Daijuyama Tadaaki
Encyclopedia
Daijuyama Tadaaki is a former sumo
wrestler from Niitsu, Niigata Prefecture
, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1975, reaching the top makuuchi
division in 1980. He was ranked in makuuchi for 64 tournaments, winning four special prizes
, and seven gold stars
for defeating yokozuna. He was a runner-up to Chiyonofuji in the July 1982 tournament. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in 1991 and is now an elder
of the Japan Sumo Association
. He re-established the Hanakago stable
in 1992 and produced his first top division wrestler Koryu
in 2008.
. Joining the stable at the same time as him was future ozeki Wakashimazu. It took him about five years to make the sekitori
ranks, climbing the divisions
steadily without picking up any yusho
or championships along the way. In January 1980 he broke into the jūryō division, and after four kachi-koshi winning scores he was promoted to the top makuuchi
division that September. He fell back to jūryō after only two tournaments, but returned in March 1981. In September of that year he scored an impressive ten wins, defeating yokozuna Kitanoumi to earn his first kinboshi
. He was rewarded with his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit, and promotion to the sanyaku ranks at sekiwake, which was to be the highest rank he was to achieve.
In November 1982 he was runner-up in a tournament for the first time, finishing alongside Wakanohana II
, Kotokaze and Koboyama on 11-4, one win behind tournament winner Chiyonofuji on 12-3. In the following tournament he defeated Kitanoumi and Chiyonofuji in the first two days, winning the Outstanding Performance prize and promotion back to sekiwake. After fighting at komusubi in March 1983 he was injured and although he recovered, he did not manage to make the sanyaku ranks again until May 1988. In July 1989, at the age of 30, he produced a strong 11-4 record and won the Fighting Spirit prize for the third time, earning one last promotion to the titled ranks in the following September tournament. He defeated yokozuna Onokuni in this tournament, but fell short with a 5-10 record. In May 1991 he announced his retirement after scoring only 3-12 at maegashira 14, rather than face demotion to jūryō.
His nickname amongst Japanese sumo fans was "Moomin
", because of his facial resemblance to the hippo-like cartoon characters.
, the previous incarnation of which had been wound up in 1985 when the previous owner of the Hanakago stock, former yokozuna Wajima
, resigned from the Sumo Association. He recruited the Mongolian wrestler Koryu
in 2000, and he became the stable's first sekitori after the November 2006 tournament, and reached the top division in July 2008. However, he was forced to retire in April 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing. Another Mongolian, Arawashi, was inherited from Araiso stable
and reached juryo in July 2011.
or techniques were migi-yotsu (a left arm outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi
), uwatenage (overarm throw) and utchari (ring edge throw). His most common winning move by far was yori-kiri (force out), which accounted for nearly half his victories.
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler from Niitsu, Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1975, reaching the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division in 1980. He was ranked in makuuchi for 64 tournaments, winning four special prizes
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
, and seven gold stars
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
for defeating yokozuna. He was a runner-up to Chiyonofuji in the July 1982 tournament. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in 1991 and is now an elder
Toshiyori
A toshiyori is a sumo elder of the Japan Sumo Association. Also known as oyakata, former wrestlers who reached a sufficiently high rank are the only people eligible...
of the Japan Sumo Association
Japan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
. He re-established the Hanakago stable
Hanakago stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. In its current form it dates from 1992 when it was revived by Daijuyama of the Futagoyama stable. The previous version of the stable had been wound up in 1985 when former yokozuna Wajima was forced to leave the Japan Sumo...
in 1992 and produced his first top division wrestler Koryu
Kōryū Tadaharu
Kōryū Tadaharu is a Mongolian former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator. His highest rank was maegashira 11. He was forced to retire from sumo in 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing.-Early years and entry into sumo:...
in 2008.
Career
He joined Futagoyama stable in March 1975 at the age of 16, recruited by the former yokozuna Wakanohana IWakanohana Kanji I
was a sumo wrestler, the sport's 45th Yokozuna .Wakanohana's younger brother was the late former ozeki Takanohana Kenshi and he was the uncle of Takanohana Koji and Wakanohana Masaru...
. Joining the stable at the same time as him was future ozeki Wakashimazu. It took him about five years to make the sekitori
Sekitori
A sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
ranks, climbing the divisions
Professional sumo divisions
Professional sumo is divided into 6 ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win/loss records in official tournaments. For more information see kachikoshi and makekoshi. Wrestlers are also ranked within each division...
steadily without picking up any yusho
Yusho
A Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...
or championships along the way. In January 1980 he broke into the jūryō division, and after four kachi-koshi winning scores he was promoted to the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division that September. He fell back to jūryō after only two tournaments, but returned in March 1981. In September of that year he scored an impressive ten wins, defeating yokozuna Kitanoumi to earn his first kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
. He was rewarded with his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit, and promotion to the sanyaku ranks at sekiwake, which was to be the highest rank he was to achieve.
In November 1982 he was runner-up in a tournament for the first time, finishing alongside Wakanohana II
Wakanohana Kanji II
Wakanohana Kanji II is a former sumo wrestler from Ōwani, Aomori, Japan. He was the sport's 56th Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Magaki stable.-Early career:...
, Kotokaze and Koboyama on 11-4, one win behind tournament winner Chiyonofuji on 12-3. In the following tournament he defeated Kitanoumi and Chiyonofuji in the first two days, winning the Outstanding Performance prize and promotion back to sekiwake. After fighting at komusubi in March 1983 he was injured and although he recovered, he did not manage to make the sanyaku ranks again until May 1988. In July 1989, at the age of 30, he produced a strong 11-4 record and won the Fighting Spirit prize for the third time, earning one last promotion to the titled ranks in the following September tournament. He defeated yokozuna Onokuni in this tournament, but fell short with a 5-10 record. In May 1991 he announced his retirement after scoring only 3-12 at maegashira 14, rather than face demotion to jūryō.
His nickname amongst Japanese sumo fans was "Moomin
Moomin
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses...
", because of his facial resemblance to the hippo-like cartoon characters.
Retirement from sumo
He remained in the sumo world as a coach, initially at his old stable, but in late 1992 he branched out and re-established the Hanakago stableHanakago stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. In its current form it dates from 1992 when it was revived by Daijuyama of the Futagoyama stable. The previous version of the stable had been wound up in 1985 when former yokozuna Wajima was forced to leave the Japan Sumo...
, the previous incarnation of which had been wound up in 1985 when the previous owner of the Hanakago stock, former yokozuna Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....
, resigned from the Sumo Association. He recruited the Mongolian wrestler Koryu
Kōryū Tadaharu
Kōryū Tadaharu is a Mongolian former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator. His highest rank was maegashira 11. He was forced to retire from sumo in 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing.-Early years and entry into sumo:...
in 2000, and he became the stable's first sekitori after the November 2006 tournament, and reached the top division in July 2008. However, he was forced to retire in April 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing. Another Mongolian, Arawashi, was inherited from Araiso stable
Araiso stable
Araiso stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1993 by former komusubi Futagodake of the Futagoyama stable. It was the smallest of all the sumo stables, with just three sumo wrestlers...
and reached juryo in July 2011.
Fighting style
Daijuyama's favoured kimariteKimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
or techniques were migi-yotsu (a left arm outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi
Mawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
), uwatenage (overarm throw) and utchari (ring edge throw). His most common winning move by far was yori-kiri (force out), which accounted for nearly half his victories.