Tamaryu Daizo

Tamaryu Daizo - 玉龍 大蔵 (born July 22, 1954) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. He made his debut in January 1970 and last wrestled for Kataonami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1982 and has one kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in January 1992.

## **Early Life**

Daizo Nagata was born the second son of foresters in Nagasaki. In junior high school he participated in judo. During his third year in junior high school, he was recruited by Kataonami oyakata (former sekiwake Tamanoumi) and he joined Kataonami stable after graduating junior high school.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Nagata made his professional debut in January 1970. He was promoted to sandanme in September 1971 and he changed his shikona to "Tamaryu" (玉龍) in March 1972. Tamaryu was promoted to makushita in September 1973 and remained in the division for another six years. He was promoted to juryo in May 1979 after posting a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 2 in the previous tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Tamaryu could only manage a 3-12 record in his first tournament as a sekitori because he suffered a fracture to a finger on his right hand. He was demoted down to makushita and did not return until July 1981. In his return he posted a strong 9-6 record and followed with an 8-7. After two more winning records he was promoted to makuuchi in May 1982.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tamaryu finished with a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to juryo. He returned to makuuchi in September 1982 and managed to maintain his top division status for eight tournaments before falling back down to juryo in January 1984. He was the last man to fight Takamiyama, the first foreigner to win a top division tournament, in May 1984. Due to an old elbow injury Tamaryu fell back down to makushita in November 1984. He won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted back to juryo. He subsequently won the juryo yusho in March 1985 with a 12-3 record and was promoted back to makuuchi. In November 1986 he defeated Chiyonofuji to earn his first kinboshi for a win over a yokozuna, in his 102nd career tournament, which is the slowest ever. His highest rank was komusubi which he held for one tournament in November 1987 at the age of 33. It had taken him 108 tournaments from his professional debut to reach the rank, which is also the slowest ever. During his lone sanyaku tournament, Tamaryu defeated yokozuna Hokutoumi on the first day but went on to finish with a 3-12 record. Following the retirement of Kurama in September 1989 he became the oldest man in any of the professional sumo divisions.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired in January, 1992 after a 22 year career, having fallen into the makushita division for the first time in seven years. As he had been unable to purchase or borrow elder stock in the Japan Sumo Association he had to leave the sumo world. He managed a sumo tea house in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, until it closed in 2013.

## **Fighting Style**

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

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 700-714-14/1414 (133 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 195-255/450 (30 basho)
* **Juryo:** 246-249/495 (33 basho)
* **Makushita:** 142-124-14/266 (40 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 82-58/140 (20 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 30-26/56 (8 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 Juryo Championship (November 1984)
* 1 Makushita Championship (March 1985)

## **Shikona History**

* Nagata Daizo (1970.01 - 1972.01)
* Tamaryu Daizo (1972.03 - 1992.01)

## **Gallery**

Tamaryu poses with his kesho-mawashiTagaryu defeats and retires Takamiyama (c. 1984)Tagaryu (c. 1987)Tamaryu's teahouse, which he ran after retirementTamaryu's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tamaryu Daizo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tamaryu Daizo Rikishi Information