Fukudayama Takehiro

Fukudayama Takehiro - 福田山 幸雄 (born July 18, 1931) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Isahaya, Nagasaki. He made his debut in May 1949 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1959. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he retired in January 1965.

## **Early Life**

As a boy, Fukuda was known for his mischievous reputation which led to him dropping out of Isahaya Agricultural Senior High School. He subsequently worked as an apprentice for Toyota Motor Corporation in Fukuoka city, but later quit. After this, his father's acquaintance introduced him to Matsuchiyama Oyakata (former sekiwake Ryogoku Kajinosuke) of Dewanoumi stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

In the spring of 1949 he moved to Tokyo and joined Dewanoumi stable. He made his professional debut in May 1949 under the shikona "Tsunewaka" (常若). He was promoted to sandanme in September 1950 and makushita in January 1954. He changed his shikona to "Fukudayama" (福田山) in January 1957. In November 1957, he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 8-0 record and was promoted to juryo for the January 1958 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Fukudayama posted three conductive 8-7 records from his juryo debut. He followed with two consecutive 10-5 records which sent him to the top of juryo by November 1958. Fukudayama continued his streak of winning records and posted two additional winning records to earn promotion to makuuchi for the March 1959 tournament. At the time of makuuchi promotion, he had not produced a single losing record as a sekitori.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Fukudayama was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 15 tournaments, reaching as high as maegashira 4 in July 1961. In March 1960, he defeated future Yokozuna Taiho and defeated him again in the following May tournament (these are his only two meetings with Taiho). On record, Fukudayama is the only wrestler who defeated Taiho multiple times, but never lost to the yokozuna himself. However, from around this time, Fukudayama began suffering from hemorrhoids and had to pull out of the May 1960 tournament on the 10th day. He began to struggle and was demoted all the way down to makushita in November 1962.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Fukudayama retired form sumo in January 1965. After retiring, he returned back to his hometown and worked at a Chinese restaurant before opening a ramen restaurant in Chuo, Yokohama. After that, he worked at a fish market where he recruited future maegashira Tsunenoyama who was also working at the fish maret at the time.

## **Fighting Style**

Fukudayama 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 yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 405-408-29/812 (75 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 100-123-2/222 (15 basho)
* **Juryo:** 123-117/240 (17 basho)
* **Makushita:** 107-102-4/209 (28 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 45-40-23/85 (10 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 28-25/53 (4 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1957)
	+ 2nd (January 1964)

## **Shikona History**

* Tsunewaka# Yukio (1949.05 - 1956.09)
* Fukudayama Yukio (1957.01 - 1960.01)
* Fukudayama Koemon (1960.03 - 1962.09)
* Fukudayama Takehiro (1962.11 - 1965.09)

## **Sources**

* Fukudayama Takehiro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Fukudayama Takehiro Rikishi Information