Fukunosato Kunio

Fukunosato Kunio - 福ノ里 邦男 (born June 4, 1961) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Karumai, Iwate. He made his debut in July 1978 and last wrestled for Tatsutagawa stable. He reached the juryo division in September 1989. His highest rank was juryo 13 and he retired in May 1993.

## **Early Life**

Fukuda belonged in the baseball club from junior high school to high school. He left the club during his second year in high school due to a disagreement with the senior players. Immediately after this, he was recruited by Hatachiyama Oyakata (former sekiwake Aonosato), and as a result, he dropped out of Karumai High School and joined Tatsutagawa stable where Hatachiyama Oyakata worked as a coach.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in July 1978 and initially wrestled under his surname Fukuda. He won the jonokuchi yusho in his first professional tournament with a strong 6-1 record. Upon promotion to makushita in September 1979, he changed his shikona to "Fukunosato" (福ノ里). He did not establish himself in makushita until January 1983 where he won the sandanme yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. Due to his small frame, he struggled to reach sekitori status and remained in makushita for nine years. In July 1989, he posted a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following September 1989 tournament.

In his juryo debut, Fukunosato had a solid first half of the tournament where he was ranked at 5-4 by the end of the ninth day. However, he went on to lose his final six matches to finish with a 5-10 record. As a result, he was demoted back down to makushita and this proved to be his only tournament as a sekitori.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Fukunosato remained in makushita for another four years. He still wrestled in the top of makushita and in May 1993 he was ranked at makushita 3 where he finished with a 2-5 record. Immediately after the tournament, a wakaimonogashira slot become available and as a result he retired from sumo. He currently works as a wakaimonogashira and is affiliated with Michinoku stable.

On April 10th, 2021, the Japan Sumo Association announced that Fukunosato had contracted COVID-19. Subsequently, he quarantined himself and he took other additional measures such as seeking medical treatment at a health center.

## **Fighting Style**

Fukunosato 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. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 330-294-7/623 (90 basho)
* **Juryo:** 5-10/15 (1 basho)
* **Makushita:** 225-221-2/445 (64 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 60-40-5/100 (15 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 34-22/56 (8 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (January 1983)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (September 1978)

## **Shikona History**

* Fukuda Kunio (1978.07 - 1980.09)
* Fukunosato Kunio (1980.11 - 1993.05)

## **Gallery**

Fukunosato (c. 1991)Fukunosato after retirement as a wakaimonogashira (c. 2009)Fukunosato's tegata
## **Sources**

* Fukunosato Kunio Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Fukunosato Kunio Rikishi Information