Tsunenoyama Katsumasa II

## Tsunenoyama Katsumasa

Tsunenoyama Katsumasa - 常の山 勝正 (born January 29, 1963) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nishinoomote, Kagoshima. He made his debut in July 1980 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1991. His highest rank was maegashira 12 and he retired in March 1993.

## **Early Life**

After graduating from a local junior high school in Kagoshima, Shimomura moved to Fukuoka and was employed at an electrical company. He later went to work for at fish market where former maegashira Fukubayama was employed. Fukudayama wrestled for Dewanoumi stable and recommended that Shimomura join the stable, which he agreed upon.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in July 1980. Although he had no sumo experience, Shimomura produced a strong 6-1 record and participated in a playoff for the jonokuchi yusho, however he lost to Sakuma in the final round. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1983 and in September of the same year, he changed his shikona to "Nishinoryu" (西乃龍). Two tournaments later, he was promoted to makushita. In November 1987 he won the makushita yusho and followed with a 4-3 record which earned him a promotion to the juryo division in March 1988.

### **Juryo Career**

He could only manage 6 wins in his sekitori debut and was demoted back down to makushita. He returned in January 1990 and posted a strong 10-5 record. In January 1991 he adopted the shikona "Tsunenoyama Katsumasa" (常の山 勝正) which was the shikona his father-in-law used as an active wrestler. He was promoted to makuuchi one tournament later in March 1991.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tsunenoyama could only manage 3 wins in his top division debut and was regulated back to juryo. He returned for another four tournaments and his highest rank was maegashira 12. He fell back down to juryo in September 1992.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He withdrew due to injury in the January 1999 tournament. As a result, he was demoed back down to makushita and he announced his retirement after the March 1993 tournament.

After retiring, he did not stay with the Japan Sumo Association and currently runs a chankonabe restaurant called "Nishinoryu" (which is named after his juryo shikona) in Chuo-ku, Osaka.

## **Personal Life**

He married the daughter of Tadakatsu Hashimoto, a former maegashira, and was legally adopted by him as his son, changing his real name from Shigezaku Shimomura to Shigezaku Hashimoto. He also adopted the shikona "Tsunenoyama" which belonged to his father-in-law. However, they later divorced and he changed his surname back to Shigezaku in May 1992.

His eldest son, Ryutaro Shimomura (born August 20, 2000 in Osaka) entered Sakaigawa stable in November 2018 after an amateur career with Saitama Sakae High School. His shikona is "Nishinoryu", which was his father's juryo shikona.

## **Fighting Style**

Tsunenoyama preferred yotsu-sumo, or grappling techniques, rather than slapping or pushing. His preferred grip on his opponent′s mawashi or belt is migi-yotsu, a right hand inside, left hand outside position His favorite kimarite was uwatedashinage (pulling overarm throw), but his most common one was yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 346-340-6/685 (77 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 29-46/75 (5 basho)
* **Juryo:** 106-113-6/218 (15 basho)
* **Makushita:** 109-94/203 (29 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 46-38/84 (12 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 50-48/98 (14 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (November 1987)

## **Shikona History**

* Shimomura Shigekazu (1980.07 - 1984.07)
* Nishinoryu Shigekazu (1984.09 - 1986.01)
* Nishinoryu Yasuyuki (1986.03 - 1990.11)
* Tsunenoyama Katsumasa (1991.01 - 1993.03)

## **Gallery**

Nishinoryu's early career in sumoNishinoryu (c. 1988)Tsunenoyama with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1992)Tsunenoyama's retirement ceremony (c. 1993)Tsunenoyama's son (left) joins professional sumo (c. 2018)Tsunenoyama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tsunenoyama Katsumasa Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tsunenoyama Katsumasa Rikishi Information