournament where he was also awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. Although he again reached ''komusubi'' in November 2003, he again failed to retain the rank and spent the rest of his career in the top division as a middle-level ''maegashira''.

Takamisakari again appeared in a ''yokozunas ring-entered ceremony in September 2005, when he replaced Asasekiryū, who was injured, as sword-bearer. On the first day he accidentally scraped the sword against the ceiling.

He came close to demotion from the top division after missing five bouts through injury in November 2007. However, in the next tournament he achieved a majority of wins against losses from the ''maegashira'' 14 ranking. In May 2011 he could score only 7-8 at ''maegashira'' 15 but actually rose one place in the rankings for the following tournament due to the large number of wrestlers retiring over a match-fixing scandal. However his run of 56 consecutive makuuchi tournaments ended when he could only score 3-12 in the July 2011 basho.

Takamisakari was a hugely popular wrestler. He built himself up for each bout with a somewhat eccentric series of muscle flexes and slaps, and threw a copious amount of salt onto the ''dohyō''. In a culture where impassivity is sometimes seen as a sign of strength, he made no attempt to hide his emotions, obviously elated after each win and inconsolably dejected after each loss. Even though he usually performed in the middle to lower ranks, the winner of his matches were always greatly rewarded with ''kenshō-kin'' (prize money) provided by his sponsor, a food company.

Retirement

Takamisakari announced his retirement on day 15 of the Hatsu basho, January 27, 2013, approximately one hour after defeating Wakakōyū, as his 5–10 record at the rank of ''jūryō'' 12 would have resulted in certain demotion to the ''makushita'' division. At his side were both his current stablemaster, the former Ushiomaru, and his previous stablemaster, the former Takamiyama. He told reporters, “I have been cheered by people around the nation. I am humbled, embarrassed and delighted at the same time.”

He stayed in sumo as a coach at his stable under the elder name Furiwake-''oyakata''. The former Ushiomaru died suddenly in December 2019, and after the January 2020 tournament Takamisakari was confirmed as the new Azumazeki Oyakata. However, he did not want the job permanently, and after failing to find a successor as head coach, Azumazeki stable closed shortly after the March 2021 tournament with the personnel moving to Hakkaku stable. Azumazeki also works as a ringside judge during tournaments.

Fighting style

Takamisakari had a straightforward fighting style, rarely resorting to sidestepping at the initial charge. He favoured ''yotsu'' techniques, preferring a right-hand inside, left-hand outside grip on his opponent's ''mawashi'' (''migi-yotsu''), and 26 of his 41 wins between July 2007 and May 2008 were by ''yori-kiri'', or a simple force out. He was also known for his effort and technique at the edge of the ring, which often allowed him to win matches in which just a moment earlier it appeared that he would be pushed out.

In popular culture

*He is known to some as " RoboCop". The nickname was given to him by former ''yokozuna'' Akebono, who was his '' senpai'', in reference to his robot-like movements on the ''dohyō''.
*He is a fan of the anime series ''Gundam Seed''.
*He is also nearsighted, which explains why he squinted a lot on the ''dohyō''. He wore glasses when outside of the ring.
* He appeared in the 2015 "No laughing batsu game" of ''Gaki No Tsukai'' where he did the lead role in a parody of ''Kinpachi Sensei'' as "Furiwake Sensei"

Career record

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of sumo tournament second division champions
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo elders
*List of komusubi

References

External links

*

complete biography and basho results (Japanese)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takamisakari Seiken
1976 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Nihon University alumni
Sumo people from Aomori Prefecture
Komusubi