Saisu Minoru

Saisu Minoru - 斉須 稔 (born August 16, 1956) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Higashi, Fukushima. He made his debut in July 1971 and last wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1982. His highest rank was maegashira 2 and he retired in September 1986.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After his third year of junior high school, he moved to Tokyo and joined Isegahama stable. He made his professional debut in July 1971 and wrestled under his surname Saisu. In November 1973, he won the jonidan yusho with a 6-1 record after participating in a three-way playoff. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1974 and in July 1975 he changed his shikona to "Kiyoseryu" (清勢龍). He was promoted to makushita in March 1976, but could not establish himself; nevertheless, he won the sandanme yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in the following tournament. In July 1977, he reverted back to Saisu in September 1978 he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record which earned him a direct promotion to juryo.

### **Juryo Career**

Saisu made his juryo debut in November 1978 where he produced a 9-6 record. In March 1979 he changed his shikona to Kokuni (鴻國), but eventually fell back down to makushita in September 1979. As a result, he reverted back to Saisu in the following tournament and was promoted back to juryo in March 1980. In January 1982, he posted an 11-4 record at the rank of juryo 6 and was promoted to makuuchi in the following tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Saisu made his top division debut in March 1982, but could only finish with a 4-11 record. He was demoted back down to juryo but immediately returned in July 1982 after winning the juryo yusho. This time Saisu remained in makuuchi for 11 straight tournaments where he rose as high as maegashira 2 in November 1983.

### **Later Career**

Saisu was demoted back down to juryo in May 1984 where he changed his shikona to "Takarakuni" (寶國). He remained in juryo for another nine tournaments and his last appearance as a sekitori was in November 1985. He announced his retirement after the September 1986 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, he remained in the Sumo Association as a sewanin, or assistant. He initially went by Takarakuni but switched to his real name Saisu in November 1991. He was initially affiliated with his Isegahama stable, but when the stable closed down in 2007, he transferred to Kiriyama stable. Kiriyama stable closed down in 2011 and he transferred to Asahiyama stable. Asahiyama stable closed down in 2015 and he transferred to Ajigawa stable (later re-named Isegahama stable). He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 for sumo personnel in August 2021 and left his position.

## **Personal Life**

* Saisu is distantly related to boxer Yoshimitsu Okabe, who is the father of sekiwake Tamanoshima and juryo Tamanokuni.
* Saisu never sat out once in his career and wrestled 919 consecutive matches.

## **Fighting Style**

Saisu was an exponent of tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the opponent's chest and often won by oshidashi or push out. He used a hidari-yotsu, or right hand outside, left hand inside grip when fighting on his opponent's mawashi or belt, and yorikiri (force out) was his most common winning kimarite.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 464-455/919 (92 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 76-104/180 (12 basho)
* **Juryo:** 185-190/375 (25 basho)
* **Makushita:** 107-75/182 (26 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 51-40/91 (13 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 41-43/84 (14 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (May 1982)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (September 1978)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (May 1976)
* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (November 1973)

## **Shikona History**

* Saisu Minoru (1971.07 - 1975.05)
* Kiyoseryu Tsuyoshi (1975.07 - 1977.05)
* Saisu Minoru (1977.07 - 1979.01)
* Kokuni Minoru (1979.03 - 1979.09)
* Saisu Minoru (1979.11 - 1984.03)
* Takarakuni Minoru (1984.05 - 1986.09)

## **Gallery**

Saisu poses with his kesho-mawashiSaisu prepares backstage for his upcoming matchSaisu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1979)Saisu loses to Yokozuna Kitanoumi (c. 1983)Saisu's tegata
## **Sources**

* Saisu Minoru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Saisu Minoru Rikishi Information