Tamakairiki Tsuyoshi

Tamakairiki Tsuyoshi - 玉海力 剛 (born July 16, 1966) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shibuya, Tokyo. He made his debut in March 1982 and wrestled for Kataonami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1991. His highest rank was maegashira 8 and he retired in March 1996.

## **Early Life**

Kawabe's father told him to become a sumo wrestler, which he agreed to. During his second year in junior high school he transferred to Ryogoku Junior High School and stayed in Kataonami stable. After graduating he officially joined Kataonami stable and made his professional debut in March 1982.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under the shikona "Tamazakura" (玉桜) and in May 1983, he won the jonidan yusho. He was immediately promoted to sandanme, and three tournaments later, in January 1984, he was promoted to makushita at the age of 17. In September 1985, he won the sandanme yusho. He changed his shikona to "Tamakairiki" (玉海力) in March 1988 and after five consecutive winning records, he was promoted to juryo in September 1989.

### **Juryo Career**

Tamakairiki produced a losing record in his juryo debut and was demoted back down to makushita. He returned one tournament later to juryo. He produced consistent, but unspectacular results in juryo. After two consecutive 9-6 records, he was promoted to makuuchi in September 1991.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tamakairiki wrestled a total 8 tournaments in makuuchi and rose to a career-best maegashira 8 in November 1992. He fell down to juryo multiple times and was promoted back to makuuchi four times. His best performance was in September 1992 where he posted a solid 9-6 record. His last makuuchi appearance was in January 1994.

### **Later Career**

Tamakairiki broke his right thumb in May 1993 and had an operation after the July 1994 tournament. However, his sumo worsened after the operation and he lost his sekitori status in March 1995. He continued to struggle and eventually fell down to sandanme where he continued to produce losing records. He ultimately announced his retirement after the March 1996 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement he opened a chankonabe restaurant in his neighborhood of Shibuya, which now has branches in Musashi Koyama, Akasaka and Shandong. In 2009 he helped found the Japan Beach Sumo Federation, which aims to promote beach sumo as a healthy after-school activity for children.

### **MMA Career**

He made his mixed martial arts debut on May 23rd, 2004 at the Pride FC: Bushido 3 event in the Yokohama Arena where he lost to Akira Shoji by TKO in 18 seconds. His fought two more matches for PANCRASE where he lost both fights by submission.

## **Personal Life**

He is a father of two. His daughter is a member of idol group MAJOPICHU. His uncle is shogi player Keiji Mori.

## **Fighting Style**

Tamakairiki's favored techniques are migi-yotsu (a left hand outside, right hand inside grip on the opponent's mawashi) and uwatenage (overarm throw). He won majority of his matches by yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 408-413-23/820 (85 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 43-75-2/117 (8 basho)
* **Juryo:** 181-179/360 (24 basho)
* **Makushita:** 104-99-7/203 (30 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 50-41-7/91 (14 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 25-17-7/42 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (September 1985)
* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (May 1983)

## **Shikona History**

* Tamazakura Uzaemon (1982.03 - 1988.01)
* Tamakairiki Tsuyoshi (1988.03 - 1996.03)

## **Gallery**

Tamakairiki's early career in sumo (c. 1982)Tamakairiki (c. 1993)Tamakairiki with his gold mawashiTamakairiki with his kesho-mawashiTamakairiki's retirement ceremony (c. 1996)Tamakairiki's MMA career after retirement from sumoTamakariki's chankonabe restaurant, Dosukui Sakaba in Musashi KoyamaTamakairiki's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tamakairiki Tsuyoshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tamakairiki Tsuyoshi Rikishi Information