Ōzutsu Takeshi

Ōzutsu Takeshi (born 18 April 1956 as Takatoshi Matsumoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top ''makuuchi'' division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His highest rank was ''sekiwake''. He was runner-up in one tournament and earned ten ''kinboshi'' or gold stars for defeating ''yokozuna''. He also won four '' sanshō'' or special prizes. He wrestled for Taihō stable and after his retirement in May 1992 he worked there as a coach before leaving the Japan Sumo Association in 2008.

Career

Born in Yokkaichi, he came from a sumo family as his father, Ryuichi Matsumoto, was a professional sumo wrestler known as Kenryu Taketora who reached a highest rank of jūryō 1 in 1955. Ōzutsu joined Nishonoseki stable in May 1971 at the age of 15. The great ''yokozuna'' Taihō retired in the same tournament and that December he followed Taihō to a newly created '' heya'', Taihō stable. In his early days he wrestled under a different ''shikona'', Daishin. In July 1977 he became a ''sekitori'' for the first time upon promotion to the ''jūryō'' division. He was injured during the November 1977 tournament and had to withdraw, dropping back to ''makushita''. However, he was never to miss another bout in his career. Upon his return to ''jūryō'' in March 1978 he adopted the ''shikona'' of Ōzutsu (literally "big cannon"; he was sometimes nicknamed "Top Gun"). In September 1978 he claimed the ''jūryō'' championship with an 11–4 record (his only career '' yusho''), and in January 1979, after losing a playoff for the championship to Ōshio he was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division for the March 1979 tournament.

Ōzutsu won the Fighting Spirit Prize in his second top division tournament in May 1979, and in July he defeated two ''yokozuna'', Wakanohana and Mienoumi, the first of his ten career ''kinboshi''. In March 1980 he made his ''san'yaku'' debut at ''komusubi'' but fell short with a 6–9 record. He was runner-up to Kitanoumi with an 11–4 record in March 1981 and was promoted to ''sekiwake'', the highest rank he was to achieve. He held it on two further occasions, in July 1981 and November 1983, and made his final appearance in ''san'yaku'' at ''komusubi'' in November 1984, continuing as a rank-and-file ''maegashira'' for the rest of his ''makuuchi'' career.

He won his first two bouts against Chiyonofuji before the latter became a ''yokozuna'', and earned two ''kinboshi'' from him in September 1984 and March 1986, but was defeated by him on every one of the 37 other occasions they met. He was the man Chiyonofuji beat in September 1989 to reach 965 career wins, more than any other wrestler in history.

He remained in the top division for 78 consecutive tournaments but was finally demoted in January 1992 after recording only a 4–11 score at ''maegashira'' 15. His 1170th and final bout in ''makuuchi'' was a win over Mainoumi. He announced his retirement from sumo two tournaments later at the age of 36 after facing certain demotion to the ''makushita'' division.

Retirement from sumo

Ōzutsu remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, and worked as a coach at Taihō stable, initially under the name Ōtake Oyakata. In 1997 he switched to the Tateyama ''kabu'' when it was vacated by the former ''ōzeki'' Daiju. In 2003 Taihō retired as head coach and the former Takatōriki took over, renaming the heya Ōtake stable. Ōzutsu continued to work as a coach there until 2008 when his Tateyama stock, which he was only borrowing, was needed by the retiring Tamakasuga. Ōzutsu had to leave the Sumo Association as a result. He now runs a French-style restaurant in Yokohama.

Fighting style

Ōzutsu was a ''yotsu-sumo'' wrestler, preferring to fight on the ''mawashi'' rather than push his opponents. His favourite grip was ''migi-yotsu'', with a right hand inside and left hand outside his opponent's arms. His most common winning ''kimarite'' was ''yori-kiri'' or force out, but he also regularly used his outside grip to win by ''uwatenage'' (overarm throw) and ''uwatedashinage'' (pulling overarm throw). He was also fond of ''tsuridashi'', the lift out.

Career record

See also

*List of sumo record holders
*List of sumo tournament top division runners-up
*List of sumo tournament second division champions
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sekiwake

References

External links

Complete career record

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozutsu, Takeshi
1956 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Mie Prefecture
Sekiwake
Sportspeople from Yokkaichi