Fujiryu Masaru

Fujiryu Masaru - 富士龍 優耀 (born August 2, 1974) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tatomi, Yamanashi. He made his debut in March 1997 and wrestled for Onomatsu stable. His highest rank was makushita 1 and he retired in May 2007.

## **Early Life**

Masaru Ogane was born on August 2, 1974, in Hachioji, Tokyo. Before starting elementary school, he and his family moved to the town of Tatomi in Yamanishi prefecture due to his father's job. During his time in junior high school, he was a swimmer and specialized in butterfly. He had a large frame and was invited by the director of the Yamanashi Kenritsu Yamurakogyo High School's sumo club to try out sumo. During his third year of high school, he reached the top 32 at the Inter-High School Tournament and even defeated future ozeki Tochiazuma. After high school, he was recruited into Senshu University's sumo club by the club's head coach as well as future ozeki Musoyama who was a third-year student at the time. In his first year, Ogane fractured his left ankle at the National Student Championships. After graduating, he joined Onomatsu stable.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in March 1997 and was given the shikona "Midorifuji" (緑富士). He won the jonokuchi yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in his first official tournament in May 1997. He was promoted to sandanme in September 1997 and makushita in March 1998. At the time of his makushita debut, he had not posted a single losing record and continue to produce strong results in makushita. In July 1998, while ranked at makushita 20, Midorifuji finished with a 3-4 record, his first career losing record.

In January 2000, he reached the rank of makushita 3 and his record was 3-3 by the end of the 11th day. He faced off against juryo-ranked Wakakosho on the 12th day in an exchange match, but lost by hikiotoshi (pull down). In May 2000, while ranked at makushita 6, he defeated juryo-ranked Senshuyama to finish with a strong 5-2 record. He was promoted to makushita 1 for the following July 2000 tournament. In this tournament, he injured his ankle on the eleventh day after securing his third win in a match against Tanaka. As a result, he lost his exchange bout against Kitazakura on the following day to finish with a 3-4 record and was unable to capitalize on a juryo promotion.

Midorifuji developed diabetes and venous thrombosis prior to the May 2001 tournament and was force to miss four tournaments. He returned to sumo in January 2002 and was ranked in the second lowest jonidan division; he won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. In the following March 2002 tournament, he finished with another perfect 7-0 record, but missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing to Ama.

In July 2003, he was given the new shikona 'Fujiryu" (富士龍). He spent the majority of his later career in the makushita division, but was unable to reach the sekitori ranks.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Fujiryu retired from sumo in May 2007 and his retirement ceremony, or danpatsu-shiki, was held on May 27, 2007. After retirement, he trained at a Japanese restaurant and ran a chanko restaurant called "Fujiryu" (富士龍) in Sennan, Osaka, for three years. After that, he worked as a driver for a transportation company in Kanagawa prefecture.

## **Personal Life**

* Fujiryu has participated in four juryo matches. He defeated Senshuyama in the May 2000 tournament, but lost to Wakakosho in January 2000 and Wakanojo and Kitazakura in July 2000.
* On the ninth day of the March 2002 tournament, Fujiryu defeated future yokozuna Hakuho by tsuridashi (lift out) in sandanme. That was the only time Hakuho has ever lost by tsuridashi.
* Fujiryu was born in Hachioji, Tokyo, but used Tatomi, Yamanashi, as his official birthplace when joining sumo, as he moved there at a very young age.
* Fujiryu served as sekiwake Takatoriki's personal servant, or tsukebito.

## **Fighting Style**

Fujiryu was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His most often used winning kimarite was oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out) and yoritaoshi (frontal crush out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 219-157-51/374 (62 basho)
* **Makushita:** 156-143-30/297 (47 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 43-13-14/56 (10 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 13-1-7/14 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (January 2002)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (May 1997)

## **Shikona History**

* Ogane Masaru (1997.03 - 1997.05)
* Midorifuji Masaru (1997.07 - 2002.11)
* Ogane Masaru (2003.01 - 2003.05)
* Fujiryu Masaru (2003.07 - 2007.05)

## **Gallery**

Fujiryu loses to the future Takamisakari (c. 1999)Fujiryu loses the Sandanme Yusho match to Ama (c. 2002)Fujiryu (c. 2007)
## **Sources**

* Fujiryu Masaru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Fujiryu Masaru Rikishi Information