Ryuo Yuki

Ryuo Yuki - 琉王 優貴 (born February 25, 1945 - June 28, 2015) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Naha, Okinawa. He made his debut in November 1962 and wrestled for Asahiyama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1970 and has 1 kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in November 1976.

## **Early Life**

Shima was born in Nakatsu, Oita, on February 25, 1945, but was evacuated from the city from an early age due to air raids. He spent his childhood in Naha, Okinawa, as it was occupied by the United States. After graduating junior high school, he moved to the island of Amami Oshima where he attended Amami High School. In high school, he was a member of the judo club. After his second year of high school, he visited Tokyo during the summer and met Asahiyama Oyakata (former sekiwake Kozuzan) whilst on tour. After retiring to Amami Oshima, he received a letter from Asahiyama stable which offered him a spot in the stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Shima made his professional debut in November 1962 and was given the shikona "Futasefuji" (二瀬冨士), but later changed to "Ryuo" (琉王) which translates to King of the Ryukyu Islands. He was promoted to sandanme in July 1963 and makushita in January 1965. After several years in makushita, he felt that he was not making any reasonable progress and was considering quitting and enlisting at the Japan Self-Defense Forces. However, he later gave up on this idea as he was not considered a Japanese national because Okinawa (his official birthplace) at the time was US territory. After this, he began eating more chankonabe to put on more weight and increased efforts during training. He reached the juryo division in March 1970.

### **Juryo Career**

Ryuo was the first sekitori from Okinawa. He produced strong result in the juryo division and after four consecutive winning records, he was promoted to makuuchi in November 1970, becoming the first makuuchi wrestler from Okinawa as well.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Ryuo was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 28 tournaments, with his highest rank being maegashira 1 which achieved in September 1973. In November 1970, he battled Hawaiian Takamiyama and this was considered to be the first foreigner on foreigner match as Okinawa Prefecture was treated as a foreign country at the time. He defeated Takamiyama and recalled this as his favorite career moment during his retirement press conference. When Okinawa was reverted to Japan on May 15, 1972, Ryuo battled Nishikinada of Kagoshima on the 2nd day of the May 1972 tournament and when he defeated Nishikinada by hatakikomi (slap down), he was met with loud cheers from the crowd. On May 1974, he defeated yokozuna Wajima to earn his only career kinboshi.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He announced his retirement after the November 1976 tournament. Upon retiring, he was caught in a succession dispute for the ownership of Asahiyama stable. The previous stablemaster, ex-maegashira Futaseyama, had suddenly passed away. Futaseyama's stablemaster preferred Ryuo to take over, but former komusubi, Wakafutase ended up inheriting the stable. After missing out on the stable, Ryuo left the sumo world all together.

After leaving, he ran a sumo and Okinawan restaurant in the Ueno District of Tokyo's Taito Ward, but in 2004 he became ill due to a cerebral infarction and was treated in a facility at Tomigusuku, Okinawa.

### **Death**

He died on June 28, 2015, at his home in Tokyo due to a stroke. He was 70 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Ryuo was a tsuki/oshi specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting at his opponents rather than fighting on the mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite was a straightforward oshidashi, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 438-448-14/886 (85 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 183-237/420 (28 basho)
* **Juryo:** 87-78/165 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 120-97-14/217 (33 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 34-29/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 9-5/14 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Kinboshi:** (1) Wajima
* **1st** sekitori from Okinawa

## **Shikona History**

* Shima (1962.11 - 1963.07)
* Futasefuji (1963.09 - 1966.01)
* Kuroshio (1966.03 - 1967.01)
* Futasefuji (1967.03 - 1969.01)
* Ryuo Takeya (1969.03 - 1971.09)
* Ryuo Yuki (1971.11 - 1976.11)

## **Gallery**

Ryuo pushes out the American Takamiyama (c. 1970)Ryuo prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1970)Ryuo feasts on some chanko (c. 1970)Ryuo prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1970)Ryuo poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Ryuo pushes out his opponentRyuo after retirement in his restaurant (c. 2004)Ryuo's memorial after his death (c. 2015)
## **Sources**

* Ryuo Yuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ryuo Yuki Rikishi Information