Kanechika Kazunori

Last updated

Kanechika Kazunori
金親 和行
Personal information
BornKazuyuki Kanechika
(1969-11-12) 12 November 1969 (age 54)
Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Weight161 kg (355 lb)
Career
Stable MihogasekiKitanoumi
Record491-481-11
DebutSeptember, 1985
Highest rankJūryō 2 (January, 1995)
RetiredSeptember, 2004
Elder name Miyagino
* Up to date as of June 2020.

Kanechika Kazunori (born 12 November 1969 as Kazuyuki Kanechika, also known as Kasuyuki Yamamura) is a former sumo wrestler and coach from Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Contents

Sumo career

He was fond of basketball while at junior high school. His father remarried and Kanechika had a poor relationship with his stepmother, which was one reason why he quit high school to enter sumo. He was recruited by the recently retired yokozuna Kitanoumi, who was looking to open his own training stable. Kanechika made his professional debut in September 1985, fighting under his own surname. Upon promotion to the sekitori level in March 1992 he changed his shikona to Gassan, but soon reverted to Kanechika after a run of bad results. He never reached the top division, his highest rank being jūryō 2 in January 1995. He was demoted from the jūryō division in 1998 and spent the last six years of his career in the unsalaried makushita and sandanme divisions. In November 1999 he had a win over future yokozuna Asashōryū, when both were ranked in makushita.

Fighting style

He favoured a left-hand outside, right-hand inside grip on his opponents' mawashi or belt, and his favourite technique was shitatenage, or underarm throw.

Coaching career

By July 2004 Kanechika had decided to retire and he initially had no ambition to stay in sumo, intending to open a noodle shop. However, in September he unexpectedly became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. Although he had only 24 tournaments ranked as a sekitori, below the usual requirement of 30, he was able to become head coach of Miyagino stable by inheriting the Miyagino toshiyori-kabu, or elder stock through marrying the daughter of a previous holder, former komusubi Hirokawa (who had died in 1989). Wrestlers inheriting a stable in this way are permitted to have a lower threshold of 12 tournaments in makuuchi or 20 tournaments as a sekitori. Kanechika was also adopted by the widow and therefore changed his legal name to Kazuyuki Yamamura. The head coach of Miyagino at the time, former maegashira Chikubayama, was forced to step aside as he only had the Miyagino stock on loan from Hirokawa's widow (though this fact had not been widely known). Chikubayama was able to become Kumagatani-oyakata and still be affiliated to the stable. Kanechika, unusually, had no previous connection to the stable, having been a member of Kitanoumi stable which is from an entirely different ichimon or stable group when he took over the stable and the Miyagino elder name. After this controversial takeover the Sumo Association changed the rules so that former wrestlers who only have elder stock on loan, as Chikubayama did, cannot become stablemasters. Chikubayama was the mentor of Hakuhō, who had just entered the top division at the time, and he continued to be Hakuhō's primary trainer. Kanechika, though he was now head as Miyagino, was rarely seen at training sessions.

Match-fixing scandal

Miyagino was forced to resign as head coach by the Sumo Association in December 2010, after being caught on tape discussing match-fixing. The allegations had first been reported in the tabloid magazine Shūkan Gendai in June 2007, [1] but it was not until two years later that the tape itself surfaced, during the former chairman of the Sumo Association Kitanoumi's lawsuit against the magazine in the Tokyo District Court. Miyagino admitted that it was his voice on the tape, but that he was just "talking nonsense." Nevertheless, he accepted the Sumo Association's "recommendation" that he swap elder names with former head coach Chikubayama, who resumed head coach duties, and became known as Kumagatani-oyakata. [2] [3] [4]

Assault charge

In September 2015 he was arrested in connection with an assault with a metal bat on his personal assistant and driver. [5] He was indicted by the prosecutor's office on 18 September for inflicting bodily injury, and fired by the Sumo Association on 1 October. He reportedly admitted in court in November 2015 to physical and verbal abuse of the victim on a number of occasions. In addition to the beatings, these also include forcing the victim to eat a whole tub of wasabi paste and stuffing a towel into his mouth. [6] [7] In a subsequent court hearing in February 2016 the victim gave further testimony and indicated he would not accept a settlement. On 25 March 2016 Kanechika was sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for four years. [8] He has also paid the victim 1.53 million yen. [8]

Career record

Kanechika Kazunori [9]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March
Haru basho, Osaka
May
Natsu basho, Tokyo
July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September
Aki basho, Tokyo
November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1985xxxx(Maezumo)EastJonokuchi#45
43
 
1986WestJonokuchi#11
52
 
EastJonidan#103
52
 
WestJonidan#71
34
 
EastJonidan#92
34
 
EastJonidan#106
43
 
WestJonidan#79
43
 
1987 EastJonidan#54
61
 
WestSandanme#92
43
 
EastSandanme#78
43
 
EastSandanme#61
43
 
EastSandanme#46
43
 
WestSandanme#28
34
 
1988 WestSandanme#41
25
 
WestSandanme#70
43
 
EastSandanme#51
61
 
EastSandanme#4
61
 
EastMakushita#35
43
 
EastMakushita#25
25
 
1989 EastMakushita#46
43
 
WestMakushita#37
52
 
WestMakushita#22
25
 
EastMakushita#40
43
 
WestMakushita#27
124
 
EastMakushita#57
Sat out due to injury
007
1990 EastMakushita#57
25
 
EastSandanme#24
61
 
EastMakushita#47
34
 
WestSandanme#3
61
 
EastMakushita#33
25
 
WestMakushita#48
52
 
1991 WestMakushita#28
25
 
WestMakushita#44
43
 
WestMakushita#36
43
 
WestMakushita#24
52
 
WestMakushita#13
61
 
EastMakushita#4
43
 
1992 EastMakushita#2
52
 
WestJūryō#10
411
 
EastMakushita#5
43
 
EastMakushita#1
34
 
WestMakushita#4
25
 
EastMakushita#18
43
 
1993 EastMakushita#13
52
 
WestMakushita#5
34
 
EastMakushita#11
43
 
EastMakushita#7
52
 
WestMakushita#1
43
 
WestJūryō#13
87
 
1994 EastJūryō#9
78
 
EastJūryō#10
87
 
EastJūryō#8
87
 
EastJūryō#5
69
 
EastJūryō#8
87
 
EastJūryō#5
87
 
1995 WestJūryō#2
69
 
WestJūryō#6
96
 
WestJūryō#2
87
 
EastJūryō#2
510
 
EastJūryō#6
87
 
EastJūryō#5
69
 
1996 EastJūryō#8
96
 
WestJūryō#6
69
 
EastJūryō#10
96
 
EastJūryō#4
69
 
WestJūryō#7
78
 
EastJūryō#10
510
 
1997 EastMakushita#2
34
 
EastMakushita#7
43
 
WestMakushita#4
52
 
EastMakushita#1
43
 
EastJūryō#13
87
 
WestJūryō#8
78
 
1998 WestJūryō#10
78
 
WestJūryō#11
411
 
EastMakushita#4
25
 
EastMakushita#14
16
 
EastMakushita#37
52
 
EastMakushita#23
43
 
1999 WestMakushita#15
34
 
EastMakushita#22
34
 
WestMakushita#30
43
 
EastMakushita#23
43
 
EastMakushita#16
43
 
WestMakushita#12
52
 
2000 EastMakushita#5
34
 
WestMakushita#9
25
 
EastMakushita#22
25
 
WestMakushita#38
34
 
WestMakushita#51
52
 
WestMakushita#30
52
 
2001 WestMakushita#18
25
 
WestMakushita#33
52
 
EastMakushita#22
34
 
WestMakushita#33
43
 
WestMakushita#26
25
 
WestMakushita#41
61
 
2002 WestMakushita#17
34
 
WestMakushita#26
25
 
WestMakushita#43
43
 
WestMakushita#35
34
 
WestMakushita#48
34
 
WestMakushita#57
43
 
2003 WestMakushita#48
16
 
EastSandanme#19
43
 
EastSandanme#8
43
 
EastMakushita#58
34
 
WestSandanme#10
34
 
WestSandanme#25
43
 
2004 WestSandanme#11
25
 
EastSandanme#36
34
 
EastSandanme#51
43
 
WestSandanme#34
34
 
EastSandanme#52
Retired
000
x
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi Jūryō Makushita Sandanme Jonidan Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks:  Yokozuna Ōzeki Sekiwake Komusubi Maegashira

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Toshiyori</i> Retired high-ranking sumo wrestlers within the Japan Sumo Association

A toshiyori (年寄) is a sumo elder of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). Also known as oyakata (親方), former wrestlers who reached a sufficiently high rank are the only people eligible. The benefits are considerable, as only toshiyori are allowed to run and coach in sumo stables, known as heya, and they are also the only former wrestlers given retirement pay.

<i>Heya</i> (sumo) Training stables in professional sumo

In sumo wrestling, a heya is an organization of sumo wrestlers where they train and live. It can also be termed sumo-beya. All wrestlers in professional sumo must belong to one. As of 2022 there were 43 heya, each belonging to one of five ichimon. They vary in size, with the largest heya having over thirty wrestlers and smallest just one wrestler. Most heya are based in and around the Ryōgoku district of Tokyo, sumo's traditional heartland, although the high price of land has led to some newer heya being built in other parts of Tokyo or its suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isegahama stable (2007)</span> Stable of sumo wrestlers

Isegahama stable, formerly known as Ajigawa stable from 1979 to 2007, is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. Its current head coach is former yokozuna Asahifuji.

Kōbō Kenichi was a Japanese sumo wrestler. His highest rank was maegashira 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miyagino stable</span> Stable of sumo wrestlers

Miyagino stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. It was founded by the 43rd yokozuna Yoshibayama as Yoshibayama dōjō while he was still an active wrestler, before changing to its current name in 1960. As of January 2023, the stable had 20 wrestlers, with two of them ranked in the second highest professional division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamahibiki stable</span>

Yamahibiki stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in 1985 as Kitanoumi stable by former yokozuna Kitanoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki stable. It absorbed Hatachiyama stable in 2006, following the death of its head coach, former ōzeki Hokuten'yū. In May 2010 it also absorbed Kise stable, which was forced to close after its stablemaster, former maegashira Higonoumi, was implicated in the selling of tournament tickets to yakuza members. As a result of this move the stable had 46 wrestlers, making it by some margin the largest stable in sumo at this time. It was the first stable to have over 40 wrestlers since Futagoyama stable in 1998, and had difficulty in finding room for so many. As a result, Kise was allowed to reestablish the stable in April 2012, and all former members of Kise stable, as well as newcomers Jōkōryū and Sasanoyama who had been recruited by Kise-oyakata, joined the reconstituted stable again.

Chikubayama Masakuni is a former sumo wrestler from Ukiha, Fukuoka, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1973, breaking into the top makuuchi division thirteen years later in 1986. His highest rank was maegashira 13. After retiring in 1989 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the head coach of the Miyagino stable and his most successful wrestler is yokozuna Hakuhō.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2009.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2007.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2006.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kōbōyama Daizō</span>

Kōbōyama Daizō is a former sumo wrestler from Tsukidate, Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1973 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1981. His highest rank was sekiwake. He earned two special prizes for Technique and was a runner-up in one tournament. He retired in 1990. He is now a sumo coach and ran the Takashima stable from 1993 until 2011. He was elected to the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors in 2018.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganyū Kenji</span> Sumo wrestler

Ganyū Kenji is a former sumo wrestler from Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1986, and reached the top division in March 1996. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He retired in 2000 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association. In 2015 he became the head coach of Yamahibiki stable following the death of his old stablemaster, Kitanoumi.

Asahisato Kenji is a former sumo wrestler from Ikeda, Osaka, Japan. His active career spanned 17 years and 102 tournaments from 1981 until 1998, and his highest rank was maegashira 14. Upon his retirement he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association. He took charge of Nakagawa stable in January 2017, but the stable was closed in July 2020 and he was demoted two rungs in the Sumo Association's hierarchy after he was found to have mistreated wrestlers in the stable.

The following were the events in professional sumo during 2015.

The following were the events in professional sumo during 2016.

The following were the events in professional sumo during 2017.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2019.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2021.

References

  1. "Hakuho's stable elder questioned". Japan Times. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  2. "Stablemaster bout-rigging claim hit". The Japan Times. 25 December 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  3. "Kumagatani Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. "Miyagino Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. "Sumo stable master arrested for allegedly assaulting assistant". Japan Times. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  6. "Ex-Japanese sumo stablemaster Kazuyuki Yamamura admits torturing assistant with wasabi paste". The Independent. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  7. Ryall, Julian (17 November 2015). "Sumo wrestling master made his assistant eat whole container of wasabi". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Ex-coach of yokozuna Hakuho given suspended prison term". Japan Times. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  9. "Kanechika Kazunori Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 3 September 2012.