Kōtetsuyama Toyoya

(July 9, 1942 – April 14, 1996), born , was a sumo wrestler from Otaru, Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was ''sekiwake''. After his retirement he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and the head coach of Onaruto stable.

Career

He made his professional debut in March 1957, joining Asahiyama stable. He won the ''yūshō'' or tournament championship with a 13-2 record in the ''jūryō'' division in July 1963 and was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in the following tournament in September 1963. He was demoted back to ''jūryō'' after only two tournaments and changed his ''shikona'' to Futasegawa, which had been the fighting name of his stablemaster. He won promotion back to ''makuuchi'' in July 1964 but was demoted again, this time after three tournaments. After switching back to the Kotetsuyama name he won promotion to ''makuuchi'' for the third time in May 1965 after a 12-3 ''jūryō'' runner-up performance, and this time stayed in the top division. He was runner-up to Taihō in March 1966, and won his first '' sanshō'', for Fighting Spirit. In November 1966 he was runner-up for the second time, defeated ''yokozuna'' Sadanoyama to earn his first ''kinboshi'', and received the Technique Prize. In the following tournament in January 1967 he was ranked at ''sekiwake'', but scored only 3–12 and never reached the rank again. He is one of the rare examples of a wrestler whose only tournament in the ''sanyaku'' ranks was at ''sekiwake'', rather than ''komusubi'' (along with Hayateumi and Hokutoriki). He earned a second ''kinboshi'' in July 1969 for beating Taihō, and remained a rank-and-file ''maegashira'' until March 1971, when a poor 1–14 record saw him demoted back to ''jūryō.'' He managed to return to ''makuuchi'' in November 1971 but was demoted to ''jūryō'' a number of times after that, his last ''makuuchi'' appearance coming in January 1974.

Retirement from sumo

He retired in January 1975. He branched out from Asahiyama stable and established the Onaruto stable in October 1975. He produced the top division wrestler Itai, a pusher-thruster like himself who also briefly used the Kōtetsuyama ''shikona'', and the lightweight ''jūryō'' wrestler Ishinriki. He was married to a ballet instructor. Onaruto stable closed in December 1994 and he left the Japan Sumo Association.

Death

He died in somewhat mysterious circumstances in 1996, a month before claims he made about match-fixing in sumo were published in a book called ''Yaocho.'' The co-writer of the book died within hours of Onaruto, in the same hospital. Police found no evidence of foul play, but Onaruto's wrestler Itai later said his boss had links to a major yakuza crime syndicate.

Fighting style

Kotetsuyama was short for a sumo wrestler at 175cm, but was known for the power of his pushing attack. He was very much an ''oshi-sumo'' specialist, who preferred pushing and thrusting at his opponents to fighting on the ''mawashi'' or belt. His most common winning ''kimarite'' or techniques at ''sekitori'' level were ''oshi-dashi'' (push out), ''tsuki-otoshi'' (thrust over) and ''hataki-komi'' (slap down).

Career record

*''The Nagoya tournament was first held in 1958.''

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo tournament top division runners-up
*List of sumo tournament second division champions
*List of sekiwake

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kotetsuyama, Toyoya
1942 births
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Hokkaido
Sekiwake
1996 deaths
Sportspeople from Otaru