Ohikari Sadayuki

Ohikari Sadayuki - 大晃 定行 (born September 24, 1927 - January 14, 1996) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kamiiso, Hokkaido. He made his debut in January 1944 and last wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1950 and has one special prize as well as five kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in November 1963.

## **Early Life**

His first job after graduating from school was as a driver but he had a large physique which was well suited to sumo, and he was recruited by future yokozuna Chiyonoyama, who came from nearby Fukushima.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He joined Dewanoumi stable in January 1944. Initially fighting under his surname Shibata, he later adopted the shikona "Tomoeura" (巴浦). He was promoted sandanme in June 1945 and makushita in November 1947. After three tournaments in makushita, he was promoted to juryo in January 1949.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, he finished with a 6-7 record. After a couple lackluster results, he was given the shikona "Ohikari" (大晃) in January 1950. After the shikona change, he posted two strong winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in September 1950.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In September 1952 he defeated his first yokozuna, Azumafuji, although he finished the tournament with only four wins against eleven losses. His best result in a tournament was in May 1956 when he was runner-up to then ozeki Wakanohana Kanji I, losing to him in a playoff for the yusho or championship after both wrestlers finished with identical 12–3 records. He had fought only his fellow maegashira ranked wrestlers until the final day, when he defeated sekiwake Tsurugamine. Ohikari was awarded the Fighting Spirit sansho or special prize, the only one of his career. He made his debut in the sanyaku ranks at komusubi in July 1958, but fell just short of a majority of wins with a 7–8 record. He had one more appearance at komusubi in November 1958.

He was known for his endurance and ability to avoid injury, and on the seventh day of the January 1963 tournament, he became the first wrestler to fight 1000 consecutive matches from his professional debut. He extended this record to 1068 matches, but a ruptured Achilles tendon in November 1963 ended his streak, and he immediately announced his retirement. 945 of those bouts had been in the top division, which is the seventh longest consecutive run of makuuchi bouts as of 2017. He had fought in the top division for 13 years and 64 tournaments, with 455 wins against 489 losses, and one draw. He had five gold stars, his yokozunawins coming against Azumafuji, Kagamisato, and Wakanohana I (three times). Despite fighting in 79 career tournaments, he never managed to win a championship in any division.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Ohikari stayed in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, working as a coach at Dewanoumi stable under the name of Onomatsu Oyakata until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in September 1992. He sold his Onomatsu stock to former sekiwake Masurao, who went on to found Onomatsu stable. He died in January 1996 at the age of 68.

## **Fighting Style**

Ohikari liked to push and thrust at his opponents, and was known for the power of his tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the chest. His most common winning kimarite or techniques were yorikiri (force out), utchari (ring edge throw) and oshidashi (push out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 526-539-15-3d/1068 (79 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 455-489-15-1d/945 (64 basho)
* **Juryo:** 41-31-1d/73 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 11-6-1d/18 (3 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 13-9/22 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 3-2/5 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 3-2/5 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 5: (3) Wakanohana I, (1) Azumafuji, (1) Kagamisato

## **Shikona History**

* Shibata Sadayuki (1944.01 - 1946.11)
* Tomoeura Sadayuki (1947.06 - 1949.10)
* Ohikari Sadayuki (1950.01 - 1953.11)

## **Sources**

* Ohikari Sadayuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ohikari Sadayuki Rikishi Information