Tomoefuji Toshihide

Tomoefuji Toshihide - 巴富士 俊英 (born January 27, 1971) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kazuno, Akita. He made his debut in May 1986 and last wrestled for Kokonoe stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1991 and has one special prize. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in September 1998.

## **Early Life**

Kurosawa was born the second son of a farmer in Kazuno, Akita. He participated in both judo and sumo in junior high school. He was scouted by yokozuna Chiyonofuji after winning several children's sumo competitions in his native Akita Prefecture. At junior high school he was a rival of the future Wakanohana. He joined Chiyonofuji's Kokonoe stable and made his professional debut in May 1986.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He rose quite quickly and made the sandanme division in November 1987 but then missed two tournaments and fell back to the lowest jonokuchi division. In July 1988 he won his first (and only) yusho or tournament championship in the jonidan division with a perfect 7-0 record. He reached the third highest makushita division a year later. While in the makushita division he performed the yumitori-shiki or bow-twirling ceremony that takes place at the end of every tournament day, from 1989 to 1990. He reached sekitori status in July 1990 at the age of 19 upon promotion to the juryo division.

### **Juryo Career**

Tomoefuji produced an 8-7 record in his juryo debut and followed with a 9-6 record. As a result, he was promoted to the rank of juryo 4 where he posted 8 wins and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1991 after three tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He scored ten wins in his debut and was awarded the Fighting Spirit sansho or special prize. Tomoefuji seemed to have broken the jinx against performers of the yumitori-shiki ceremony having a successful career in sumo. In May 1992 he became the only sekitori in his stable, following the retirements of Hokutoumi and Takanofuji. Just a year earlier the stable had had two yokozuna, Hokutoumi and Chiyonofuji. Tomoefuji's subsequent career was blighted by injuries. He was involved in a training accident with Akebono shortly before the July 1992 tournament, which led to Akebono having to miss his debut tournament as ozeki. Tomoefuji made his debut in the san'yaku ranks at komusubi in that tournament, but had to pull out on the second day. He never managed to return to the rank. He remained in makuuchi for another seven tournaments after his san'yaku debut.

### **Later Career**

Restricted by an injury to his right knee, in September 1993 he was demoted back to the juryo division after a poor 4-11 record. He missed two tournaments in 1994, falling to the bottom of the division, and in May 1995 he lost sekitori status altogether after falling back to makushita. He fought his last competitive match in March 1998. He was still listed on the banzuke ranking sheets in September but had fallen to sandanme 85, the lowest rank ever recorded by a former sanyaku wrestler, upon which he announced his retirement from sumo.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, Tomoefuji did not obtain elder stock and left the Sumo Association. He returned to Akita Prefecture and started his own business. Headquartered in Odate, Akita, he currently owns farm equipment repair service company "Fuji Trading" (株式会社フジトレーディング). The Fuji from the company's name is derived from the fuji in Chiyonofuji and the fuji in his shikona.

## **Fighting Style**

Tomoefuji's favorite techniques were hidari-yotsu, (a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponents' mawashi) uwatenage, (overarm throw) and yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 354-307-97/657 (75 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 112-117-26/227 (17 basho)
* **Juryo:** 86-82-27/167 (13 basho)
* **Makushita:** 85-70-13/154 (24 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 24-18-14/42 (8 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 35-18-17/53 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 12-2/14 (2 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)

## **Shikona History**

* Kurosawa (1986.05 - 1988.05)
* Tomoefuji Toshihide (1988.07 - 1998.09)

## **Gallery**

Tomoefuji's early career (c. 1986)Tomoefuji during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 1990)Tomoefuji serves as Yokozuna Chiyonofuji's flag bearer (c. 1990)Tomoefuji serves as Yokozuna Chiyonofuji's sword bearer (c. 1991)Tomoefuji gets tripped by Mainoumi (c. 1993)Tomoefuji (c. 1993)Tomoefuji's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tomoefuji Toshihide Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tomoefuji Toshihide Rikishi Information