Tosayutaka Yūya
Encyclopedia
Tosayutaka Yūya is a sumo
wrestler from Tosa City
, Kōchi Prefecture
, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 2007, reaching the top makuuchi
division in July 2009. His highest rank has been maegashira 1.
. While attending the Kōchi Prefecture Industrial High school he took the high school sumo championship. Upon entering Tokyo Agricultural University, he was very active in sumo, but never achieved one of the four amateur titles that would have allowed him makushita tsukedashi status, which is can be conferred to allow experienced wrestlers to start professional sumo at a higher division than other wrestlers. The shikona
that he eventually settled on takes the two Chinese characters used for the city of his birth Tosa City
and the third kanji was taken from one of the characters from his father's dharma name
. There are other wrestlers in the past from the same Tokitsukaze stable
that used this character in their ring name
s but this is coincidental.
on the 11th day of the January 2008 tournament. He had made juryo in just six tournaments from his professional debut, tying the long-standing record held by Itai
.
His fortunes would change somewhat for his jūryō debut in the following tournament. Possibly due to stress from the then ongoing investigation into the hazing scandal at his stable, as well as an injury to his toe on the 12th day, Tosayutaka only managed an uncharacteristic 6-9 record. His first demotion dropped him to the top makushita slot, but a convincing 4-3 record put him straight back in jūryō for the July 2008 tournament in Nagoya. In his next 5 consecutive jūryō appearances after this, he only had one make-koshi.
He was promoted to the top makuuchi
division in September 2009, and came through with a winning record. After a 6-9 in November, he had two kachi-koshi performances of 8-7 and 10-5 in his next two makuuchi appearances, which saw him promoted to the upper maegashira ranks for the first time. He defeated ozeki Kotooshu but could win only two other bouts. After a quiet year or so in the mid-maegashira ranks, he was promoted to his highest rank to date of maegashira 1 following a 10-5 score in the May 2011 Technical Examination Tournament. In the July tournament he was injured in a bout on Day 3 against Kotooshu and had to withdraw for the first time in his career. He could manage only a 4-11 record on his return in September.
, and nage or throws. His most common winning kimarite
is yori kiri (force out), which has accounted for nearly half his victories in his short career to date.
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 Tosa City
Tosa, Kochi
is a city in Kōchi, Japan. It is located on the southern coast of the island of Shikoku.As of October 31, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 29,782 and the density of 325 persons per km²...
, Kōchi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 2007, 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 July 2009. His highest rank has been maegashira 1.
Early years and entry into sumo
Morishita Yūya went to high school in his home prefecture, KōchiKochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
. While attending the Kōchi Prefecture Industrial High school he took the high school sumo championship. Upon entering Tokyo Agricultural University, he was very active in sumo, but never achieved one of the four amateur titles that would have allowed him makushita tsukedashi status, which is can be conferred to allow experienced wrestlers to start professional sumo at a higher division than other wrestlers. The 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...
that he eventually settled on takes the two Chinese characters used for the city of his birth Tosa City
Tosa, Kochi
is a city in Kōchi, Japan. It is located on the southern coast of the island of Shikoku.As of October 31, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 29,782 and the density of 325 persons per km²...
and the third kanji was taken from one of the characters from his father's dharma name
Dharma name
A Dharma name is a new name acquired during a Buddhist initiation ritual in Mahayana Buddhism and monk ordination in Theravada Buddhism. The name is traditionally given by a Buddhist monastic, but is also given to newly ordained monks, nuns and laity....
. There are other wrestlers in the past from the same 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...
that used this character in their ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
s but this is coincidental.
Career
In his May, 2007 jonokuchi division debut tournament, he posted an impressive 6-1 record. In the next three tournaments he would go on to win three consecutive championships in each successive division. His third consecutive championship, which he achieved at his makushita debut ranked at #33, was not enough to promote him directly to the next jūryō division, but his 5-2 record ranked at makushita #4 in the following January 2008 tournament was more than enough to grant him a jūryō promotion. In the achievement of this feat, he logged 30 wins in a row, a record for a wrestler in makushita and below. During this span, after his defeat on the 6th day of the May 2007 tournament he did not lose again until his bout with AranAran Hakutora
Aran Hakutora is a Russian sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in January 2007 and made the top division in a record eleven tournaments. The highest rank he has reached is sekiwake...
on the 11th day of the January 2008 tournament. He had made juryo in just six tournaments from his professional debut, tying the long-standing record held by Itai
Keisuke Itai
is a former sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. After his retirement he caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were fixed.-Career:...
.
His fortunes would change somewhat for his jūryō debut in the following tournament. Possibly due to stress from the then ongoing investigation into the hazing scandal at his stable, as well as an injury to his toe on the 12th day, Tosayutaka only managed an uncharacteristic 6-9 record. His first demotion dropped him to the top makushita slot, but a convincing 4-3 record put him straight back in jūryō for the July 2008 tournament in Nagoya. In his next 5 consecutive jūryō appearances after this, he only had one make-koshi.
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 in September 2009, and came through with a winning record. After a 6-9 in November, he had two kachi-koshi performances of 8-7 and 10-5 in his next two makuuchi appearances, which saw him promoted to the upper maegashira ranks for the first time. He defeated ozeki Kotooshu but could win only two other bouts. After a quiet year or so in the mid-maegashira ranks, he was promoted to his highest rank to date of maegashira 1 following a 10-5 score in the May 2011 Technical Examination Tournament. In the July tournament he was injured in a bout on Day 3 against Kotooshu and had to withdraw for the first time in his career. He could manage only a 4-11 record on his return in September.
Fighting style
Tosayutaka lists his favourite techniques as migi yotsu, a left hand outside and right hand inside grip on the opponent's mawashiMawashi
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:...
, and nage or throws. His most common winning kimarite
Kimarite
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...
is yori kiri (force out), which has accounted for nearly half his victories in his short career to date.
Trivia
- Many of his fans think Tosayutaka's face is similar to a gorilla, and on a number of occasions he has been sent keshō-mawashi with gorilla designs on them.
- He was born one day before yokozuna Hakuho.
Tournament record
External links
- Japanese Sumo Association Biography http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi_2974.html
- Complete biography and basho results (Japanese)