SUMO STARS

PRESENT STARS

Asashoryu
Born Sept 27, 1980 in Ulan Bator, Mongolian. Stands 185 cm tall, and weighs 137 kilograms. Made his pro sumo debut in Jan 1999. Has thereafter been breaking the record for quick promotion. Became juryo in Dec 2000, to makuuchi in Jan 2001. He's ozeki since Sept 2002 and was promoted to yokozuna after winning the 2003 New Year tourney. He's won the Emperor's Cup 15 times. His 84 wins in 2005 is an annual sumo record.

Koto-o-shu
Born Feb 19, 1973 in Bulgaria. His real name is Kaloyan Stefanov Mahlyanov. He's 204 cm. tall and weighs 143 kilos. He made his pro sumo debut in Nov 2002. He had speedy promotions, making it to juryo in May 2004, and to makuuchi in Sept the same year. o­n Nov 30, 2005, he was officially promoted to ozeki, to break the record, making it in 19 basho. He broke Asashoryu's record of 22.

Kaio
Born July 24, 1972. 184 cm. tall and weighs 172 kilos. Entered sumo in spring of '88 and the makuuchi division in the summer of '93. He was promoted to sekiwake ranking in 13 basho--the quickest promotion after the Showa Period. He has won awards in the top makuuchi division 15 times--the 3rd most ever. Has married a former pro wrestler in June 1999. Incredibly popular during the Kyushu basho. He is from Fukuoka. He clinched his first Emperor Cup in the 2000 May tourney as komusubi. Promoted to ozeki after a good performance in the 2000 summer tourney. Earns his 5th Emperor's Cup in the 2004 Autumn tourney.

Chiyotaikai
Born April 29, 1976. 181 cm tall, 158 kilograms. Was a hot rider in his hometown in Oita Prefecture. He made his sumo debut in Nov 1992. He was promoted to ozeki in March 1999. He's known for bulldozer thrusts. Won the Emperor's Cup three times.

Tochiazuma
Born November 9, 1976. 180 cm tall, weighs 146 kilo. His father was former sekiwake Tochiazuma. He joined professional sumo in 1994. He was promoted to ozeki for the New Year tourney in 2002 and won that tourney. He has 2 Emperor Cup victories.

Kyokushuzan
Born March 8, 1973 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Is 182 cm. tall and weighs 125 kilos.
His real name is Daver Batbayal. Is the 6th non-Japanese to fight in the makuuchi division. Is capable to using various sumo techniques and so is often compared to Mainoumi. The President of Mongolia honored him with the country's second highest award called the Workers Red Flag Award.

SUMO LEGENDS

Haguroyama
An apprentice to Futabayama. His first grand tournament victory was in 1941. Despite the fact that many suffered from starvation and U.S. occupation, he continued to win. He was yokozuna until the prime age of 37 and became the last prewar yokozuna.

Tochinishiki
Star wrestler of the late 50s to early 60s. Dubbed "mamushi" or pit viper, because o­nce he gets the belt, he would not let go. Practically alternated tournament victory with Wakanohana. Achieved 10 tournament victories.

Wakanohana I
Tochinishiki's rival. Also achieved 10 tournament victories. Uncle of today's star sumo brothers, Wakanohana and Takanohana. Has later become chairman of the Japan Sumo Association.

Sadanoyama
Born Feb. 18, 1938. Became yokozuna although he was not a plump sumo tori. He won 6 grand tourneys. As Sho Sakaigawa, he became the 7th chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. In Oct. 1997, the French government awarded him the Legion d'Honneur for successfully taking the sumo troupe to France in 1995.
Michiyo's Note: I took the photo of Mr. Sakaigawa at 59. It was right after he's been presented with the honor. He said he was surprised to win it. Rather, he gave Mr. Jacques Chirac the credit for promoting sumo in France..

Kashiwado
Sumo star of the 60s. Born Nov. 11, 1938. His very masculine style of wrestling attracted many fans. However, he missed out many tournaments due to various injuries from 1963. He won o­nly 5 grand tourneys, and was nicknamed "a glass yokozuna". He died from a hepatic insufficiency o­n Dec. 8, 1996.

Taiho
Was promoted to yokozuna at the age of 21 years and 4 months-- making him the youngest ever to reach the rank. Taiho and Kashiwado were promoted together. His status in society at the time was comparable to the popularity of Tokyo Giants, and egg pancake--the major Japanese delicacy then. He won 32 tournaments.

Wajima
The first college graduate yokozuna. He was dubbed "the man with the golden arm". He marked 14 tournament victories. He was ousted from the sumo world for abusing his rights as stable master.

Takanohana I
Brother of Wakanohana I. Also, father of Wakanohana III and Takanohana II. He was a good swimmer and broke the junior high school record of the time. He joined his brother's stable in 1965. At 18, he was juryo. 8 months after that, he was already promoted to the makuuchi division. In 1972, he became ozeki. He was lightweight but was very agile and very skillful.He won the Emperor's Cup twice. He kept his ozeki ranking for 50 grand tourneys--a record unbroken until today. His good looks and glamor earned him a acronym "prince of sumo". He retired in 1981, and the next year founded the Fujishima Stable. In 1993, it was merged with the Futagoyama Stable, and he became Futagoyama Master. He passed away due to cancer o­n May 30,2005. He was 55.

Kitanoumi
Broke Taiho's fastest promotion record to yokozuna by o­ne month. He became yokozuna at 21 years and 2 months of age. The invincible man was the villain of sumo, an opposite of Wajima. He, however, is rumored to be o­ne of the nicest persons in reality. He achieved 24 tournament victories.

Takamiyama
Came to Japan in 1964. He's the first Hawaiian sumo wrestler to ever make it into the highest, makunouchi division, and the first to win the Emperor's Cup. His cheerful character and sideburns were very attractive. He even appeared o­n TV commercials. He still holds the record as the wrestler who fought in the highest division the longest--that's 97 tournaments, or 1430 bouts.

Chiyonofuji
Was born a fisherman's son. He joined sumo in 1970. He was nicknamed "Wolf", as he had piercing eyes and a muscular body. His promotion in sumo was not a breeze. He often suffered from a dislocation of his shoulder. But he learned a skill to overcome his weakness and in the 80s became the dominant figure. He recorded 31 tournament victories. The "Wolf" retired in May '91. He made his decision when he was defeated by the then Takahanada, who later became great yokozuna Takanohana. He has taken over the Kokonoe Stable.

Konishiki
Born Dec. 31, 1963. Entered the Takasago stable in 1982. Became the first Hawaiian ozeki in 1987. People know him abroad also as the "Dump Truck". He became the heaviest wrestler. His record weight was 284 kg. Has won 3 grand tournaments. Konishiki lost his ozeki status in 1993 but has been striving hard to stay in the makuuchi division for 24 tournaments. That's the most a former ozeki had continued sumo without the title. He became a naturalized Japanese in 1994 and took o­n the Japanese name Yasokichi Shiota. He retired o­n Nov.22, 1997 and became Sanoyama. However, he decided to leave the Japan Sumo Association--thus giving up his status as oyakata after the 1998 autumn tourney.
Michiyo's Note: Konishiki became the first pro sumo wrestler to open a web page o­n August 26, 1996. Press here to go. He even has a link to my page!

Mainoumi
Nicknamed "Mighty Mouse". The smallest and lightest sumo wrester weighing 99 kilos and standing 171 cm. tall. He is o­ne of the few wrestlers who can project various sumo techniques in important bouts. Had showed 33 different types in all. He missed the entire grand sumo tournament in September 96. Since his return, he fought 5 grand tourneys in the juryo division. He has been promoted back to makuuchi for the 97 summer tourney. He has happily gotten married o­n May 20,1997 and immediately became a father of 2 children. He fell to juryo again from the May 1998 tourney. As juryo no. 10, he finished the 1999 Kyushu tourney with 6 - 9. He decided to retire.

Wakanohana III
Born Jan. 20, 1971. As yokozuna he was 180 cm. tall, weighing around 130 kilos. Entered the world of sumo with his brother Takanohana in Feb. 1988. Promoted to ozeki in autumn 1993. He won the Osaka and Summer Grand Tournaments in 1998 consecutively which promoted him to yokozuna--making him the 66th yokozuna. Has won 5 grand sumo tournaments. It had not been easy for Waka. He had to overcome injuries. For example, he was out from the middle of the '97 Spring Grand Sumo Tournament after seriously damaging his right thigh, but has returned for the '97 Nagoya tourney. In the '99 Autumn tourney he finished 7 - 8. He returned to fight the '00 Osaka tourney but announced his retirement after losing o­n the 5th day.

Mitoizumi
Born Sept 2, 1962. 194 cm tall, and weighing 163 kilos. He was popular for hurling salt up high. He was nicknamed saltshaker when he wrestled in London for sumo's overseas tour. He entered the world of sumo in 1978. He clinched the Emperor's Cup o­nce in 1992's Nagoya tourney. He's fought 1564 bouts, placing him 6th in modern history. He retired in the 2000 Autumn tourney.

Akebono
The first foreign born yokozuna --that's in 1993. Akebono was the tallest wrestler standing 2.04 meters and among the heaviest weighing over 230 kg. Made his sumo debut in 1988--the same time the famous Waka-Taka brothers did. Has been out time to time due to serious injuries but clinched the Nagoya and Kyushu tourneys in 2000. Won overall 11 grand tourney wins. He announced his retirement o­n Jan 22, 2001 after failing to overcome severe leg pains. Another shocking event thereafter, he announced in Nov 2003 that he'd leave the sumo association and fight in K-1 combat.In his first match against American Bob Sapp o­n Dec 31, 2003, Akebono collapsed in the first round.

Takatoriki
Born Sept. 26, 1967. 180 cm. tall, weighs 147 kilos. Went pro in spring 1983. He was promoted to komusubi in spring 1991, and to sekiwake that summer. He fell to the final ranking of makuuchi in spring 2000. However, surprisingly, he finished with 13 wins 2 losses to clinch the Emperor's Cup. He became the oldest ever first-timer in winning the grand tourney. Takatoriki's married to sumo great Taiho's daughter. They have 3 children. He announced his retirement during the Sept 2002 tourney.

Terao
Stands 185 cm. tall and weighs 116 kilos. Has the looks and the body to attract female fans. His father was a high ranking wrestler Tsurugamine, and so was his older brother Sakahoko. Terao made his pro debut in Nagoya in 1979. He has appeared in 1359 straight bouts since-- the most among today's active rikishi, and the 5th best record in the history of modern sumo. His record was discontinued the day after he broke his right toe during the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in 1997. He made a comeback in the '97 Nagoya tourney. In Kyushu '99, he defeated Takanohana at age 36. He announced his retirement o­n Sept 2002 after finishing at juryo number 11 with 5 win, 2 rests and 8 losses.

Takanohana II
Was yokozuna, grand champion, and has led the sumo with his popularity and strenghth for over a decade. Stands 185 cm. His record weight is 160 kilos as of Aug.24, 1998. He was promoted to ozeki or champion when he was o­nly 20 years and 5 months old--making him the youngest ozeki in the modern history of sumo. He was promoted yokozuna at 22 in the 1994 Kyushu tournament. His liver problem has been bothering him to the extent that he could not participate properly in the Grand Sumo Tournaments since Jan. 1998. But he showed he was back in shape by winning the Nagoya tourney that year. He couldn't win any tourney in 1999, neither in 2000.In New Year 2001 he at last clinched his 21st Emperor's Cup. Taka's been out of tourney's since spring of 2001. He finally returned in Sept 2002, but missed out a whole tourney in Kyushu and retired Jan 2003. Taka ended his sumo career with 22 tourney victories.

Musashimaru
Born May 2, 1971 in Oahu, Hawaii. Is 191 cm. tall and his record weight of 222.5 kilos was marked o­n Aug. 24, 1998. Has gained Japanese citizenship in January 1996. Became ozeki for the New Year tourney in 1994. After the 1999 May tourney which he won--the 2nd straight tourney victory-- he was at last promoted to yokozuna. He decided to retire during the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in 2003. He finished his fighting career with 12 tourney wins.

Musoyama
Born Feb.14 1972. 183 cm. tall, 174 kilos. Was sumo champion in the National Athletics Meet, high school championship, and clinched the amateur yokozuna title in 1992. He dropped out of Senshu University to join professional sumo in 1993. In just 4 basho, he made it to the makuuchi division. In the spring of 1994 he was promoted to sekiwake for the first time. Since 1996, he's been regarded as having the potential to become ozeki. Won the Emperor's Cup in January 2000 and promoted to ozeki after the the spring tourney, but fell from the rank due to a majority loss in the summer tourney. He however was back by late 2000. He retired during the 2004 Kyushu Tournament.