Ichinoya Mitsuru

Ichinoya Mitsuru - 一ノ矢 充 (born December 28, 1960) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tokunoshima, Kagoshima. He made his debut in November 1983 and wrestled for Takasago stable. His highest rank was sandanme 6 and he retired in November 2007.

## **Early Life**

Ichinoya was interested in sumo from a very young age. He grew up on Tokunoshima island, which was the birthplace of the 46th Yokozuna Asashio Taro III. He studied physics at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, and started up a sumo club there.

## **Career**

Upon graduation he attempted to enter professional sumo but was turned away by a number of stables due to lack of height (at 166 cm he was below the minimum requirement of 173 cm). After help from Wakamatsu Oyakata (the former Fusanishiki) he moved into Wakamatsu stable and did chores there and worked on stretching exercises before making his official debut in the November 1983 tournament. In July 1989 he became the first graduate of a national university to win a yusho or tournament championship when he took the jonidan division title. In 1990 his stable master retired due to ill health and was replaced by the former Asashio Taro IV. In 2002 Wakamatsu stable merged with Takasago stable. He never rose higher than the fourth sandanme division, but he was much admired simply for his longevity and his determination in fighting opponents more than twenty years his junior. At the tournament in May 2007, ranked at Jonidan 87, he fought back from 0-3 down to achieve a 4–3 score and kachi-koshi. In November 2007, having completed 1000 professional bouts, he announced that he was retiring after 24 years in sumo. He also announced his intention to marry.

At 46 years of age, Ichinoya was the oldest man in professional sumo since the start of the Showa era in 1926. When he began his sumo career in November 1983 his stablemate, former yokozuna Asashoryu was just three years old. He was the oldest wrestler in sumo for 62 tournaments, from the retirement of Dairyu in July 1997 until his own retirement in November 2007.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Ichinoya remained as the general manager of Takasago stable, looking after its day-to-day running. He is also a keen computer enthusiast and keeps a regular blog on the heya's website. In February 2008 Ichinoya had his retirement ceremony, or danpatsu-shiki, at a hotel in Tokyo, along with his wedding reception. Asashoryu was among the attendees.

Interviewed in 2020 upon the occasion of his successor as oldest wrestler since the Showa era, Hanakaze, turning 50, Ichinoya (now known as Tetsuhiro Matsuda again) argued that although older wrestlers may not contribute much to sumo in sporting terms, they were important to the successful running of stables and the hosting of the tournaments.

## **Fighting Style**

Ichinoya was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used is a straightforward hikiotoshi, or pull down. His favorite kimarite was katasukashi, or under-shoulder swing down.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Makushita:** 484-518-6/1002 (145 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 99-132/231 (33 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 375-382-6/757 (109 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 10-4/14 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Jonidan** Championships
	+ 1st (July 1989)
	+ 2nd (January 1993)

## **Shikona History**

* Tokunoshima (1983.11 - 1984.11)
* Tokunishiki (1985.01 - 1986.01)
* Ichinoya Mitsuru (1986.03 - 2007.11)

## **Gallery**

Ichinoya prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2007)
## **Sources**

* Ichinoya Mitsuru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ichinoya Mitsuru Rikishi Information