Washuyama Yoshikazu
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Yoshikazu Sukui | |
| Date of birth | April 2, 1949 | |
| Place of birth | Okayama, Japan | |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |
| Weight | 110 kg (240 lb) | |
| Career* | ||
| Heya | Dewanoumi | |
| Record | 699-650-83 | |
| Debut | March, 1967 | |
| Highest rank | Sekiwake (May, 1976) | |
| Retired | November, 1985 | |
| Yusho | 3 (Juryo) | |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (3) Technique (5) |
|
| Gold stars | 2 | |
|
* Career information is correct as of May 2008. |
||
Washuyama Yoshikazu (born 2 April 1949 as Yoshikazu Sukui) is a former sumo wrestler from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now the head coach of Dewanoumi stable.
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[edit] Career
His shikona or sumo name was derived from the Washuzan mountain in his native Okayama prefecture.[1] (He was to become so popular that people would refer to the mountain as Washuyama.[1]) He made his professional debut in March 1967, reaching the second highest juryo division in July 1972. He was promoted to the makuuchi division in May 1973 and made an immediate impression, finishing as the tournament runner-up with 11 wins and earning the Fighting Spirit prize. However, injury problems over the next couple of years prevented him from progressing much further and he was demoted back to the juryo division on two occasions. His fortunes turned around towards the end of 1975 when he won his second Fighting Spirit prize, and in January 1976 he was once again tournament runner-up. This earned him promotion to the titled sanyaku ranks for the first time in March 1976 at the rank of komusubi. Another strong showing earned him immediate promotion to sekiwake, which was to be his highest rank.
Washuyama was one of the lightest sumo wrestlers ever seen in the top division, at around 100kg and rather short at 175cm. He was very popular with the tournament crowds, earning the nickname of chibikko gangu or "midget gang" for the way he seemed to swarm around his larger opponents attacking from all sides.[1] He became a real nemesis for the giant Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama,[1] who was nearly twice his size. His technical skill is evidenced by the five Ginosho, or Technique Awards he picked up during his career.
In 1982 Washuyama dropped to the juryo division once more, although he kept on fighting until November 1985 when he finally announced his retirement at the age of 36.
[edit] Retirement from sumo
Washuyama remained in the sumo world as a coach at his old stable, under the name Sakaigawa. In 1996 he assumed the Dewanoumi name and took charge of the stable while the previous head, Sadanoyama, became Sakaigawa and concentrated on his role as the Japan Sumo Association chairman. Washuyama is currently on the Sumo Association's board as a director.
[edit] Top division record
| January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | x | x | West Maegashira #13 11–4 F |
East Maegashira #2 6–9 |
West Maegashira #3 6–9 |
West Maegashira #6 7–8 |
| 1974 | West Maegashira #7 8–7 |
East Maegashira #4 7–8 ★ |
West Maegashira #5 2–6–7 |
(Jūryō) | East Maegashira #10 7–8 |
East Maegashira #12 1–3–11 |
| 1975 | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | West Maegashira #12 8–7 |
East Maegashira #7 11–4 F |
East Maegashira #1 5–10 ★ |
| 1976 | East Maegashira #6 12–3 T |
East Komusubi 10–5 F |
East Sekiwake 8–7 T |
West Sekiwake 5–10 |
East Maegashira #3 7–8 |
West Maegashira #4 10–5 T |
| 1977 | West Komusubi 6–9 |
West Maegashira #1 6–9 |
West Maegashira #4 8–7 T |
West Maegashira #1 9–6 T |
West Sekiwake 3–12 |
East Maegashira #4 6–9 |
| 1978 | Sat out due to injury | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | East Maegashira #10 7–8 |
East Maegashira #11 8–7 |
| 1979 | East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
East Maegashira #3 1–6–8 |
West Maegashira #13 4–11 |
(Jūryō) | West Maegashira #14 8–7 |
West Maegashira #10 9–6 |
| 1980 | West Maegashira #2 5–10 |
East Maegashira #6 9–6 |
East Maegashira #1 3–12 |
West Maegashira #10 9–6 |
East Maegashira #6 8–7 |
East Maegashira #1 5–10 |
| 1981 | West Maegashira #7 6–9 |
West Maegashira #10 10–5 |
West Maegashira #3 7–8 |
West Maegashira #4 7–8 |
West Maegashira #4 8–7 |
East Maegashira #1 4–4–7 |
| 1982 | Sat out due to injury | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) |
| 1983 | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | West Maegashira #11 7–8 |
West Maegashira #12 6–9 |
(Jūryō) | (Jūryō) |
| 1984 | East Maegashira #11 5–10 |
(Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | West Maegashira #11 6–9 |
(Jūryō) | (Jūryō) |
| 1985 | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) |
| Record given as win-loss-absent Championship Retired Demoted from makuuchi Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi |
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Sharnoff, Lorna (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-x.
- ^ Washuyama Rikishi Information (English). Sumo Reference. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
