Hōmashō Noriyuki
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Hōmashō Noriyuki (born April 16, 1981 as Yōsuke Yamamoto in
Shimonoseki is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. With a population of 265,684, it is the largest city in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the fifth-largest city in the Chūgoku region. It is located at the southwestern tip of Honshu facing the Tsushim ...
,
Yamaguchi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 Square kilometre, km2 (2,359 Square mile, sq mi). Y ...
,
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
), is a former
sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...
wrestler. He turned professional in March 2004 and reached the top ''
makuuchi , 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 on ...
'' division in May 2006 as the first ''
sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a ''rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: ''makuuchi'' and ''jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fract ...
'' from
Shikoroyama stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly part of the Tokitsukaze ''ichimon'' or group of stables. It was established in its current form in February 2004 by former ''sekiwake'' Terao Tsunefumi, who branched off from the Izutsu stable. He did no ...
, without any losing scores on his record. His highest rank was ''
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 on ...
''. He earned seven special prizes in his top division career and was a runner-up in three tournaments. In March 2014 he took the championship in the ''
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 ...
'' division. Hōmashō was a popular wrestler among sumo fans, and was noted for his deep and graceful bow at the end of a match. Upon his retirement in January 2015 he became an elder of the
Japan Sumo Association The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling (called ''Ōzumō'', 大相撲) in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). ''Rikishi'' (active ...
under the name of Tatsutagawa.


Early life and sumo background

He graduated from Saitama Sakae High School and was accepted by the
Nihon University , abbreviated as , is a private university, private research university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School (currently the Department of Law), was founded by Yamada Akiyoshi, the Minister of Justice (Japan), Minister of Justice, in 1889. ...
sumo club. However, due to
cellulitis Cellulitis is usually a bacterial infection involving the inner layers of the skin. It specifically affects the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Signs and symptoms include an area of redness which increases in size over a few days. The borders of t ...
, he had to quit the club and instead did various part-time jobs in between attending lectures at the university. He did not make his professional debut until March 2004, at the age of nearly 23, just before the upper age limit set by the
Sumo Association The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling (called ''Ōzumō'', 大相撲) in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japanese Ministry of Education, Cultu ...
. He was recruited by former ''
sekiwake , 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 on ...
''
Terao is a Japanese former sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable. The highest rank he reached was ''sekiwake.'' Despite his relatively light weight he had an ...
, the head coach of the newly opened
Shikoroyama stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly part of the Tokitsukaze ''ichimon'' or group of stables. It was established in its current form in February 2004 by former ''sekiwake'' Terao Tsunefumi, who branched off from the Izutsu stable. He did no ...
, who he had admired as a young boy.


Career

Initially fighting under his real surname of Yamamoto, he rose through the lower divisions quickly, capturing the ''
yūshō is the term for a championship in Japanese. This article focuses on championships in the sport of professional sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual ''honbasho'' or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most bouts. ''Yūs ...
'' or tournament championship in the ''
sandanme 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 ...
'' division with a perfect 7-0 record in November 2004, upon which he changed his ''
shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Edo period, where they were used as a means to attract customers and hide the identities of the ''rikishi''. Like standard Japanese names, a ''shikona'' co ...
'' to Hōmashō. He achieved ''
kachi-koshi The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' in every tournament until he reached the top ''
makuuchi , 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 on ...
'' division, only the third wrestler to do so since 1958, following Akebono and Kotoōshū. He moved through the second highest ''
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 ...
'' division in just two tournaments. He took his first ''
make-koshi The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' or losing score in his top division debut in May 2006, but an exceptional result of 12-3 in November of that year, in which he was runner-up, gained him two
prizes A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people (such as sporting teams and organizations) to recognize and reward their actions and achievements.
. Hōmashō was promoted to ''maegashira'' 4 for the following tournament in January 2007. He only managed a 7-8 score there and so slipped down the rankings slightly, but he produced a strong 11-4 record from ''maegashira'' 5 in March 2007, which earned him his second Technique prize. He was promoted to his highest rank to date of ''maegashira'' 1 for the following tournament, just missing out on the two available ''
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 on ...
'' positions which instead went to the demoted ''
sekiwake , 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 on ...
'' Kotoshōgiku, and
Toyonoshima Toyonoshima Daiki (born June 26, 1983 as Daiki Kajiwara) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sukumo, Kōchi, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 2002, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2004. He was a runner-u ...
who had scored 8-7 at ''maegashira'' 1. Hōmashō suffered his first big setback in the May 2007 tournament, dropping his last four matches (all against ''maegashira'' ranked wrestlers) to finish with a poor 5-10 record. In July 2007 he won nine of his first ten bouts but lost the last five, finishing on 9-6. He returned to ''maegashira'' 1 in September and recorded eight wins, but again was not promoted to the ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' ranks, instead being moved from the west to the east side of the ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament (''honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two w ...
''. He would only manage three wins at that rank in the November tournament. At the end of 2007 he dropped 10 kilos in weight, due to the effects of medication for
high cholesterol Hypercholesterolemia, also called high cholesterol, is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is a form of hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids in the blood), hyperlipoproteinemia (high levels of lipoproteins in the blood), ...
, and he turned in a poor 4-11 score in January 2008, sliding to ''maegashira'' 13 for the March 2008 tournament. At this low rank he was able to produce a ''kachi-koshi'' score of 9-6. He had climbed to ''maegashira'' 2 by September 2008 but was unable to compete in that tournament due to a wrist injury, the first time in his career that he has missed any bouts. After having surgery, he returned in November but despite being ranked as low as ''maegashira'' 15 he could only win seven matches. He was one of seven wrestlers who
NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestr ...
commentator Shuhei Nagao (the former Mainoumi) in 2008 called the "
Seven Samurai is a 1954 Japanese epic samurai drama film co-written, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The story takes place in 1586 during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. It follows the story of a village of desperate farmers who hire seven ...
" and identified as "holding the key" to a Japanese resurgence in sumo, which was dominated by foreigners in the top ranks. (The others were Gōeidō,
Kisenosato is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reached the sec ...
, Kotoshogiku, Toyohibiki,
Toyonoshima Toyonoshima Daiki (born June 26, 1983 as Daiki Kajiwara) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sukumo, Kōchi, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 2002, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2004. He was a runner-u ...
and Tochiozan). Hōmashō was in better condition for the January 2009 tournament and from the very bottom ''maegashira'' 16 rank he scored eleven wins and won the Fighting Spirit Prize. In the following tournament in March he won nine bouts in a row from 2-3, finishing as a runner-up with another 11-4 score and winning his second successive Fighting Spirit Prize, and third overall. Once again he was denied a ''san'yaku'' debut, with the ''komusubi'' positions going to Kakuryū and Tochiōzan, and was ranked at ''maegashira'' 1 for the fourth time in the May 2009 tournament. However, he performed very badly in May, losing his first fourteen matches before managing a solitary win on the final day. He recovered to score 10-5 in July. He rose to ''maegashira'' 2 for the May 2010 tournament, but withdrew after losing his first six matches, citing an injury to his
cervical vertebrae In tetrapods, cervical vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are the vertebrae of the neck, immediately below the skull. Truncal vertebrae (divided into thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in mammals) lie caudal (toward the tail) of cervical vertebrae. In ...
picked up in training shortly before the tournament. He made a strong comeback in July, winning his first ten bouts and finishing joint runner-up alongside
Aran Aran m Places Azerbaijan Villages and municipalities: * Aran, Aghjabadi * Aran, Lerik * Aran, Shaki * Aran, Tovuz * Aran, Yevlakh Iran * Aran, Alborz, a village in Alborz Province * Aran, Nain, a village in Isfahan Province * Aran, K ...
and Kakuryū on 11-4. He was awarded his fourth Fighting Spirit Prize (shared with Aran). In the September tournament he defeated '' ōzeki'' Kotoōshū and
Baruto Kaido Höövelson, (known professionally as Baruto Kaito ; born 5 November 1984) is an Estonian politician and former professional sumo wrestler. Making his debut in May 2004, he reached the top division after just two years in sumo in May 2006 ...
on consecutive days. This came after he had lost his previous twenty matches against ''ōzeki'' ranked wrestlers. However, he lost five of his last six matches to finish with a disappointing 7-8 score. Ranked at ''maegashira'' 2 in May 2011, he won just three bouts; although these did include wins over Kotoōshū and ''sekiwake''
Kisenosato is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reached the sec ...
. Fighting from a more comfortable position at ''maegashira'' 9 in the July tournament, he scored 11-4 and won his fifth Fighting Spirit Prize and seventh Special Prize overall. This resulted in his promotion to ''maegashira'' 1 for the fifth time in the September 2011 tournament. He is the first wrestler to be ranked at ''maegashira'' 1 more than three times without ever making the ''san'yaku'' ranks. In the September tournament he went 10-5, including victories over all three ''ōzeki'', and this performance saw him finally reach ''san'yaku'' in the November 2011 tournament at ''
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 on ...
'' rank. At 30 years and six months he became the fourth oldest ''san'yaku'' debutant since the six tournament a year system began in 1958. He was able to win only four matches in his ''komusubi'' debut. In 2012 he reached ''komusubi'' twice more, in May and November, but scored only 4–11 in these tournaments too. He was forced to sit out the first two tournaments of 2013 after undergoing shoulder surgery, resulting in a fall to the bottom of the ''jūryō'' division. He returned to the top division in September 2013 but after missing the opening tournament of 2014 through injury he was once again demoted to ''jūryō.'' He came back strongly by taking the ''jūryō'' championship with a 14–1 record, losing only on the final day. His 9-6 showing in the following May 2014 tournament would again put him into the upper ''makuuchi'' ranks, the level he had been competing at before his injuries sidelined him. However he had to withdraw from the July 2014 tournament after damaging his right hamstring and right
anterior cruciate ligament The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments (the other being the posterior cruciate ligament) in the human knee. The two ligaments are also called "cruciform" ligaments, as they are arranged in a crossed formation ...
in a defeat to Harumafuji on Day 5.


Retirement from sumo

Hōmashō never managed to return to competition and in the middle of the January 2015 tournament, which he sat out of, he announced his retirement. He has stayed in sumo as a coach at his stable under the name Tatsutagawa-''oyakata''. His retirement ceremony or ''danpatsu-shiki'' was held before a sell-out crowd of 10,000 at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The fist ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the lands of the Ekōin temple in Ry ...
in January 2016, and unusually saw him rotate and face all four sides of the hall during the ceremony so all spectators could get a good view. He put on his ''
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 var ...
'' again in February 2016 when he took part in an exhibition bout against Furiwake-''oyakata'' (the former
Takamisakari 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 the 40th
Fuji TV JOCX-DTV (channel 8), branded as and colloquially known as CX, is a Japanese television station based in Odaiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Owned and operated by the it is the key station of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and the Fuji Network Sys ...
Grand Sumo Tournament held at the Kokugikan. He takes an active role in training and has helped to develop top wrestlers such as Abi.


Fighting style

Hōmashō was a straightforward, unspectacular ''yotsu-sumo'' wrestler, rarely employing throwing moves. His favourite grip on his opponent's ''
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 var ...
'' was a left hand outside, right hand inside position, or ''migi-yotsu''. ''Yori-kiri'' (force out) and ''yori-taoshi'' (force out and down) accounted for about 45 percent of his career wins. He was admired for his deep and respectful bow to his opponents after losing a match.


Personal life

Hōmashō is married with two sons, born in 2011 and 2013.


Career record


See also

*
Glossary of sumo terms The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
*
List of sumo tournament top division runners-up The table below lists the runners up ('' jun-yusho'') in the top ''makuuchi'' division at official sumo tournaments or ''honbasho'' since the six tournaments per year system was instituted in 1958. The runner up is determined by the wrestler(s) w ...
*
List of sumo tournament second division champions This is a list of wrestlers who have won the sumo second division ''jūryō'' championship since 1909, when the current championship system was established. These official tournaments are held exclusively in Japan. The wrestler who has won the mo ...
*
List of past sumo wrestlers This is a list of prominent past wrestlers (either retired or deceased) in the sport of professional sumo. They are listed in order of the year and tournament month that they made their professional debuts. The information listed below was gleaned ...
*
List of sumo elders A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
*
List of komusubi This is a list of all sumo wrestlers whose pinnacle in the sport has been the fourth highest rank of ''komusubi'' and who held the rank in the modern era of sumo since the 1927 merger of the Tokyo and Osaka organizations. There are usually two ac ...


References


External links

*
Complete biography and basho results (Japanese)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Homasho, Noriyuki 1981 births Living people Japanese sumo wrestlers People from Shimonoseki Sumo people from Yamaguchi Prefecture Komusubi