Wakanonada Masaru

Wakanonada Masaru - 若乃洋 勝 (born December 24, 1959 - December 5, 2011) was an American professional sumo wrestler from Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. He made his debut in July 1976 and wrestled for Futagoyama stable. His highest rank was makushita 55 and he retired in July 1981.

## **Early Life**

John Robert Collins was born on December 24, 1959, in Camp Zama, a United States Army Post in Kanagawa, Japan. He moved to Hawaii shortly after and began practicing sumo from an early age. He was a member of the Oahu Sumo Club alongside Reid Asato. Collins and Asato first gained the attention of Futagoyama Oyakata (the 45th Yokozuna Wakanohana) during a trip to Japan in 1974 where the pair represented Hawaii at an amateur tournament. In March of 1976, Collins dropped out of Kaiser High School to join Futagoyama stable alongside Reid Asato.

## **Career**

Collins made his professional debut in July 1976 under the shikona "Wakanonada" (若乃洋). He produced 5 wins in his first tournament. After a 6-1 record in September 1977, Wakanonada was promoted to sandanme in the November 1977 tournament. He remained in sandanme for around a year and a half and was promoted to makushita in March 1979. He produced a 3-4 record in his first makushita tournament and was immediately regulated back down to sandanme. He changed his shikona to "Muryu" (夢龍) in January 1981 and experienced a significant boost in luck. After three consecutive winning records (kachi-koshi), Muryu was promoted to a career-high rank of makushita 55.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Even though Muryu was promoted to his highest rank of makushita 55, he pulled out of the tournament due to multiple injuries and retired prior to the July 1981 tournament. At the time of his retirement, he had suffered from fluid accumulation to his knee, partial deafness in one ear, as well as nose and back problems.

After retirement Collins still participated in amateur sumo tournaments and in 1985, he took the Hawaii State Sumo Championships after defeating Lanny Aruda by a throw. He also competed in national tournaments such as the 1991 US Sumo Open.

He later moved to the Las Vegas Area and sadly passed away on December 5, 2011, at the age of 51 in Henderson, Nevada.

## **Personal Life**

* According to his Facebook account, Collins is a graduate of University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa. He is a big fan of the school's American football team and blogged extensively about the team. He is also a fan of the Washington Football team (formerly the Washington Redskins).
* The sumo database lists his later shikona as Muryu, however, the Honolulu Advertiser lists it as Yumeryu.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 107-96-7/203 (31 basho)
* **Makushita:** 3-4-7/7 (2 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 75-72/147 (21 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 24-18/42 (6 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Wakanonada (1976.07 - 1978.01)
* Wakanonada Masaru (1978.03 - 1980.03)
* Wakanonada (1980.05 - 1980.11)
* Muryu or Yumeryu (1981.01 - 1981.07)

## **Gallery**

Muryu (right) joins sumo alongside Wakayashima (c. 1976)Muryu pushes against his opponent (c. 1978)Muryu defeats amateur champion Kotohanada (c. 1979)Muryu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1980)John Collins wins the state sumo championships (c. 1985)John Collins joins the 1991 US Sumo Open (c. 1991)

## **Sources**

* Muryu Rikishi Information
* Sumo Forum Thread on American Rikishi
* *Honolulu Star Bulletin, Hawaii Youngsters Gear Up For Sumo* by Grady Timmons
* *Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii adds two, 1976...* by Ferd Davis
* *Honolulu Advertiser, Collins Injuries End his Sumo Career, 1981*