Towanoyama Yoshimitsu

Towanoyama Yoshimitsu
Towanoyama Yoshimitsu
鳥羽の山喜充
Personal information
Born	Akihito Kobayashi; July 10, 1977 (age 46); Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in)
Weight	170 kg (370 lb; 27 st)
Career
Stable	Dewanoumi
Record	500-426-68
Debut	November, 1993
Highest rank	Maegashira 13 (March, 2002)
Retired	January 2015
Championships	2 (Makushita)
	* Up to date as of Jan 24, 2015.

Last updated November 22, 2023

Towanoyama Yoshimitsu (born July 10, 1977 as Akihito Kobayashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1993. His highest rank was maegashira 13, achieved in March 2002. He had many injury problems and had perhaps the unluckiest (and shortest) top makuuchi division career of any wrestler in sumo, being injured before even fighting a match in the division. He is the only wrestler since the beginning of the Shōwa era in 1926 to have been ranked in the top division without winning any bouts there.

Career

Towanoyama made his professional debut in November 1993, joining Dewanoumi stable straight from high school. At the time Dewanoumi stable was extremely strong and he had many powerful training partners. He served as a personal attendant to such top division men as Kushimaumi, Oginohana and Oginishiki. In March 1999 he won the makushita division championship with a perfect 7-0 record and earned promotion to the second highest jūryō division, becoming an elite sekitori wrestler. He suffered an injury to his right ankle which required surgery and affected his performances, resulting in demotion back to makushita after only four tournaments. However, in May 2001 he won his second makushita championship and returned to the second division. A strong 11-4 record in January 2002 earned him promotion to the top makuuchi division, alongside Shimotori.

At the time Towanoyama was the heaviest Japanese wrestler in sumo, weighing over 200 kilograms (440 lb). He was the highest ranked wrestler in his stable and was able to use his immense weight to good advantage. However, on the day of his first match in the top division in March 2002, he injured his knee in training and was forced to pull out of the tournament without participating in a single bout.^[1] This was to prove to be his only top division tournament. After winning only five bouts in the next tournament he fell to makushita once again. He was able to return to the jūryō division in November 2003, but on the tenth day of the March 2004 tournament, whilst trying to force a throwing move against Wakakosho, he fell badly and tore his patella tendon.^[1] He was hospitalised for four months, requiring transplant surgery for thigh tendons. He missed five consecutive tournaments, which meant he fell greatly in rank, ending up in the second lowest jonidan division.

After rehabilitation and weight training programs Towanoyama returned to the ring in March 2005 and made his way slowly back up the rankings, but never managed to regain sekitori status. A 6-1 score in May 2008 moved him up to Makushita 6 for July, his highest ranking since his 2004 injury. He produced a 5-2 score there, putting him on the brink of promotion back to jūryō, and he was even called up to face a jūryō opponent, Kaiho, in the following tournament - his first match against a sekitori in 27 basho. However, after two losing scores he slid down the makushita division again. In 2009 he rebounded again with three consecutive winning records. His results slowly begin to slip however, and over a four-year period he slowly dropped in the ranks of makushita being relegated to the lower sandanme division in May 2013, but achieving a winning record in that tournament and the next to gain promotion back to his mainstay of makushita. He announced his retirement after the January 2015 tournament, where he achieved his 500th career win but lost his six other bouts. He was the first wrestler to be ranked in the top division but not have any makuuchi wins since Kenrokuzan missed his only top division tournament in May 1926, before the Shōwa era.

Fighting style

Towanoyama was a yotsu-sumo specialist, preferring grappling techniques to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip on his opponent's mawashi is migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri, a straightforward force out, which accounts for about 45 percent of his career victories.

Career record

Towanoyama Yoshimitsu^[2]
Year in sumo	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	x	x	x	x	(Maezumo)
1994	WestJonokuchi#53 6–1	EastJonidan#126 5–2	WestJonidan#71 3–4	EastJonidan#93 5–2	WestJonidan#49 5–2	EastJonidan#11 4–3
1995	WestSandanme#90 4–3	WestSandanme#72 5–2	WestSandanme#34 3–4	EastSandanme#48 3–4	WestSandanme#66 5–2	EastSandanme#27 3–4
1996	EastSandanme#42 6–1	WestMakushita#58 3–4	EastSandanme#19 5–2	EastMakushita#56 2–5	EastSandanme#22 5–2	EastMakushita#56 4–3
1997	WestMakushita#47 5–2	WestMakushita#27 2–5	WestMakushita#43 4–3	EastMakushita#33 4–3	EastMakushita#25 5–2	EastMakushita#13 4–3
1998	WestMakushita#9 5–2	WestMakushita#5 5–2	EastMakushita#2 2–5	WestMakushita#11 3–4	WestMakushita#18 6–1	EastMakushita#7 3–4
1999	WestMakushita#13 4–3	WestMakushita#10 7–0 Champion	WestJūryō#12 8–7	EastJūryō#9 8–7	EastJūryō#8 6–9	WestJūryō#11 3–12
2000	WestMakushita#8 3–4	WestMakushita#16 3–4	EastMakushita#21 5–2	WestMakushita#9 5–2	WestMakushita#4 3–4	WestMakushita#9 3–4
2001	EastMakushita#15 5–2	EastMakushita#7 5–2	WestMakushita#2 7–0 Champion	EastJūryō#9 7–8	WestJūryō#10 8–7	EastJūryō#8 9–6
2002	WestJūryō#3 11–4	WestMaegashira#13 0–1–14	WestJūryō#9 5–10	EastMakushita#1 1–6	WestMakushita#19 4–3	EastMakushita#12 5–2
2003	EastMakushita#5 4–3	EastMakushita#3 2–5	EastMakushita#12 4–3	WestMakushita#7 4–3	EastMakushita#5 5–2	EastJūryō#13 9–6
2004	WestJūryō#5 7–8	EastJūryō#8 6–5–4	WestJūryō#11 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15	WestMakushita#12 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7	WestMakushita#52 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7	WestSandanme#32 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7
2005	WestSandanme#92 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7	WestJonidan#52 1–2–4	WestJonidan#90 6–1	EastJonidan#13 5–2	EastSandanme#78 5–2	WestSandanme#46 6–1
2006	EastMakushita#57 1–4–2	EastSandanme#25 4–2–1	WestSandanme#10 5–2	EastMakushita#50 4–3	EastMakushita#41 4–3	EastMakushita#32 5–2
2007	EastMakushita#19 5–2	EastMakushita#12 3–4	EastMakushita#18 4–3	WestMakushita#13 4–3	EastMakushita#9 3–4	EastMakushita#14 2–5
2008	WestMakushita#30 3–4	WestMakushita#36 5–2	EastMakushita#21 6–1	WestMakushita#6 5–2	EastMakushita#2 3–4	WestMakushita#3 1–6
2009	EastMakushita#27 4–3	WestMakushita#19 4–3	WestMakushita#13 5–2	WestMakushita#6 3–4	WestMakushita#11 3–4	EastMakushita#16 4–3
2010	WestMakushita#14 4–3	WestMakushita#9 3–4	WestMakushita#13 4–3	WestMakushita#8 3–4	EastMakushita#11 2–5	EastMakushita#22 4–3
2011	WestMakushita#18 4–3	EastMakushita#14 Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0	EastMakushita#14 4–3	EastMakushita#4 2–5	WestMakushita#7 4–3	EastMakushita#4 2–5
2012	EastMakushita#12 3–4	WestMakushita#17 3–4	EastMakushita#23 5–2	WestMakushita#11 1–6	WestMakushita#29 4–3	EastMakushita#23 3–4
2013	WestMakushita#28 3–4	EastMakushita#36 1–6	EastSandanme#13 4–3	EastSandanme#2 5–2	EastMakushita#47 4–3	EastMakushita#37 4–3
2014	WestMakushita#28 4–3	WestMakushita#22 2–5	EastMakushita#40 3–4	EastMakushita#47 3–4	EastMakushita#58 3–4	WestSandanme#11 5–2
2015	EastMakushita#50 Retired 1–6	x	x	x	x	x
Record given as win-loss-absent Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions 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

Related Research Articles

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

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.

Futen'ō Izumi, is a former sumo wrestler. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 2003, reaching the top division the following year. He earned two special prizes. His highest rank was komusubi, which he held for one tournament. He retired in May 2011 after falling down the banzuke to the third makushita division. He is now a sumo coach.

Ōtsukasa Nobuhide is a former sumo wrestler from Miki, Hyōgo, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1993. The highest rank he reached was maegashira 4. He retired in March 2009 and is now a sumo coach.

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.

Kitazakura Hidetoshi, born December 15, 1971 as Hidetoshi Mukō is a former sumo wrestler from Asakita ward, Hiroshima City, Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 9. He is the elder brother of Toyozakura, also a top division wrestler. He was a popular figure with sumo fans. He is now a stable master and elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Shikihide-oyakata.

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.

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

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.

Ōshio Kenji is a former sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo. After his retirement at the age of 40 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and set up Shikihide stable in 1992. He left the Sumo Association upon turning 65 in 2013.

Oginishiki Yasutoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. His father and brother were also sumo wrestlers. He is now a coach at Dewanoumi stable.

Asahiyutaka Katsuteru is a former sumo wrestler from Kasugai, Aichi, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He is now the head coach of Tatsunami stable.

Ōzutsu Takeshi 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.

Oginohana Akikazu is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1983, and reached the top division in January 1990. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He retired in July 1998. He is the son of former sekiwake Oginohana Masaaki and the elder brother of former komusubi Oginishiki. Since 2014 he has been the head of the Dewanoumi stable.

Wakanojō Munehiko is a former sumo wrestler from Naha, Okinawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1992, and reached the top division in September 1997. His highest rank was maegashira 6. He retired in May 2004 due to diabetes, which he had been dealing with since the age of 18 and had seen him fall from the top division all the way down to the second lowest jonidan division. After retirement he became an office worker. He needed a kidney transplant in 2006 and his mother was the donor, which was featured in Tokyo Broadcasting System Television's The Friday in January 2018. He appeared in another edition of the program in June 2018, working alongside fellow ex-sumo wrestlers Wakatoba and Wakatenro, in care for the elderly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakasegawa Yoshimitsu</span>

Wakasegawa Yoshimitsu was a sumo wrestler from Sakata, Yamagata, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1978, reaching the top makuuchi division for the first time in 1983. His highest rank was maegashira 1. He retired in 1992 and worked in the restaurant business after leaving sumo.

Ryūkōzan Kazuto, born Kazuto Miyata, was a sumo wrestler from Sakai, Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1983, and reached the top makuuchi division in January 1990, alongside his stablemate Oginohana. His highest rank was maegashira 5. He died of a heart attack after only one tournament in the top division.

Kotoyūki Kazuyoshi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Kagawa Prefecture. He made his professional debut in 2008. After being a regular jūryō wrestler who made occasional trips to the top makuuchi division for a few years, from 2015 until 2019 he was a top division regular. He earned one gold star for defeating a yokozuna and one special prize for Outstanding Performance. He wrestled for Sadogatake stable, and his highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in April 2021 and is now a sumo coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amakaze Kōichi</span> Japanese sumo wrestler

Amakaze Kōichi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kotohira, Kagawa. He made his professional debut in March 2007, joining Oguruma stable, and reached the top makuuchi division in September 2016. His highest rank has been maegashira 13. He has one jūryō division championship or yūshō.

Daishōhō Kiyohiro is a Mongolian professional sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar. He began his professional sumo career in 2013 at the age of eighteen. His highest rank to date has been maegashira 9. He wrestles for the Oitekaze stable.

References

1 2 "Lower Division Rikishi". sumofanmag.com. August 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
↑ "Towanoyama Yoshimitsu Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2012-09-09.

External links

Towanoyama Yoshimitsu 's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[fan_mag-1] 1 2 "Lower Division Rikishi". sumofanmag.com. August 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-12.

[2] "Towanoyama Yoshimitsu Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2012-09-09.

[1]

[2]