Tochioyama Yuki

Tochioyama Yuki - 栃王山 裕規 (born March 1, 1943 - March 31, 2001) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi. He made his debut in November 1958 and wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1963 and has one special prize as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in January 1972.

## **Early Life**

When he was a child, Kamitani was weak and suffered from tuberculosis. He eventually got stronger and took up sumo in elementary school. He attended Chukyo University Chukyo High School, but dropped out during his first year after he was recruited for professional sumo by the 44th yokozuna Tochinishiki of Kasugano stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his debut in November 1958 at the age of 15 and initially wrestled under his surname Kamitani. He won the jonokuchi yusho with a perfect 8-0 record in his first professional tournament. He was promoted to sandanme in September 1959 and makushita in July 1960. In January 1962 he changed his shikona to "Tochioyama" (栃王山) and was promoted to juryo three tournaments later in May 1962.

### **Juryo Career**

At the time of his juryo debut, Tochioyama was still only 19 years old and the youngest sekitori in both divisions. He posted a strong 10-5 record in his first tournament as a sekitori, but followed with a poor 5-10 record. Nevertheless, he bounced back with a 10-5 record and a 12-3 record and was promoted to makuuchi for the January 1963 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tochioyama initially struggled during this time in the top division and fell down to juryo on multiple occasions. He did not produce his first top division winning record until July 1965 where he finished with a strong 11-4 record and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. In January 1966 he defeated Sadanoyama to earn his first career kinboshi. Prior to the July 1966 tournament, he suffered a retinal detachment during training which forced him to miss the tournament. He was subsequently demoted back down to juryo for two years before returning to makuuchi in May 1968. In January 1969 he was promoted to a career-best maegashira 1 where he defeated yokozuna Kashiwado to earn his second career kinboshi.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired from the sport after the Janaury 1972 tournament. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kiyomigata. He left the Sumo Association in October 1976. After leaving the sumo world, he ran several restaurants.

He died on March 31, 2001, at the age of 58.

## **Fighting Style**

Tochioyama 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.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 524-464-31/985 (80 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 223-273-29/493 (35 basho)
* **Juryo:** 205-140/345 (24 basho)
* **Makushita:** 48-28-1/76 (11 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 25-15/40 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 15-8-1/23 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 8-0/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (March 1964)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (January 1959)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Sadanoyama, (1) Kashiwado

## **Shikona History**

* Kamitani Shizuka (1958.11 - 1961.11)
* Tochioyama Mineaki (1962.01 - 1965.05)
* Tochioyama Shizuka (1965.07 - 1968.03)
* Tochioyama Yuki (1968.05 - 1972.01)

## **Gallery**

Tochioyama with his kesho-mawashiTochioyama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tochioyama Yuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tochioyama Yuki Rikishi Information