Takanowaka Yuki

Takanowaka Yuki - 隆乃若 勇紀 (born April 2, 1976) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ikitsuki, Nagasaki. He made his debut in March 1992 and wrestled for Naruto stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1999 and has 3 special prizes as well as 1 kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in September 2007.

## **Early Life**

Takanowaka was born as Yuki Ozaki, the son of a professional baseball player. In his youth he played not only baseball but also basketball, for which he was offered several scholarships. He tried out sumo at the suggestion of his school's sumo club manager, who had connections with Naruto stable. He joined the stable in March 1992, making his debut alongside future sekiwake Wakanosato.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

As is common, he initially fought under his own surname, soon switching to "Takaozaki" before adopting the fighting name of Takanowaka in 1998. Initially weighing only 80 kg (180 lb), it took him several years to work his way through the lower ranks. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1994 and makushita in July 1995. In November 1996 he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. In march 1999 he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 1 which earned him a promotion to juryo for the May 1999 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his sekitori debut, Takanowaka produced a solid 9-6 record and followed it with an 8-7 record. As a result he was promoted to the rank of juryo 5 in September 1999. In this tournament he recorded a strong 11-4 performance and was promoted to makuuchi in November 1999 after only three tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Takanowaka was ranked in the top division for 34 tournaments in total, with a win-loss rate of 229–242, with 39 absences. He earned one kinboshi, or gold star, by defeating yokozuna Musashimaru in May 2001, and three special prizes. His best performance was probably in November 2002 when produced a strong 11–4 record at komusubi rank and won his third Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to sekiwake in January 2003 and held his rank with a good 9–6 score but missed the whole of the March 2003 tournament with an injury picked up on the last day of the previous basho. As a result, he was demoted to juryo and although he quickly returned to the top division he never managed to reach the titled san'yaku ranks again.

### **Later Career**

After suffering from torn cartilage in his knees his results took a downward turn. He was demoted to juryo once again in January 2006. He managed to win the juryo yusho in the September 2006 with an 11-4 record but he did not win promotion back to makuuchi. In May 2007, Takanowaka produced a poor 4-11 record at the rank of juryo 9 which resulted in a fall back to makushita in July 2007.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

On September 22nd, 2007, Takanowaka announced his retirement from sumo, after withdrawing from the September tournament with four losses at the rank of makushita 2. His official retirement ceremony took place on February 16th, 2008, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. He did not stay with the Sumo Association as an elder, and left the sumo world completely.

He opened a chanko restaurant in Hirado city. In November 2011, he acquired the qualification to work as a financial planner. In 2015 he enrolled at a correspondence university. As of 2019, he currently works in the real estate industry.

## **Personal Life**

* Takanowaka's hobbies are listening to music and watching sports (baseball, mixed martial arts, etc.).

### **Family**

* Takanowaka's father, Kameju Ozaki, was a professional baseball player (catcher). He played collegiately at the Kokushikan University and professionally for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at the Nippon Professional Baseball for only one season. Takanowaka is cousins with Yushi Aida who played for the Yomiuri Giants.
* Takanowaka was married in February 2013.

## **Fighting Style**

Takanowaka's favored kimarite or techniques were hidari-yotsu (a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on the opponent's mawashi or belt), uwatenage (overarm throw) and yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 505-470-69/972 (94 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 229-242-39/468 (34 basho)
* **Juryo:** 109-101-15/210 (15 basho)
* **Makushita:** 88-78-3/166 (24 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 38-25/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 36-22-12/58 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 2006)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (November 1996)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (3)
* **Kinboshi:** (1) Musashimaru

## **Shikona History**

* Ozaki Yuki (1992.03 - 1992.03)
* Takaozaki Yuki (1992.05 - 1998.05)
* Takanowaka Yuki (1998.07 - 2007.09)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata**

Takanowaka Yuki - 2002 (Retrieved from the JSA)Takanowaka Yuki - 2001 (Retrieved from the JSA)Takanowaka's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Takanowaka (right) joins sumo alongside Wakanosato (c. 1992)Takanowaka serves as a tsukebito (c. 1997)Takanowaka after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1999)Takanowaka defeats TamanoshimaTakanowaka after promotion to Komusubi (c. 2000)Takanowaka (right) with his Sansho prize (c. 2002)Takanowaka defeats Ozeki Chiyotaikai (c. 2002)Takanowaka after promotion to Sekiwake (c. 2002)Takanowaka during the dohyo-iriTakanowaka falls to the unsalaried ranks (c. 2007)Takanowaka announces his retirement (c. 2007)Takanowaka's retirement ceremony (c. 2008)
## **Sources**

* Takanowaka Yuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Takanowaka Yuki Rikishi Information