Wakanoumi Masateru (born 1959)

## Wakanoumi Masateru

Wakanoumi Masateru - 若ノ海 正照 (born June 4, 1959) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yamamoto, Akita. He made his debut in March 1975 and last wrestled for Hanaregoma stable. He reached the juryo division in March 1986. His highest rank was juryo 4 and he retired in September 1989.

## **Early Life**

Takahashi attended Mitane Choritsu Yamamoto Junior High School where he was a member of both the sumo club and the track and field club. He was an extraordinary athlete. He set school records in the 100m dash and won the national junior high school sumo championship to become the 1974 junior high school yokozuna. He was considering high school, but was enthusiastically invited to Hanakago stable and he joined the stable upon graduating junior high school. This made him the first junior high school yokozuna to enter sumo directly, instead of opting for high school.

## **Career**

Wrestling under the name "Takahashiyama" (高橋山), he made his professional debut in March 1975, alongside future ozeki Kirishima and Wakashimazu. He won the jonidan yusho twice and was promoted to makushita in January 1978. However, due to his light weight, he could not immediately establish himself in makushita and was prone to injuries. In November 1984, he tore his right pectoralis major and withdrew from the tournament. Nevertheless, he recovered and was promoted to juryo in March 1986.

Shortly before his juryo promotion, his Hanakago stable closed down, so he transferred to Hanaregoma stable. After his promotion to juryo, he changed his shikona to the prestigious "Wakanoumi Masateru" ring name which has been used by two other sekitori from his stable. He produced steady results in juryo and was promoted to the rank of juryo 4 by his fourth tournament as a sekitori in September 1986. However, he suffered an injury on his right achilles tendon and subsequently sat out of the following November 1986 tournament which resulted in a demotion back down to makushita. He never managed to return to juryo and announced his retirement after the September 1989 tournament.

## **Fighting Style**

Wakanoumi 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:** 331-275-43/606 (88 basho)
* **Juryo:** 31-29-15/60 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 205-174-27/379 (58 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 62-49-1/111 (16 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 28-21/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Jonidan** Championships
	+ 1st (March 1976)
	+ 2nd (September 1976)

## **Shikona History**

* Takahashiyama Michio (1975.03 - 1978.11)
* Daikyo Michio (1979.01 - 1979.05)
* Takahashiyama Michio (1979.07 - 1980.05)
* Hanaguruma Michio (1980.07 - 1984.09)
* Hananishiki Michio (1984.11 - 1984.11)
* Hanaogi Michio (1985.01 - 1986.01)
* Wakanoumi Masateru (1986.03 - 1989.09)

## **Gallery**

Wakanoumi wins his second Jonidan Yusho (c. 1976)Wakanoumi in the unsalaried ranks
## **Sources**

* Wakanoumi Masateru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakanoumi Masateru Rikishi Information