Ryugahama Hironobu

Ryugahama Hironobu - 龍ヶ浜 広宣 (born August 16, 1963) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. He made his debut in January 1981 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the juryo division in September 1990. His highest rank was juryo 7 and he retired in January 1992.

## **Early Life**

Hironobu was born the third son and his parents operated an ayu restaurant called "Takizawaen" (滝沢園). He was a member of the soccer club at Hamamatsu Shiritsu Hokusei Junior High School where he played the goaltender. He continued his soccer career at Hamamatsu Gakuin High School. He met Tokitsukaze oyakata (former ozeki Yutakayama) at a boxing event in Tokyo where his brother was boxing and he was recruited into Tokitsukaze stable.

## **Career**

Shibata made his debut in January 1981 and wrestled under his surname. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1984 and makushita in November 1986. He was able to establish himself in makushita, but he struggled to produce any significant results and never got close to winning a yusho.

After a series of poor results he changed his shikona to "Ryugahama" (龍ヶ浜) in November 1989. The shikona "Ryugahama" was his high school principal's idea. After the shikona change, Ryugahama produced six consecutive winning records, including a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 1 which guaranteed him a promotion to juryo in September 1990.

In his sekitori debut, Ryugahama posted a 8-7 record and was promoted to a career-best rank of juryo 7 in the following tournament. He got lucky as he jumped 5 ranks after a 8-7 record. However, Ryugahama went on a slump and produced four straight losing records which resulted in a fall back down to makushita. He never managed to return to juryo again.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In November 1991, Ryugahama produced a poor 1-6 record and he announced his retirement in the following January 1992 tournament at the age of 28.

After retiring, he opened up a chankonabe restaurant called "Sumo Teahouse Chanko Ryugahama" (相撲茶屋ちゃんこ龍ヶ浜) in his hometown of Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.

## **Personal Life**

His older brother Kenji Shibata (born 1953) was a professional boxer who fought in the super welterweight division. He finished his career with a 30 win to 8 loss record.

Ryugahama's hobby is fishing.

## **Fighting Style**

Ryugahama was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 256-239-7/495 (67 basho)
* **Juryo:** 32-43/75 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 99-83-7/182 (27 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 55-50/105 (15 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 66-60/126 (18 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Shibata Hironobu (1981.01 - 1989.09)
* Ryugahama Hironobu (1989.11 - 1992.01)

## **Gallery**

Ryugahama after promotion to Juryo (c. 1990)Ryugahama poses with his kesho-mawashiRyugahama prepares for his upcoming boutRyugahama during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 1990)Ryugahama after retirement inside his restaurant (c. 2009)Ryugahama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Ryugahama Hironobu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ryugahama Hironobu Rikishi Information