Tochitenko Masataka

Tochitenko Masataka - 栃天晃 正嵩 (born February 19, 1967) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Takasaki, Gunma. He made his debut in March 1982 and wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the juryo division in January 1991. His highest rank was juryo 4 and he retired in May 2011.

## **Early Life**

Shimakata practiced judo in junior high school, but he also participated in sumo tournaments on the side. In sumo, he won the Gunma Prefectural Tournament and qualified for the national tournament. After graduating, he joined Kasugano stable in March 1982.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Shimakata made his professional debut in March 1982 and was promoted to sandanme in March 1983. In May 1985 he changed his shikona to "Tochitenko" (栃天晃) and was promoted to makushita two tournaments later in September 1985. In May 1990, he was on the verge of winning the makushita yusho, but he lost to Kotonowaka on the 13th day to finish with a 6-1 record; nevertheless, he qualified for an eight-man playoff, but he lost in the first round to Teraki. In November 1990, he posted a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 3 which earned him a promotion to juryo for the January 1991 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Tochitenko was ranked in juryo for a total of 11 tournaments and he spent four different stints in juryo. His first stint only lasted one tournament. He was promoted back to juryo in March 1992, but was demoted after four tournaments. He returned for his third stint in May 1993 and rose to a career-best juryo 4 in September 1993. He was demoted back dow to makushita after a 5-10 record in January 1994. His last juryo appearance was in September 1996 where he only lasted one tournament.

### **Later Career**

Tochitenko remained in makushita for majority of his later career. After the November 2000 tournament, Tochitenko was recommended to retire and become a wakaimonogashira, but he declined and opted to stay as an active wrestler (his stablemate Tochinofuji later took the wakaimonogashira role).

In July 2002, Tochitenko wrestled his first juryo match in six years where he defeated Hokutoiwa on the 7th day, but he finished with a 3-4 record after losing to juryo-ranked Kotokanyu on the final day. Due to his declining physical strength he eventually fell down to sandanme in 2007, with occasional appearances in makushita.

In November 2007, 47 years old Ichinoya announced his retirement which made Tochitenko the oldest active wrestler. In March 2008, Tochitenko wrestled his 158th tournament which was the most in sumo history after passing komusubi Oshio who wrestled 157 tournaments. In July 2010 he was still wrestling in makushita at the age of 43 years and 4 months which made him the oldest makushita wrestler in modern sumo history.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Tochitenko fell down to jonidan in May 2011 for the first time since January 1983 (a 28 year difference). He announced his retirement after the 12th day of the tournament. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on May 30th at his Kasugano stable. He wrestled a total of 175 tournaments which was an all time record at the time (it has since been passed by Hokutoryu and Hanakaze).

After retirement, he was employed at a restaurant in Tochigi prefecture.

## **Personal Life**

* Even though Tochitenko was only ranked in juryo for a total of 11 tournaments he had already received a decent salary due to the mochikyukin system.
* Tochitenko was the last active wrestler to wrestle at the Kuramae Kokugikan which was where tournaments were held from 1950 to 1984.

## **Fighting Style**

Tochitenko 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 hatakikomi, or slap down.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 647-601-57/1246 (175 basho)
* **Juryo:** 69-96/165 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 424-385-31/807 (120 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 112-99-13/211 (32 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 37-19-13/56 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* Last active wrestler to wrestle at the Kuramae Kokugikan (closed in 1984)
* Most tournaments ranked in makushita (120 tournaments)

## **Shikona History**

* Shimakata Mamoru (1982.03 - 1985.03)
* Tochitenko Masataka (1985.05 - 2011.05)

## **Gallery**

Tochitenko in Makushita as a Juryo visitor (c. 1990)Tochitenko and fellow Juryo wrestler, Hidenoumi (c. 1992)Tochitenko with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1993)Tochitenko prepares for his bout (c. 1993)Tochitenko after falling to the unsalaried ranks (c. 2007)Tochitenko after wrestling his 157th tournament (c. 2008)Tochitenko announces his retirement (c. 2011)Tochitenko's retirement ceremony (c. 2011)Tochitenko's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tochitenko Masataka Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tochitenko Masataka Rikishi Information