Tochifuji Katsutake

Tochifuji Katsutake - 栃富士 勝健 (born June 8, 1946 - April 28, 2003) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kumagaya, Saitama. He made his debut in May 1961 and last wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1968 and has two kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 3 and he retired in September 1974.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

While attending Uehara Junior High School in Shibuya, Tokyo, Kogure joined Kasugano stable in 1961 and made his debut in May 1961 at the age of 14. He was promoted to sandanme in July 1962 and makushita in May 1963. He initially wrestled under his surname Kogure before changing his shikona to "Tochinofuji" (栃ノ冨士) in 1963 and to "Tochifuji" (栃富士) in 1967. In March 1967 he produced a 6-1 record at the top of makushita, but was not promoted to juryo as they were limiting the amount of wrestlers in juryo from 36 to 28 which left no vacancy for him. In fact he was demoted from makushita 1 to makushita 3; nevertheless, he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in this tournament and was promoted to juryo in July 1967.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Tochifuji finished with an 8-7 record. In March 1968, he won his first juryo yusho with an 11-4 record and followed with two more winning records to earn a promotion to makuuchi in September 1968.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tochifuji finished with a poor 6-9 record and was demoted back down to juryo. He returned to makuuchi in January 1969 and posted a career-best 11-4 record. In the following March tournament, he defeated Yokozuna Kashiwado on the ninth day by utchari (backward pivot throw) to earn his first kinboshi. In May 1971, he was ranked at his highest rank of maegashira 3 and he defeated Yokozuna Taiho on the first day to earn his second kinboshi. His last makuuchi appearance was in November 1973 and he announced his retirement after the September 1974 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Yamawake. He coached at Kasugano-beya until 1990, when he joined Tamanoi-oyakata, who branched out to form Tamanoi-beya.

### **Death**

He died on April 28, 2003, at the age of 56 due to a myocardial infarction. At the day of his death he was preparing chanko for guests in the kitchen before collapsing.

## **Fighting Style**

Tochifuji was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 461-434-18/893 (81 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 64-101/165 (11 basho)
* **Juryo:** 243-241-11/482 (33 basho)
* **Makushita:** 109-60-7/169 (25 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 20-15/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 20-15/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (March 1968)
	+ 2nd (September 1972)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (May 1967)

### **Achievements**

* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Taiho, (1) Kashiwado

## **Shikona History**

* Kogure Haruo (1961.05 - 1963.05)
* Tochinofuji (1963.07 - 1966.01)
* Kogure Haruo (1966.03 - 1966.09)
* Tochinofuji (1966.11 - 1967.01)
* Tochifuji Katsutake (1967.03 - 1974.09)

## **Gallery**

Tochifuji (left) wins the Juryo Yusho (c. 1968)Tochifuji poses with his kesho-mawashiTochifuji pushes out and defeats Yokozuna Taiho (c. 1971)Tochifuji's retirement ceremony pamphlet (c. 1974)Tochifuji after retirement as Yamawake Oyakata (c. 1983)
## **Sources**

* Tochifuji Katsutake Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tochifuji Katsutake Rikishi Information