Kurama Tatsuya
Encyclopedia
Kurama Tatsuya was a sumo
wrestler from Yasu
, Shiga Prefecture
, Japan
. He fought under his real name for his entire career, never adopting a traditional shikona
. He made his debut for the Tokitsukaze stable
in September 1968, retiring 21 years later in September 1989, at which point he was the oldest wrestler active in sumo. He was ranked in the top makuuchi
division for 62 tournaments from 1976 to 1988, reaching a highest rank of sekiwake which he held for one tournament in May 1978. He won two Technique and one Fighting Spirit prize
, and earned two kinboshi
for defeating yokozuna. After his retirement he was an elder
of the Japan Sumo Association
under the name Shikoroyama, but left his role in 1990 due to ill health. He died of leukemia
in 1995.
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 Yasu
Yasu, Shiga
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was formed on October 1, 2004, by the merger of the towns of Yasu and Chūzu; in doing so, the former Yasu District was dissolved....
, Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He fought under his real name for his entire career, never adopting a traditional shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
. He made his debut for the Tokitsukaze stable
Tokitsukaze stable
The is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Tokitsukaze group of stables. It was originally founded in 1769 and was dominant during the Taishō period. In its modern form it dates from 1941 when it was established by Futabayama, who was still an active wrestler at the time. Initially known as...
in September 1968, retiring 21 years later in September 1989, at which point he was the oldest wrestler active in sumo. He was ranked in 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 for 62 tournaments from 1976 to 1988, reaching a highest rank of sekiwake which he held for one tournament in May 1978. He won two Technique and one Fighting Spirit prize
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 earned two kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
for defeating yokozuna. After his retirement he was 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...
under the name Shikoroyama, but left his role in 1990 due to ill health. He died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1995.