Oyutaka Masachika

Oyutaka Masachika - 大豊 昌央 (born March 29, 1955) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata. He made his debut in November 1973 and wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1982. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in January 1987.

## **Early Life**

In junior high school, Suzuki participated in skiing and track and field. After graduating form junior high school, he got a job at his parents' construction company. At the age of 18, an acquaintance introduced him to Tokitsukaze oyakata (former ozeki Yutakayama) and he subsequently moved to Tokyo and joined Tokitsukaze stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in November 1973 and was given the shikona "Oyutaka" (大豊). Even though he rose to makushita by May 1976, he struggled due to his light weight and a right shoulder injury. At one point, he decided to retire and returned to Niigata to work for his parents' construction company, but eventually returned after his father scolded him. After that, he gradually put on weight and in May 1977 he won the jonidan yusho. In November 1980, he posted a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following January 1981 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Oyutaka posted three consecutive winning records in juryo before a 3-12 record in July 1981 sent him back to the bottom of juryo. He bounced back with to consecutive 10-5 records and in March 1982, he won the juryo yusho with a strong 12-3 record and was promoted to makuuchi in the following tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Oyutaka made his top division debut in May 1982 but was immediately demoted back down to juryo after a disastrous 3-12 record. He returned immediately and in November 1982, he posted a career-best 11-4 record. As a result he was promoted to komusubi in the following January 1983 tournament. Oyutaka rose to san'yaku by his fourth top division appearance, but he finished with a 5-10 record. He remained in makuuchi for another two years before falling down to juryo in September 1984.

### **Later Career**

Oyutaka remained in juryo for a year before falling down to makushita in July 1985. He subsequently pulled out of two tournaments due to elbow injuries and fell all the way down to sandanme. He won the sandanme yusho in his return in November 1985, but was never able to return to sekitori status.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired in January 1987, and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Arashio. He initially worked as a coach for Tokitsukaze stable, but when his stablemaster reached mandatory retirement age, he branched out and opened up Arashio stable in 2002. In April 2003, he visited China to recruit young talents and met ethnic Mongolian Enkhtuvshin who wrestled under the shikona Sokokurai. Sokokurai became the stable's first sekitori after he won promotion to juryo in January 2010 and makuuchi in September 2010. However, Sokokurai was expelled from sumo in 2011 for alleged match-fixing, but Arashio always stood by his wrestler, and Sokokurai was re-admitted to sumo in 2013 after winning a court case. Arashio produced two more sekitori: Wakatakakage in May 2018 and Wakamotoharu in March 2019. Arashio-oyakata reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in March 2020, and was replaced as head coach of the stable by his most successful wrestler, maegashira Sokokurai.

## **Personal Life**

His son, Riki, born 1992, joined Arashio Stable in March 2008 and wrestled under the shikona Chikarayama. His highest rank was sandanme 69 and he retired in January 2017.

## **Fighting Style**

Oyutaka 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:** 382-345-42/727 (80 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 85-110/195 (13 basho)
* **Juryo:** 107-103/210 (14 basho)
* **Makushita:** 96-73-34/169 (29 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 63-48-8/111 (17 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 25-10/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (Mach 1982)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (November 1985)
* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (May 1977)

## **Gallery**

Oyutaka prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1983)Oyutaka poses with his kesho-mawashiOyutaka's retirement ceremony (c. 1987)Oyutaka after retirement as Arashio Oyakata (c. 2003)Arashio Oyakata with his first sekitori, Sokokurai (c. 2010)
## **Sources**

* Oyutaka Masachika Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Oyutaka Masachika Rikishi Information