Kyokunankai Hiromitsu

Last updated

Kyokunankai Hiromitsu
旭南海 廣光
Kyokunankai 2010 Jan.JPG
Personal information
BornHirokazu Ken
(1977-12-14) 14 December 1977 (age 46)
Amagi, Kagoshima
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight137 kg (302 lb)
Career
Stable Ōshima
Record512-493-9
DebutMarch, 1993
Highest rankMaegashira 16 (September, 2010)
RetiredMay, 2011
Championships 1 (Makushita)
* Up to date as of Sep. 2012.

Kyokunankai Hiromitsu (born 14 December 1977 as Hirokazu Ken) is a former sumo wrestler from Amagi, Kagoshima, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1993 and reached the top division in September 2010. The 17 years it took him to reach the top division is the second slowest progress ever, in the history of professional sumo wrestling. His highest rank was maegashira 16. He was forced to retire by the Japan Sumo Association, as a result of the 2011 match-fixing scandal.

Contents

Career

He joined Oshima stable from junior high school, having met in 1992 a wrestler at the stable, Kyokudōzan, who was from the nearby town of Tokunoshima. He made his professional debut in March 1993, fighting under his real surname of Ken. In May 1995 he adopted a formal shikona of Kyokunankai. Weighing less than 100 kg (220 lb), he rose slowly up the ranks, not reaching the third highest makushita division until 1999. It took him another six years to win his first yusho or tournament championship in the division, which came in March 2005 with a 6–1 record. After another 6–1 record in the following tournament in May he finally became a sekitori and was promoted to the jūryō division. In March 2006 he scored ten wins in a tournament for the first time and reached a new highest rank of jūryō 2, but reaching the top division still proved beyond him as he could score only 4–11 in the following tournament. After some mediocre results he fell back to the makushita division in January 2008 but made an immediate return to jūryō after just one tournament's absence.

In July 2010 he earned promotion to the top makuuchi division for the first time. His record of 10–5 at the low rank of jūryō 12 would not under normal circumstances have been enough to win promotion, but due to six makuuchi wrestlers (Toyonoshima, Miyabiyama, Toyohibiki, Goeido, Okinoumi and Wakakoyu) being suspended from the tournament because of a baseball betting scandal and being demoted, there were a large number of vacancies on the banzuke for the Sumo Association to fill. It had taken Kyokunankai 105 tournaments from his professional debut to reach the top division, which is the second slowest in sumo history after fellow Kagoshima Prefecture native Hoshiiwato. Kyokunankai scored only four wins against eleven losses in his makuuchi debut from the rank of maegashira 16, and was demoted back to jūryō.

Retirement from sumo

Kyokunankai last competed on the dohyo in the January 2011 tournament. Following this tournament he was one of 22 wrestlers identified after an investigation by the Sumo Association as being guilty of match-fixing and was ordered to retire. [1] Kyokunankai denied involvement but nonetheless handed in his retirement papers on April 5, 2011 (ensuring that he would retain his retirement benefits and avoid being formally expelled). On April 28 he was invited by Antonio Inoki of the IGF professional wrestling organization to visit the GENOME 15 event, but he decided not to participate, declaring that he would move to his wife's parents home in Fukuoka. [2]

Fighting style

Kyokunankai was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, preferring grappling techniques to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip on his opponent's mawashi was hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri, a straightforward force out.

Career record

Kyokunankai Hiromitsu [3]
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
1993 x(Maezumo)WestJonokuchi#9
34
 
EastJonokuchi#16
43
 
WestJonidan#171
34
 
EastJonokuchi#6
52
 
1994 EastJonidan#136
43
 
WestJonidan#107
34
 
EastJonidan#126
Sat out due to injury
007
WestJonidan#196
61
 
EastJonidan#94
52
 
EastJonidan#44
43
 
1995 EastJonidan#21
43
 
WestJonidan#1
16
 
EastJonidan#41
34
 
WestJonidan#57
52
 
WestJonidan#20
43
 
EastSandanme#99
25
 
1996 WestJonidan#32
34
 
EastJonidan#54
52
 
EastJonidan#11
43
 
EastSandanme#90
52
 
EastSandanme#57
34
 
EastSandanme#73
16
 
1997 WestJonidan#15
52
 
WestSandanme#81
43
 
EastSandanme#65
43
 
WestSandanme#46
43
 
WestSandanme#33
16
 
WestSandanme#65
34
 
1998 WestSandanme#77
16
 
WestJonidan#11
43
 
EastSandanme#93
52
 
EastSandanme#59
43
 
WestSandanme#39
52
 
EastSandanme#13
34
 
1999 WestSandanme#27
52
 
WestMakushita#60
34
 
EastSandanme#16
25
 
WestSandanme#35
52
 
EastSandanme#8
52
 
EastMakushita#48
43
 
2000 WestMakushita#39
43
 
WestMakushita#31
43
 
WestMakushita#26
25
 
WestMakushita#42
16
 
EastSandanme#10
43
 
WestMakushita#58
43
 
2001 EastMakushita#49
61
 
EastMakushita#24
43
 
WestMakushita#20
16
 
WestMakushita#42
34
 
EastMakushita#58
52
 
EastMakushita#37
52
 
2002 EastMakushita#21
25
 
EastMakushita#37
34
 
EastMakushita#45
34
 
EastMakushita#54
61PP
 
EastMakushita#24
34
 
EastMakushita#32
43
 
2003 EastMakushita#24
43
 
EastMakushita#19
52
 
WestMakushita#10
34
 
WestMakushita#16
25
 
WestMakushita#33
43
 
WestMakushita#27
43
 
2004 WestMakushita#20
34
 
WestMakushita#27
43
 
EastMakushita#21
43
 
EastMakushita#16
52
 
WestMakushita#9
43
 
EastMakushita#6
52
 
2005 EastMakushita#2
35
 
EastMakushita#9
61PP
Champion

 
WestMakushita#2
61
 
EastJūryō#12
87
 
EastJūryō#9
78
 
WestJūryō#9
69
 
2006 EastJūryō#11
96
 
WestJūryō#6
105
 
WestJūryō#2
411
 
WestJūryō#9
69
 
WestJūryō#13
87
 
WestJūryō#12
96
 
2007 WestJūryō#8
69
 
WestJūryō#11
69
 
WestJūryō#14
87
 
EastJūryō#11
78
 
WestJūryō#12
78
 
WestJūryō#13
69
 
2008 EastMakushita#1
52
 
EastJūryō#11
87
 
EastJūryō#8
78
 
WestJūryō#9
96
 
WestJūryō#5
78
 
EastJūryō#6
96
 
2009 WestJūryō#2
411
 
WestJūryō#10
87
 
WestJūryō#8
87
 
EastJūryō#6
69
 
EastJūryō#10
852
 
EastJūryō#7
69
 
2010 EastJūryō#12
96
 
EastJūryō#7
69
 
WestJūryō#9
69
 
WestJūryō#12
105
 
EastMaegashira#16
411
 
EastJūryō#5
105
 
2011 WestJūryō#1
510
 

Tournament Cancelled
000
EastJūryō#6
Retired
xxx
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    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

Shunketsu Yūji is a former sumo wrestler from Misato, Saitama, Japan. The highest rank he reached was maegashira 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosanoumi Toshio</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Tosanoumi Toshio, is a former sumo wrestler. He first reached the top division of professional sumo in 1995, winning 13 special prizes and earning 11 kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna over his long career. The highest rank he reached was sekiwake. He retired in 2010 to become a coach at his stable, Isenoumi stable under the name of Tatekawa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamanoshima Arata</span>

Tamanoshima Arata is a former sumo wrestler from Izumizaki, Fukushima, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1998, reaching the top makuuchi division at the end of 2000. He was twice runner-up in a tournament, and earned six special prizes and two gold stars during his career. His highest rank was sekiwake. He wrestled for Kataonami stable. He retired in November 2011 to become an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and is now known as Hanaregoma Oyakata. In December 2021 he became head coach of Hanaregoma stable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satoyama Kōsaku</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Satoyama Kōsaku is a retired professional sumo wrestler from Ōshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur sumo champion at Nihon University, he entered professional sumo in 2004 and first reached the top makuuchi division in 2007. His highest rank was maegashira 12. He spent much of his career in the jūryō and makushita divisions, and won a yusho or tournament championship in each. He won promotion back to the top division in 2014 after a seven-year and 37-tournament absence, the longest ever. He was a member of Onoe stable. He retired in November 2018 and is an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Chiganoura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hōchiyama Kōkan</span>

Hōchiyama Kōkan is a former sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. He joined professional sumo in 2000. His highest rank was maegashira 14, achieved in 2006. After illness saw him demoted to the third makushita division in 2008, he returned to the second highest jūryō division in 2010 and the top makuuchi division in September 2011. After winning the sandanme division he had just been demoted to in November 2013, he chose to retire. He is now a coach at Sakaigawa stable under the name of Tatsutagawa (立田川).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jūmonji Tomokazu</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Jūmonji Tomokazu is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. Joining the professional ranks in 1992, he reached the top division in 2000 and was ranked there for 34 tournaments until 2007. His highest rank was maegashira 6. He was forced to retire in April 2011 after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association found him guilty of match-fixing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimotori Norio</span>

Shimotori Norio is a former sumo wrestler from Arai, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 2000 and first reached the top division in 2002, although due to injuries he had trouble maintaining that position. He earned one special prize, for Fighting Spirit. His highest rank was komusubi. He was forced to retire in April 2011 after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association found him guilty of match-fixing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryūhō Masayoshi</span>

Ryūhō Masayoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Nakagami, Okinawa, Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamanishiki Tatsurō</span> Sumo wrestler

Hamanishiki Tatsurō is a former sumo wrestler from Kumamoto, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1999. His highest rank was maegashira 11, which he reached in 2002. He was mostly ranked in the makushita and sandanme divisions from 2005 until his retirement in 2012. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association upon his retirement and was the head coach of the Kasugayama stable from 2012 until 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamaasuka Daisuke</span>

Tamaasuka Daisuke is a former sumo wrestler from Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1998. His highest rank was maegashira 9. He was well known for moving between the top makuuchi division and the second jūryō division on several occasions. He won two makushita and two jūryō division championships. He retired in September 2016 and is now a sumo coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushūyama Takashi</span> Sumo wrestler

Bushūyama Takashi is a Japanese former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. He made his professional debut in January 1999. At the age of 32, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division in the November 2008 tournament. His highest rank was maegashira 3. He is now a sumo coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shōtenrō Taishi</span> Sumo wrestler

Shōtenrō Taishi is a former sumo wrestler from Khovd Province, Mongolia. He joined professional sumo in 2001 and was known as Musashiryū Taishi until 2007. He made the top makuuchi division for the first time in 2009 and his highest rank was maegashira 2. He wrestled for Fujishima stable. He acquired Japanese citizenship in 2017 and retired shortly before the January 2018 tournament to become an elder of the Japan Sumo Association. As of June 2022 he is known as Nishikijima Oyakata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mōkonami Sakae</span> Mongolian sumo wrestler

Mōkonami Sakae is a former sumo wrestler from Mongolia. After making his professional sumo debut in March 2001, he had his top makuuchi division debut 8 years later in July 2009. His highest rank was maegashira 6. He has acquired Japanese citizenship. In April 2011 he was ordered to retire by the Japan Sumo Association after an investigation found him guilty of match-fixing.

Hamanoshima Keishi is a former sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1992, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1994. His highest rank was komusubi. After his retirement from active competition in 2004 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and founded Onoe stable in 2006, which has produced a number of top division wrestlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sōkokurai Eikichi</span> Mongolian sumo wrestler

Sōkokurai Eikichi is a former professional sumo wrestler from Inner Mongolia, China. He is the only Chinese national to reach the top makuuchi division. Sōkokurai is of Mongolian descent. He made his professional debut in 2003 and was promoted to the top division in September, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fujiazuma Kazuyoshi</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Fujiazuma Kazuyoshi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Adachi, Tokyo, Japan. He entered sumo in March 2003, reaching the top makuuchi division in July 2011. His highest rank to date has been maegashira 4, which he achieved in July 2013 after he put together five straight kachi-koshi or winning records in the top division. He was last ranked in makuuchi in 2015 and since then has been in the jūryō and makushita divisions. He wrestles for Tamanoi stable.

Tamaryū Daizō is a former sumo wrestler from Nagasaki, Japan. He made his debut in 1970, retiring in 1992. He was one of the lighter sekitori wrestlers. His highest rank was komusubi. He was a member of Kataonami stable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amūru Mitsuhiro</span> Russian sumo wrestler

Amūru Mitsuhiro is a former professional sumo wrestler from Lesozavodsk, Primorsky Krai, Russia. After an initial influx of Russian wrestlers from the early 2000s, he was the last ethnic Russian in top level sumo. He made his debut in May 2002 and, after a serious knee injury in 2012 sent him down the rankings, reached the top makuuchi division in November 2014. His highest rank was maegashira 5. He had nine tournaments ranked in the top division, but finished his career in the third highest makushita division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daiamami Genki</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Daiamami Genki is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tatsugō, Kagoshima. After a successful amateur career, he turned professional in January 2016, making the top makuuchi division in November of the following year. His highest rank has been maegashira 11. He wrestles for Oitekaze stable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meisei Chikara</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Meisei Chikara is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Setouchi, Kagoshima. He debuted in sumo wrestling in July 2011 and made his makuuchi debut in July 2018. His highest rank has been sekiwake. He wrestles for Tatsunami stable. Unusually for a top-class sumo wrestler, he uses his given name as his shikona.

References

  1. "Slew of wrestlers forced out of sumo". Japan Times. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  2. "引退の旭南海らが観戦 プロレス参戦はトーンダウン" (in Japanese). Sponichi. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  3. "Kyokunankai Hiromitsu Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2012.