Kurikeyama Keizo

Kurikeyama Keizo - 栗家山 恵三 (born February 15, 1938) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Monbetsu, Hokkaido. He made his debut in March 1956 and last wrestled for Sanoyama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1962. His highest rank was maegashira 5 and he retired in January 1964.

## **Early Life**

He played baseball in junior high school, but after entering Hokkaido Tomakomai Technical High School he switched to sumo. In 1955, during his third year in high school, he participated in the national high school sumo tournament. When Takasago ichimon (group of stables) came to Hokkaido for a tour, he was recommended to join professional sumo. He subsequently joined Sanoyama stable which is a member of Takasago ichimon.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in March 1956 under the shikona "Tominishiki" (登美錦). He was promoted to sandanme in September 1957 and makushita in May 1958. In February 1960 his Sanoyama stable disbanded due to the death of stablemaster (former Maegashira Asahibiki) and he transferred to the affiliated Takasago stable. In January 1961 he changed his shikona to "Kurikeyama" (栗家山) and was promoted to juryo three tournaments in May 1961.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, he finished with a strong 11-4 record. In July 1961, former komusubi Kuninobori revived Sanoyama stable and Kurikeyama transferred to the stable. After three consecutive winning records, he was promoted to makuuchi in March 1962.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Kurikeyama finished with a solid 9-6 record and was promoted to the rank of maegashira 5 for May 1962. He struggled in this tournament and could only manage 4-11 record. He followed with a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to juryo after a total of three tournaments in makuuchi.

### **Later Career**

He remained in juryo another year after demotion from the top division. In July 1963 he changed his shikona to "Taikon" (太鯤), but this did not change his luck and he was demoted back down to makushita in September 1963. He reverted his shikona back to his surname of Kitsui in the following November 1963 and he announced his retirement in January 1964.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He announced his retirement in January 1964 and his Sanoyama stable closed its doors shortly in February 1964. After retirement, he returned to his hometown and worked for his local post office.

## **Fighting Style**

Kurikeyama was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left 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 tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the chest.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 230-200-7/429 (45 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 18-27/45 (3 basho)
* **Juryo:** 76-82-7/157 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 88-72/160 (21 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 22-10/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 23-9/32 (4 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Kitsui Keizo (1956.03 - 1956.05)
* Tominishiki Keizo (1956.09 - 1960.11)
* Kurikeyama Keizo (1961.01 - 1963.05)
* Taikon Keizo (1963.07 - 1963.09)
* Kitsui Keizo (1963.11 - 1964.01)

## **Gallery**

Kurikeyama with his kesho-mawashiKurikeyama (left) during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 1961)
## **Sources**

* Kurikeyama Keizo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kurikeyama Keizo Rikishi Information