Takanofuji Tadao

Takanofuji Tadao - 孝乃富士 忠雄 (born October 9, 1963) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ota, Tokyo. He made his debut in March 1979 and last wrestled for Kokonoe stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1986 and has one special prize as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1992.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional sumo debut in March 1979 at the age of 15, after leaving junior high school. He was recruited by Kokonoe stable. In 1980 he adopted the shikona of Fujinomori, before switching to Takanofuji in 1984. In May 1981, he won all seven matches, but missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing to Koraizan by shitatenage (underarm throw). Nevertheless, he was immediately promoted to makushita in the following tournament. In January 1985 he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following March 1985 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Takanofuji could only manage 4 wins against 11 losses in his sekitori debut and he was demoted back down to makushita. He briefly returned to juryo in July 1985, but could finished with a 6-9 record and was regulated back to makushita again. He returned for the third time in January 1986 and posted two consecutive 9-6 records which earned him a promotion to makuuchi for the May 1986 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Takanofuji was ranked in the top division for 33 tournaments, winning one special prize for Fighting Spirit. His two gold stars for defeating yokozuna were both earned against Futahaguro (who, as Koji Kitao, also turned to professional wrestling). Takanofuji had the advantage of belonging to a stable that included two yokozuna, Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi, which under sumo regulations meant he never had to face them in tournament play. However, his height of 1.92 m (6 ft 3.5 in) meant he had a higher centre of gravity than was ideal for a sumo wrestler, and he seemed to struggle when promoted above the mid maegashira ranks. Though he managed to reach the fourth highest komusubi ranking in July 1990 he could not maintain the rank, winning only two bouts there. He was demoted from the top division after the September 1991 tournament and announced his retirement in May 1992. His career coincided exactly with that of his stablemate Hokutoumi, who made his debut alongside him in March 1979 and also retired in May 1992. At Takanofuji's own request, it was the previous head of Kokonoe stable, ex-yokozuna Kitanofuji, his long time coach, and not his successor, ex-yokozuna Chiyonofuji, who performed the topknot cutting at Takanofuji's official retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

Reverting to his real name, he joined the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion in June 1993, making his debut in February 1994. Yasuda spent the majority of the 1990s as an undercard wrestler, primarily competing in opening matches or as the fall guy in tag team matches with wrestlers such as Shinya Hashimoto and Kensuke Sasaki, achieving little success.

He briefly transferred into MMA and decisively defeated Jérôme Le Banner which rose his stock in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. As a result, Yasuda earned the biggest win of his pro wrestling career on February 16, 2002, defeating Yuji Nagata in a tournament to win the vacant IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Yasuda held the title for 48 days, before dropping it to Nagata in April.

Having retired from MMA, the aging Yasuda's position in the New Japan card began to fall again, and in late 2004 he left the promotion. After leaving New Japan, he started making sporadic appearances for ZERO-ONE and Hustle.

In October 2007 he reportedly attempted to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, using a yeontan. A friend however, interrupted the alleged attempt. He was hospitalized with fears of possible brain damage, but this proved not to be the case and he eventually made a return to wrestling. Speaking to Tokyo Sports Yasuda later denied attempting suicide, saying the poisoning was accidental. On January 11, 2011, Yasuda announced his retirement from professional wrestling. He wrestled his final match on February 4, 2011, in which he was defeated by Genichiro Tenryu.

### **MMA Career**

Though very past his prime physically, Yasuda made his transition to mixed martial arts as a NJPW representative in March 2001. He had his debut at the PRIDE 13 against similarly retired kickboxer and karate champion Masaaki Satake. Yasuda received damage and bled from his face, but he nullified most of Satake' attacks by rushing him through sumo techniques against the ropes every time they were separated. At the end, the unanimous decision was given to Yasuda for controlling the fight.

Yasuda returned to MMA in the K-1 Andy Hug Memorial event, taking on Rene Rooze in a special rules match, but he lost via head kick KO at the third round. He would be more successful in December 2001, when he fought popular K-1 player Jerome Le Banner at an Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye event: Yasuda managed to take him down and submit him by pressing his forearm against Le Banner's throat, getting the biggest win of his MMA career.

He would later lose to fellow NJPW wrestler Kazuyuki Fujita in a Universal Fighting-Arts Organization event. Yasuda then fought superheavyweight kickboxer Jan Nortje, but he had to retire from the match when he hurt a leg seriously. His last fight was a rematch against Rooze, losing the fight again, this time by TKO.

### **Later Career**

After retiring, he was employed at a casino company called Golden Palm Group, but he reportedly resigned after a few months. As of 2017, he is currently engaged with the talent industry and is employed in the entertainment company called "Aphrodite Promotion" (アフロディーテ プロモーション).

## **Personal Life**

Takanofuji's daughter Ayami was born in 1987 and is a model.

Takanofuji operates a YouTube channel called "Tadao Yasuda's Life Theater" and as of 2020, it has around 8,000 subscribers.

## **Fighting Style**

Takanofuji 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 winning kimarite were yorikiri (force out), hatakikomi (slap down) and tsukiotoshi (thrust over).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 418-459-4/876 (80 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 212-281-2/492 (33 basho)
* **Juryo:** 52-68/120 (8 basho)
* **Makushita:** 80-60/140 (20 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 32-17/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 34-29/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 8-4-2/12 (2 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** (2) Futahaguro

## **Shikona History**

* Yasuda Tadao (1979.03 - 1980.01)
* Fujinomori Tadao (1980.03 - 1984.01)
* Takanofuji Tadao (1984.03 - 1992.05)

## **Gallery**

Takanofuji poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1986)Takanofuji (c. 1988)Takanofuji as Yokozuna Hokutoumi's dew sweeper (c. 1990)Takanofuji awarded a sansho prize (c. 1990)Takanofuji after promotion to Komusubi (c. 1990)Takanofuji as Yokozuna Chiyonofuji's dew sweeper (c. 1991)Takanofuji does professional wrestling after retirement (c. 1996)Takanofuji's upset MMA victory over Jerome Le Banner (c. 2001)Takanofuji's professional wrestling retirement match (c. 2011)Takanofuji's tegata
## **Sources**

* Takanofuji Tadao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Takanofuji Tadao Rikishi Information