Tamaarashi Kohei

Tamaarashi Kohei - 玉嵐 孝平 (born August 1, 1941 - February 28, 1993) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Memuro, Hokkaido. He made his debut in September 1956 and wrestled for Kataonami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1962. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he retired in July 1967.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He was recruited by sekiwake Tamanoumi and he subsequently joined Nishonoseki stable and made his professional debut in September 1956 under the shikona "Tamaarashi" (玉嵐). He was promoted to sandanme in January 1958 and makushita in March 1959. He transferred to the newly established Kataonami stable in 1961. In January 1962 he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to juryo in March 1962.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Tamaarashi finished with a strong 10-5 record and was promoted to the rank of juryo 5 for the May 1962 tournament. In this tournament he finished with an outstanding 12-3 record and won the juryo yusho. He was promoted to makuuchi for the following July 1962 tournament after only two tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tamaarashi posted an 8-7 record in his top divison debut and followed with a 9-6 record. He was promoted to the rank of maegashira 4 by his third makuuchi tournament. However, this proved to be his highest rank as Tamaarashi finished with a 5-10 record. He injured his left leg during training in March 1964 and fell back down to juryo in May of the same year. He remained in juryo for two years before winning his second juryo yusho in November 1965 and earning a re-promotion back to makuuchi. However, his return to makuuchi only lasted one tournament and he was immediately regulated back down to the juryo division.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After falling back down to juryo in July 1967, Tamaarashi announced his retirement. After retiring, he opened up a sushi restaurant in Moriguchi, Osaka, and an okonomiyaki restaurant in Higashiosaka, Osaka, called "Yuri-ka" (ゆり家). In addition, he was also the head coach of the Kinki University sumo club.

### **Death**

He died at a hospital in Osaka City on February 28, 1993, due to a stroke. He was 51 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Tamaarashi 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 tsuridashi (lift out), uwatenage (overarm throw), oshidashi (push out), and utchari (backward pivot throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 377-322-15-1d/698 (64 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 79-93-8/170 (12 basho)
* **Juryo:** 155-144-1d/300 (20 basho)
* **Makushita:** 82-50-7/132 (19 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 36-20/56 (7 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 19-13/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championship
	+ 1st (May 1962)
	+ 2nd (November 1965)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (Janaury 1962)

## **Shikona History**

* Narita Kohei (1956.09 - 1957.01)
* Tamaarashi Kohei (1957.03 - 1967.07)

## **Gallery**

Tamaarashi during his time in the unsalaried ranks (c. 1962)Tamaarashi with his kesho-mawashiTamaarashi's okonomiyaki restaurant called "Yuri-ka" (ゆり家)
## **Sources**

* Tamaarashi Kohei Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tamaarashi Kohei Rikishi Information