Tochizakura Mitsuteru

Tochizakura Mitsuteru - 栃櫻 光輝 (born February 11, 1947 - November 2018) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Funagata, Yamagata. He made his debut in January 1962 and wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the juryo division in November 1970. His highest rank was juryo 4 and he retired in May 1974.

## **Career**

During his first year of junior high school, Takahashi was recruited by the 55th yokozuna Tochinishiki who was on tour in Yamagata. In addition, he received 5,000 yen to incentivize him to join Kasugano stable. After moving to Tokyo at the age of 14, he made his professional debut in January 1962 under the shikona "Tochizakura" (栃櫻). He was promoted to sandanme in January 1963 and makushita in July 1964. He served as the bow-twirler from November 1966 to September 1967. In September 1970 he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 4 and was promoted to juryo in the following November 1970 tournament alongside close friend and stablemate Tochibayama.

Tochizakura was ranked in juryo for a total of twelve tournaments. In his first juryo tournament he waved at the crowd and was reprimanded by the Japan Sumo Association. His first stint lasted from November 1970 to July 1972 where he rose as high as juryo 4 in September 1971. In July 1972, he injured his left knee and left hip and subsequently withdrew from the tournament on 11th day which resulted in a demotion back down to makushita. He returned to juryo in July 1973, but could only manage a 6-9 record and was demoted after only one tournament. This proved to be his last appearance as a sekitori and he announced his retirement after the May 1974 tournament.

## **Non-Sumo Activities**

While as an active juryo wrestler, Tochizakura let 10 cabarets use his name and in return he served the president of the cabarets. He revealed that he made nearly one million yen per month at the time which was more than the yokozuna's salary at the time.

After retiring from sumo, he became a musician and released his first record "Men's Flower" (男花) under the stage name "Sakura Tenpei" (桜天平). In addition, he also worked as a dump truck driver and mason worker. Moreover, he also managed a fish shop, a hammam (Turkish bath house) and a chanko restaurant called "Chanko Dojo" (ちゃんこ道場) in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku, Tokyo.

There is a theory that the protagonist in the manga series *Notari Matsutaro* is based off Tochizakura. He also appeared in the Taiga Drama *Ogon no Hibi**.*

In 2009, he published his autobiography, *A Big Life* (どっこい人生).

## **Fighting Style**

Tochizakura 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. He was also fond of employing shitatenage (overarm throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 316-288-10/603 (75 basho)
* **Juryo:** 80-96-4/175 (12 basho)
* **Makushita:** 169-142-4/311 (45 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 37-31-2/68 (10 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 25-17/42 (6 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Tochizakura Mitsuya (1962.01 - 1970.09)
* Tochizakura Mitsuteru (1970.11 - 1974.05)

## **Gallery**

Tochizakura (c. 1967)Tochizakura stands outside Dewanoumi stable after trainingTochizakura prepares for his upcoming matchTochizakura (left) with Asanobori and Ryuo at a charity eventTochizakura during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 1970)Tochizakura (c. 1970)
## **Sources**

* Tochizakura Mitsuteru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tochizakura Mitsuteru Rikishi Information