Tatsuhikari Kumagoro

Tatsuhikari Kumagoro - 立洸 熊五郎 (born October 25, 1969 - February 24, 2011) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shari, Hokkaido. He made his debut in March 1985 and wrestled for Tatsunami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1992. His highest rank was maegashira 6 and he retired in March 1999.

## **Early Life**

Yoshimitsu Ishibashi was born in Sumida Ward in Tokyo, but he moved to the town of Shari in Hokkaido Prefecture when he was young. He practiced kendo in elementary school before switching to baseball in junior high school. After graduating from junior high school, he joined Tatsunami stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under his surname Ishibashi before switching to "Tatsuhikari" (立洸) in September 1986. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1987 and makushita in January 1988. In July 1989 he won all seven matches but lost to Takatoriki in a playoff for the makushita yusho. In November 1990, he was ranked at makushita 4 and won his first makushita yusho. As a result he was promoted to juryo in January 1991.

### **Juryo Career**

Tatsuhikari could only manage six wins in his debut and was demoted back down to makushita. He was immediately promoted back to juryo after winning his second makushita yusho. In November 1991, he produced a strong 10-5 record, but missed out on the yusho after losing the playoff. Nonetheless, he was promoted to makuuchi in the following January 1992 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He could only manage a 7-8 record in his debut, but he bounced back with two consecutive winning records which sent him to a career-best maegashira 6 in July 1992. He could only manage six wins at this rank and was demoted back down to juryo after a total of seven makuuchi tournaments. After winning the juryo yusho in July 1993, he briefly returned to makuuchi for one tournament.

### **Later Career**

Tatsuhikari remained in juryo for around. year and even won his second juryo yusho in July 1994. However, he suffered a herniated disc and was demoted back down to makushita in January 1995. He remained in makushita for remainder of his later career.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Tatsuhikari announced his retirement after the March 1999 tournament due to a guaranteed fall to sandanme. After retiring, he briefly managed a restaurant, before working for a security company in Chitose, Hokkaido.

### **Death**

He passed away on February 24, 2011, at the age of 41 due to liver cancer.

## **Personal Life**

* During his active career, his nickname was "bear" due to his giant physique. Furthermore, his kesho-mawashi even incorporated a design of a bear.
* Before reaching sekitori status, he served as the tsukebito, or personal servant, to yokozuna Futahaguro.

## **Fighting Style**

Tatsuhikari's favored techniques were yori (forcing) and hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most common winning kimarite is a straightforward yorikiri or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 391-356-25/746 (85 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 45-75/120 (8 basho)
* **Juryo:** 117-103-5/219 (15 basho)
* **Makushita:** 138-122-13/260 (39 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 48-24-5/72 (11 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 39-29-2/68 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (July 1993)
	+ 2nd (July 1994)
* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1990)
	+ 2nd (March 1991)

## **Shikona History**

* Ishihashi (1985.03 - 1986.07)
* Tatsuhikari Kumagoro (1986.06 - 1999.03)

## **Gallery**

Tatsuhikari (c. 1993)Tatsuhikari with his kesho-mawashiTatsuhikari after falling to the unsalaried ranks (c. 1997)Tatsuhikari's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tatsuhikari Kumagoro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tatsuhikari Kumagoro Rikishi Information