Kyokutenhō Masaru in Nalaikh, Ulan Bator, Mongolia is a former professional sumo wrestler. He made his debut in March 1992 out of Ōshima stable, with the first group of Mongolians ever to join the sport in Japan, reaching the top makuuchi division in January 1998. In his exceptionally long career he received seven special prizes for Fighting Spirit, and won one yūshō, in May 2012 from the maegashira ranks, which made him at 37 the oldest first–time yūshō winner in sumo history, and he was runner-up in one other tournament. His highest rank was sekiwake, which he held on three occasions. He was the first wrestler since the 1950s to be ranked in the top division after the age of 40. He made more appearances in the top division than any other wrestler at 1470, and only Ōshio fought more than his 1870 career bouts. He announced his retirement in July 2015 and declared his intention to stay in sumo as an elder, having acquired Japanese citizenship in 2005. In 2017 he became the head coach of Tomozuna stable and he is known as Tomozuna-oyakata.
Aminishiki Ryūji is a retired Japanese sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1997 and reached the top makuuchi division in 2000. He earned twelve special prizes and won eight kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He was twice runner-up in a tournament. The highest rank he reached was sekiwake. After more than 22 years as an active wrestler he retired in July 2019 at the age of 40. He is in the all-time top ten for a number of sumo records, including most career wins, most top division appearances and most tournaments ranked in the top division. He wrestled for Isegahama stable.
Kokkai Futoshi is a former professional sumo wrestler from Georgia. He began his career in May 2001. He is the first Caucasian rikishi to reach sumo's highest division, makuuchi, which he achieved in 2004. His highest rank was komusubi, which he reached in 2006. He earned two special prizes for Fighting Spirit and two gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He wrestled for Oitekaze stable. In April 2018 he was voted by unanimous decision to be the president of the Georgian Sumo Federation for a term of four years.
Hōmashō Noriyuki, is a former sumo wrestler. He turned professional in March 2004 and reached the top makuuchi division in May 2006 as the first sekitori from Shikoroyama stable, without any losing scores on his record. His highest rank was komusubi. 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 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 elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Tatsutagawa.
Yoshikaze Masatsugu is a former sumo wrestler from Saiki, Oita Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. A former amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 2004, reaching the top division two years later. Until his promotion to komusubi in May 2014 he had the active record for the longest serving makuuchi wrestler who had never reached a titled rank. His best performance in a tournament came in July 2015 when he was the runner-up and scored twelve wins against three losses. In the following tournament in September 2015 he defeated two yokozuna and won special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Technique. Yoshikaze is in second place for the slowest promotion from makuuchi debut to the third highest sekiwake rank in history, behind only his stablemate Takekaze. He won ten special prizes in total, and eight gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He retired in September 2019 and is now an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, known as Nakamura Oyakata.
Tagaryū Shōji is a former sumo wrestler from Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The highest rank he reached was sekiwake. In 1984 he won a top division yūshō or tournament championship from the maegashira ranking. He is now a sumo coach and head of the Kagamiyama stable as well as a director of the Japan Sumo Association.
Dewanoumi stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It has a long, prestigious history. Its current head coach is former maegashira Oginohana. As of January 2018 it had 14 wrestlers.
Kasugano stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. As of January 2019 it had 20 wrestlers. It has been led by former sekiwake Tochinowaka Kiyotaka since 2003. It was one of the most successful stables in 2013, with six sekitori wrestlers, including the Georgian Tochinoshin and the now retired Japanese born Tochinowaka Michihiro, who used the current head coach's old ring name.
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.
The following are the events in professional sumo during 2006.
Kitataiki Akeyoshi is a former professional sumo wrestler from Machida City, Tokyo, Japan. Making his debut in March 1998, he reached the top division for the first time in September 2008, returning in January 2010. He won two second division jūryō championships in his career. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He retired in January 2018 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Onogawa.
Gagamaru Masaru is a professional sumo wrestler from Georgia. The third Georgian national after Kokkai and Tochinoshin to make the top makuuchi division, he made his professional debut in November 2005, reaching the jūryō division in November 2009 and makuuchi in July 2010. Originally from Kise stable, he briefly competed for the Kitanoumi stable before moving back to the Kise stable after it was re-established. His highest rank has been komusubi. He has won two special prizes for Fighting Spirit and has been runner-up in one tournament.
Kasugafuji Akihiro, born as Shoki Iwanaga, was a Japanese sumo wrestler and coach from Oshika, Miyagi. He was an active wrestler in professional sumo from 1981 until 1996, reaching a highest rank of maegashira 1. After his retirement he re-established the Kasugayama stable in 1997 and trained his own wrestlers. He left the Japan Sumo Association in 2012 after an expenses scandal, and was involved with a legal dispute in 2013 with his successor as head of Kasugayama stable which was not resolved until shortly before his death in 2017.
Sadanofuji Akihiro is a former sumo wrestler from Kazusa, Nagasaki, Japan. He was a jūryō division champion in 2012. The highest rank he has reached was maegashira 2. He is now a coach at Sakaigawa stable.
Teruzakura Hiroyuki is a former sumo wrestler from Minoo, Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1964, and reached the top division in July 1970. He fought for five tournaments in the top division and his highest rank was maegashira 7. He retired in January 1976 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Urakaze, working as a coach at Isegahama stable, Kiriyama stable and Asahiyama stable until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in December 2012. The Urakaze name is now held by former maegashira Shikishima.
Daihi Susumu is a former sumo wrestler from Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1968, and reached the top division in January 1977. His highest rank was maegashira 2. For much of his active career he was known under the shikona of Onobori, before switching to Daihi in 1978. He retired in May 1983 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Yamahibiki and coached at Oyama stable. In April 1986 the acting stablemaster died and Daihi took over the stable and the Oyama name. The stable was shut down in June 1986 and he became a coach at Takasago stable. He moved to Azumazeki stable in December 2011. He reached the retirement age for elders of 65 in October 2017, but is staying with the Sumo Association for an additional five years as a consultant.
Enazakura Tooru is a former sumo wrestler from Sakashita, Gifu, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1977 and reached the top division in November 1987. His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon retirement from active competition in 1994 he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, leaving in July 1999.
Harunoyama Tatsunao is a former sumo wrestler from Toyota, Aichi, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1992 and reached the top division in March 2004. His highest rank was maegashira 10. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Takenawa. He left the Sumo Association in January 2008.
Takarakuni Minoru is a former sumo wrestler from Higashi, Fukushima, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1971 and reached the top division in March 1982. His highest rank was maegashira 2. Following his retirement from active competition he remained in the sumo world as sewanin under his real name Saisu, and was a member of Asahiyama stable and then Isegahama stable.
Taikō Yoshio is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1968, and reached the top division in May 1978. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He left the sumo world upon retirement in November 1980.
