Tokitairyu Masakazu

Tokitairyu Masakazu - 時大竜 正和 (born August 25, 1983) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Inawashiro, Fukushima. He made his debut in March 2006 and wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. His highest rank was makushita 12 and he retired in January 2009.

## **Early Life**

Masakazu Kimura was born on August 25, 1983, in the town of Inawashiro in Fukushima prefecture. He attended Tokyo University of Agriculture where he was a member of the school's sumo club. During his fourth year, he achieved top 16 in both the National Student Sumo Championship and the All Japan Sumo Championship. After graduating, he joined Tokitsukaze stable.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in March 2006 and was initially given the shikona "Tokitenryu" (時天竜) before changing it to "Tokitairyu" (時大竜) in the following March 2006 tournament. In September 2006, he finished with a 7-0 record and defeated future ozeki Tochinoshin in a playoff to claim the jonidan yusho. He reached makushita in March 2007 and finished with a 6-1 record in his makushita debut. He was promoted to a career-best makushita 12 for the following May 2007 tournament, but finished with a poor 1-6 record in this tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

* *See Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal for more information*

### **Hazing Scandal and Dismissal**

On June 26, 2007, seventeen-year-old junior sumo wrestler Tokitaizan, collapsed and died after a training session at Tokitsukaze stable's lodgings in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It emerged that he was beaten with a beer bottle and a metal baseball bat at the direction of his trainer. Tokitaizan's cause of death had been reported as heart failure, but his father insisted on an autopsy, which revealed the abuse.

Tokistukaze stable's stablemaster, Jun'ichi Yamamoto, admitted to beating the 17-year-old novice, who had only been in sumo for three months, and ordering other sumo wrestlers, including Tokitairyu, to beat him, due to Tokitaizan's "vague attitude" towards the sport. It was also reported that Tokitaizan had run away from the stable on a number of occasions. Yamamoto was expelled by the Japan Sumo Association.

Following this revelation, Tokitairyu and two other stablemates were suspended indefinitely after the September 2007 tournament. Tokitairyu was arrested on February 2008 and charged with manslaughter. However, he was only given a suspended two and a half year prison term as he was "ordered" by his stablemaster and could not refuse his stablemaster's commands. He was officially dismissed from sumo in January 2009 even though he had already cut off his top knot a couple months prior.

## **Fighting Style**

Tokitairyu was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. His most common kimarite was yorikiri (force out) followed by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 44-19-49/63 (17 basho)
* **Makushita:** 16-12-21/28 (7 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 10-4-14/14 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 13-1-7/14 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2-7/7 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (September 2006)

## **Shikona History**

* Tokitenryu Masakazu (2006.03 - 2006.03)
* Tokitairyu Masakazu (2006.05 - 2007.11)
* Akiyutaka Masakazu (2008.01 - 2009.01)

## **Gallery**

Tokitairyu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2007)
## **Sources**

* Tokitairyu Masakazu Rikishi Information
* Wikipedia Article on Tokistukaze Stable Hazing Scandal
* Goo Blog Article on Tokitairyu