Kurosegawa Kuniyuki

Kurosegawa Kuniyuki - 黒瀬川 国由 (born May 13, 1951) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Higashimurayama, Tokyo. He made his debut in January 1966 and last wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1978 and has three kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1984.

## **Early Life**

Sakai was born in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture and raised in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, and his father worked in a tax office. He joined Isegahama stable with the aim of healing a back injury and made his debut in January 1966.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under the shikona "Teruseyama" (照勢山). He was promoted to sandanme in September 1968 and makushita in March 1970. In July 1970, he changed his shikona to "Kurosegawa" (黒瀬川). In July 1972, he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to the top ranks of makushita. However, Kurosegawa struggled to break into the sekitori levels and remained in makushita for another four years. In March 1976, he posted a strong 6-1 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following May 1976 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Kurosegawa did not produce any spectacular results in his first juryo run and was demoted back down to makushita in September 1977. He returned to juryo in January 1978 after two tournaments in makushita. In his return, Kurosegawa took the juryo yusho after defeating Kagetora in a playoff. He followed with a 9-6 record and was promoted to makuuchi in May 1978.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Kurosegawa was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 26 tournaments. He never earned any special prizes, but has three kinboshi. In March 1980, he defeated both Mienoumi and Wajima to earn his first and second kinboshi. His third came in July 1980 where he defeated Mienoumi again. His highest rank was komusubi which he held on two different occasions in January 1980 and July 1982. He announced his retirement after the May 1984 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Kurosegawa was the first wrestler to have his danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, in the newly built Ryogoku Kokugikan. he stayed in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder, under the name Kiriyama. In 1995 he branched out from Isegahama stable and established his own Kiriyama stable. In July 2009, he produced his first and only sekitori, the Mongolian Tokusegawa. His stable closed in January 2011, and he transferred to Asahiyama stable. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in May 2016, but was re-hired by the Sumo Association for five years as a consultant. In September 2016 he was re-appointed as a judge of tournament bouts, following the demotion of Kasugayama. He left the Sumo Association upon turning 70 in May 2021.

## **Fighting Style**

Kurosegawa 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:** 561-563-11/1122 (111 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 173-216-1/388 (26 basho)
* **Juryo:** 152-155-4/306 (21 basho)
* **Makushita:** 142-110/252 (36 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 47-37/84 (12 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 37-34-6/71 (11 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:**
* 10-11/21 (3 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (May 1976)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (July 1972)

### **Achievements**

* **Kinboshi:** 3: (2) Mienoumi, (1) Wajima

## **Shikona History**

* Sakai Kensaku (1966.01 - 1966.01)
* Teruseyama Kensaku (1966.03 - 1966.09)
* Teruseyama Kuniyuki (1966.11 - 1970.05)
* Kurosegawa Kuniyuki (1970.07 - 1984.05)

## **Gallery**

Kurosegawa poses with his kesho-mawashiKurosegawa prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1979)Kurosegawa loses to Takamiyama (c. 1980)Kiriyama Oyakata outside his stable with his recruitsKurosegawa after retirement as Kiriyama Oyakata (c. 2015)Kurosegawa's tegata
## **Sources**

* Kurosegawa Kuniyuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kurosegawa Kuniyuki Rikishi Information