Nishikinada Koji

Nishikinada Koji - 錦洋 幸治 (born January 3, 1950 - July 16, 2009) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kanoya, Kagoshima. He made his debut in March 1965 and last wrestled for Kimigahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1969 and has one special prize as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in May 1977.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduating junior high school, Kawasaki was recruited by Izutsu Oyakata (former maegashira Tsurugamine) for professional sumo. He subsequently joined Izutsu stable (later Kimigahama stable) and made his professional debut in March 1965. He was promoted to sandanme in July 1966 and makushita in November 1966. In September 1968, Kawasaki won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to juryo in the following November 1968 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

At the time of his juryo debut, he was still only 18 and was deemed a new hope. In May 1969 he won the juryo yusho at the rank of juryo 8 with a 12-3 record and was promoted to makuuchi in the following July 1969 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Upon promotion to makuuchi, he changed his shikona to "Nishikinada" (錦洋). In March 1970, he produced a 9-6 record at the rank of maegashira 4 and was warded the Technique prize. He was promoted to maegashira 1 in the following May 1970 tournament where he defeated Taiho to earn his first kinboshi. However, he finished with a 6-9 record and never managed to reach the san'yaku ranks. In March 1972, he transferred to recently established Kimigahama stable. In November 1972 he reverted his shikona back to Kawasaki before changing it to "Taiga" (大峩) in July 1974. In July 1975, Taiga defeated yokozuna Kitanoumi to earn his second kinboshi. His last makuuchi appearance was in July 1976 and he was demoted back down to juryo in September 1976 and makushita in March 1977.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Due to liver problems and a knee injury, Taiga was demoted back down to makushita in March 1977. He subsequently announced his retirement after the May 1977 tournament. After retiring, he completely left the sumo world, and he opened up a chanko restaurant in Yonago, Tottori, called "Chanko Taiga" (ちゃんこ大峩). However, he lost his eyesight due to his worsening diabetes and returned to his hometown of Kanoya, Kagoshima. His restaurant has since been managed by his wife and daughter.

After returning to his hometown, he continue to suffer through chronic diseases and liver disease due to his diabetes and even required dialysis at one point. He went on to attend Kagoshima Kenritsu Kagoshimamo School which is a special education school for the blind and visually impaired.

At Kagoshima Kenritsu Kagoshimamo School, he obtained an acupuncturist qualification and attended a higher-level education course, however, he lost the minimal vision on his left eye and subsequently dropped out of the program in November 1993. Since December 1993, he worked as a physiotherapist at a hospital near his parent's home. In February 2001, he had his right knee amputated due to diabetic necrosis. Nevertheless, he continued to live with his disabilities and he gave lectures all over Japan about his post-sumo life.

### **Death**

He passed away on July 16, 2009, due to a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 59.

## **Fighting Style**

Nishikinada was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was yorikiri (force out), followed by oshidashi (push out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 446-446-19/891 (74 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 183-217-5/399 (27 basho)
* **Juryo:** 170-175/345 (23 basho)
* **Makushita:** 42-21-14/63 (11 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 21-14/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 21-14/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 9-5/14 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championship
	+ 1st (May 1969)
	+ 2nd (March 1974)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (September 1968)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Taiho, (1) Kitanoumi

## **Shikona History**

* Kawasaki Satoru (1965.03 - 1969.05)
* Nishikinada Koji (1969.07 - 1972.09)
* Kawasaki Satoru (1972.11 - 1974.05)
* Taiga Satoru (1974.07 - 1977.05)

## **Gallery**

Nishikinada (then Kawasaki) with Asahikuni and KurohimeyamaNishikinada defeats Yokozuna Taiho (c. 1970)Nishikinada (left) with one and only sansho prize (c. 1970)Taiga poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Nishikinada's chanko restaurant, "Chanko Taiga" (ちゃんこ大峩)
## **Sources**

* Nishikinada Koji Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Nishikinada Koji Rikishi Information