| 双津竜 順一 Futatsuryū Jun'ichi |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Yamamoto Jun'ichi February 28, 1950 Hokkaidō, Japan |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 172 kg (380 lb) |
| Career | |
| Heya | Tokitsukaze |
| Record | 676-669-30 |
| Debut | September, 1963 |
| Highest rank | Komusubi (July, 1979) |
| Retired | November, 1982 |
| Yūshō | 2 (Juryo) 1 (Makushita) |
| * Career information is correct as of September 2007. | |
Futatsuryū Jun'ichi (双津竜 順一, born February 28, 1950 as Jun'ichi Yamamoto) is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. After retirement he became the head coach of Tokitsukaze stable. Following his involvement in the hazing and death of trainee Takashi Saito, in October 2007 he became the first serving stablemaster to be dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association. In May 2009 he was sentenced to six years in prison.[1]
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Born in Muroran, he made his professional debut in September 1963, at just 13 years of age. He reached the second highest juryo division six years later in November 1969. He made his debut in the top makuuchi division in March 1972 but was demoted back to the second division a number of times. He was ranked in the top division for 29 tournaments in total, peaking at komusubi rank in July 1979. He was one of the heavier wrestlers in his time. His last top division tournament was in March 1980, but he continued to fight despite falling greatly in rank. He finished his career in the third highest makushita division.
He retired from active competition in November 1982, becoming an elder of the Sumo Association under the name Nishikijima. After nearly twenty years working as an assistant coach at his old heya, he became head of the stable when former ozeki Yutakayama reached the mandatory retirement age in August 2002, and adopted the Tokitsukaze name. He oversaw the promotion of Tokitenku and Toyonoshima to the top division in July and September 2004. In May 2007 he criticised Asashoryu for injuring Toyonoshima during training, and visited his wrestler in the hospital. He also served as a shinpan, or judge during tournament matches.
It was reported on 3 October 2007 that he would be dismissed from the Sumo Association over his involvement in hazing which allegedly contributed to the death of a young recruit at Tokitsukaze stable.[2] Junior wrestler Tokitaizan, whose real name was Takashi Saito, collapsed and died in June after an intense training session called butsukari-geiko which reportedly lasted 30 minutes instead of the usual five. His death was originally put down to natural causes, but after Tokitsukaze pressed for a quick cremation the young wrestler's family insisted on an autopsy, which revealed the extent of his injuries.[3] Tokitsukaze admitted to police that the day before Tokitaizan's death he had hit him across the forehead with a beer bottle and allowed other wrestlers in the stable to strike Tokitaizan with a metal baseball bat.[2] It was also reported that Tokitsukaze failed to give Tokitaizan any aid and delayed calling an ambulance.[4] On October 5, the Sumo Association announced his dismissal.[5] They commented, "His actions were unbecoming as a stablemaster, he's outraged the public, and he's defiled the name of the Sumo Association."[6]
On 7 February 2008, he and three sumo wrestlers were arrested for accidental mortality.[7] Yamamoto admitted for the first time that Tokitaizan was tied to a pole and beaten for up to 20 minutes. He continued to deny the charges against him however, saying "it was not assault, it was discipline."[6] On 18 December 2008, three sumo wrestlers found guilty but received suspended sentences because they could not fight Yamamoto's commandment.[8] Yamamoto's trial began in February 2009.[9] On 29 May 2009, he was jailed for six years.[10] He immediately appealed the ruling and was released on bail. He then reportedly requested severance pay from the Sumo Association in the region of 20 million yen (200,000 USD).[11] The two sides reached an out-of-court settlement in January 2010, the details of which were not disclosed. His appeal was rejected in August 2011 and a five year jail term was finalized.[12]
| year in sumo | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | x | East Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #4 6–9 |
West Maegashira #6 7–8 |
West Maegashira #8 7–8 |
East Maegashira #11 4–11 |
| 1973 | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | East Maegashira #12 7–8 |
(Juryo) |
| 1974 | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) |
| 1975 | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | West Maegashira #13 4–11 |
(Juryo) | (Juryo) |
| 1976 | East Maegashira #11 11–4 |
East Maegashira #3 4–11 |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
East Maegashira #5 4–11 |
Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
| 1977 | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | East Maegashira #12 9–6 |
East Maegashira #7 9–6 |
| 1978 | East Maegashira #3 4–11 |
East Maegashira #9 9–6 |
East Maegashira #4 4–11 |
West Maegashira #11 8–7 |
West Maegashira #8 9–6 |
East Maegashira #4 5–10 |
| 1979 | East Maegashira #9 7–8 |
West Maegashira #10 8–7 |
East Maegashira #7 10–5 |
East Komusubi 4–11 |
West Maegashira #7 8–7 |
West Maegashira #4 5–10 |
| 1980 | West Maegashira #8 6–9 |
East Maegashira #13 3–4–8 |
(Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) |
| 1981 | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) | (Juryo) |
| 1982 | (Makushita) | (Makushita) | (Makushita) | (Makushita) | (Makushita) | West Makushita #32 Retired 1–6–0 |
| Record given as win-loss-absent Top Division Champion Retired Lower Divisions Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi(s) P=Playoff(s) |
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