Yoshinotani Akitoshi

Yoshinotani Akitoshi - 吉の谷 彰俊 (born April 23, 1949 - January 14, 2000) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Miiraku, Nagasaki. He made his debut in May 1965 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1974. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he retired in May 1982.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduating junior high school, Yoshitani joined Dewanoumi stable. He made his professional debut in May 1965 and initially wrestled under his surname before switching to "Utonoyama" (宇戸の山) in November 1967. In November 1968, he changed his shikona to "Yoshinotani" (吉の谷) which is derived from his surname "Yoshitani" (吉谷). In May 1970, he won the sandanme yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. In March 1972, he produced a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 3 and was promoted to juryo in the following May 1972 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Yoshinotani's first juryo run only lasted one tournament and he was demoted back down to makushita. Nevertheless, he returned to juryo in the following September 1972 tournament. He won the juryo division championship in September 1973 with an 11–4 record, despite losing his last three matches. He followed with a 9-6 record and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1974. He was ranked in makuuchi for a total of seven tournaments.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his first tournament ranked in the top division, Yoshinotani finished with a solid 9-6 record. In July 1974, he produced an 8-7 record at the rank of Maegashira 7 and was promoted to Maegashira 4 in September 1974. He then went on a slump and produced three consecutive losing records which resulted in a fall back to juryo.

### **Later Career**

Due to persistent elbow injuries, Yoshinotani fell back down to makushita in July 1975. He returned to juryo in Janaury 1976 after winning the makushita yusho, but could only maintain his rank for one tournament. He won his second makushita yusho in May 1976 and was promoted back to juryo in the following July 1976 tournament. In May 1978 he inflicted the first defeat of future ozeki Asashio's career to secure his majority of wins on the final day of the tournament. His final tournament as a sekitori was in November 1978. He was ranked in makushita for another three years before announcing his retirement after the May 1982 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He fought in 102 tournaments in total, 27 as a sekitori, with no bouts missed and 930 career matches. Upon retirement from active competition in May 1982 he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under a series of different names, since he didn't own a toshiyori-kabu of his own.

### **Death**

Yoshinotani became ill around the summer of 1999 and was hospitalized for further treatment. He died while active as Onaruto-oyakata of multiple organ failure on January 14, 2000, at a hospital in Koto, Tokyo. He was 50 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Yoshinotani 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 oshidashi, or push out, followed closely by yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing shitatenage, or underarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 461-469/930 (103 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 48-57/105 (7 basho)
* **Juryo:** 132-168/300 (20 basho)
* **Makushita:** 171-151/322 (46 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 68-58/126 (18 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 38-32/70 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 1973)
* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1975)
	+ 2nd (May 1976)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (May 1970)

## **Shikona History**

* Yoshitani (1965.05 - 1967.09)
* Utonoyama (1967.11 - 1968.09)
* Yoshinotani Akitoshi (1968.11 - 1982.05)

## **Gallery**

Yoshinotani poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Yoshinotani prepares for his upcoming matchYoshinotani after retirement as Onaruto Oyakata (c. 2000)
## **Sources**

* Yoshinotani Akitoshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Yoshinotani Akitoshi Rikishi Information