Sotairyu Ryozo

Sotairyu Ryozo - 双大竜 亮三 (born July 26, 1982) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture. He made his debut in May 2005 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 2013. His highest rank was maegashira 15 and he retired in January 2018.

## **Early Life**

Takahashi was born on July 26, 1982, in Fukushima. He began sumo wrestling during his 4th year at Fukushimashiritsu Horai Elementary School after a teacher recommended it. He later attended Fukushima Shiritsu Horai Junior High School, however, they did not have a sumo club, so he participated in shot put instead.

After that, he attended Aizu Agricultural & Foresty High School and then went on to continue his education at Tokyo University of Agriculture. He joined the sumo club and was members with high school teammate Suzaku. He was a regular in national competitions and served as the team captain during his fourth year. However, he sat out most of his senior year due to peritonitis which resulted in him losing 20 kg. After he was given permission from his doctor he continued sumo and went on to join Tokitsukaze stable upon graduation.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Takahashi made his professional sumo debut in May 2005 and took the jonokuchi championship with a perfect 7-0 in July 2005. In the following tournament he only lost one match, which was against the Russian Wakanoho and followed this with another perfect 7-0, however, he lost the playoff for the championship against Kageyama. He was promoted to makushita after only spending one tournament in each of the previous divisions.

After two tournaments in makushita, he changed his shikona to "Sotairyu" (双大竜) in May 2006. Like most wrestlers, Sotairyu found makushita much harder, but he still gradually rose through the rankings and reached makushita 10 in July 2007. He would remain in makushita for another two years. In March 2009, Sotairyu was ranked at makushita 9 and produced a 4-3 record which boosted him up to the ranks of makushita 3 in May 2009. In this tournament, he faced off against three juryo-ranked wrestlers where he defeated two of them (Kiyoseumi and Hoshihikari) and produced another 4-3 record. As a result, he was promoted to makushita 1 for the following tournament. He produced a 6-1 record in this tournament and qualified for an eight-man playoff. In the playoff, he defeated Ryuden in the first round, but lost to Fukao in the second round. Nonetheless, he was promoted to juryo for the September 2009 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In Sotairyu's juryo debut he was consistent in the first two-thirds of the tournament and was 5-5 by the tenth day. However, he went on to lose the last five bouts and as a result was demoted back down to makushita.

Sotairyu would remain in makushita for another two years and in May 2011, Sotairyu produced a 6-1 at the rank of makushita 7 and was promoted back to juryo as a result. In his first tournament back, Sotairyu produced an 8-7 and was promoted to juryo 4 for the September 2011 tournament. On the seventh day of this tournament, Sotairyu was injured after landing awkwardly in a match against Myogiryu. He subsequently had to pull out for the first time as a result. In January 2012, Sotairyu was in the yusho race for majority of the tournament and was ranked 10-2 by the end of the twelfth day, however, he lost his last three matches and finished with a 10-5 record. He would remain in juryo for another year before earning promotion to the top makuuchi division in March 2013.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In Sotairyu's makuuchi debut, he was ranked at Maegashira 15 and he defeated makuuchi-regulars Tochinowaka, Tamawashi, Kotoyuki, and Chiyootori. However, he still struggled and finished with a 4-11 record. As a result, he was immediately demoted back down to juryo and this would be his last appearance in th top division.

### **Later Career**

Sotairyu would remain in juryo for another two years where he produced mixed results. In March 2015, Sotairyu injured his right elbow and neck in a match against Shotenro. He pulled out on the seventh day, but would return on the twelfth day and he finished with a 4-7-4 record. Since he was ranked at juryo 11, he was ultimatley demoted back down to the unsalaried ranks. Sotairyu remained in makushita for around two years and he each year he was starting to slip down the rankings.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Sotairyu pulled out midway of the September 2017 tournament and completely sat out of the November 2017 tournament. As a result, he was demoted back down to sandanme in the following tournament for the first time since November 2005. He announced his retirement on January 13th which was one day prior to the January 2018 tournament. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on February 3rd, 2018, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan and 300 participants took turns cutting his hair.

After retirement, he intends to attend a vocational school where can obtain a qualification for osteopathic manipulative treatment, acupuncture, and moxibustion. He currently uses his previous medical qualifications to work on judo practitioners in hopes of limiting their injury chances.

## **Personal Life**

* Sotairyu claims that his sumo performance was clearly hindered after a major scandal erupted in his stable due to the death of seventeen year old stablemate, Tokitaizan. The cause of death was later revealed to be caused by sever hazing from the orders of Sotairyu's stablemaster. Even though Sotairyu did no participate in the hazing, his sumo declined and he did not reach the salaried levels at the intended pace that many critics assumed he would.

## **Fighting Style**

Oiwato is a tsuki/oshi specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting at his opponents rather than fighting on the mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite or technique is oshidashi or a straightforward push out, followed by yorikiri or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 351-340-20/689 (76 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 4-11/15 (1 basho)
* **Juryo:** 156-178-11/332 (23 basho)
* **Makushita:** 171-150-9/321 (47 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 7-0/7 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (July 2005)

## **Shikona History**

* Takahashi Ryozo (2005.05 -2006.03)
* Sotairyu Ryozo (2006.05 - 2018.01)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata**

Sotairyu Ryozo - 2015 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu Ryozo - 2014 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu Ryozo - 2013 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu Ryozo - 2012 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu Ryozo - 2012 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu Ryozo - 2009 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu Ryozo - 2009 (Retrieved from the JSA)Sotairyu's Tegata
### **Career Overview**

Sotairyu gets measured upon joining sumo (c. 2005)Sotairyu ensures promotion to Juryo (c. 2009)Sotairyu after promotion to Juryo (c. 2009)Sotairyu during his time in Makushita (c. 2010)Sotairyu defeats Bushuyama (c. 2011)Sotairyu throws and defeats Tokushoryu (c. 2012)Sotairyu after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 2013)Sotairyu battles Daido (c. 2013)Sotairyu makes his way to the Kokugikan (c. 2014)Sotairyu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2015)Sotairyu announces his retirement (c. 2018)Sotairyu's retirement ceremony (c. 2018)
## **Sources**

* Sotairyu Ryozo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Sotairyu Ryozo Rikishi Information