Ushiomaru Motoyasu

Ushiomaru Motoyasu - 潮丸 元康 (born May 11, 1978 - December 13, 2019) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka. He made his debut in March 1994 and wrestled for Azumazeki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 2002. His highest rank was maegashira 10 and he retired in May 2009.

## **Early Life**

Motoyasu Sano initially played softball in elementary school. In junior high school, he belonged to the baseball club and served as the first baseman and was the fourth batter. He also served as the student council president. Due to his large body, he was scouted by Azumazeki Oyakata (ex-sekiwake Takamiyama) to join his stable. Although he had no previous experience with sumo, he decided to join the stable upon graduation from junior high school in March 1994 to lighten the responsibility of his mother (filial piety).

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Initially wrestling under the shikona "Takamisano" (高見佐野), he steadily climbed the ranks of the lower divisions. He briefly wrestled under the shikona "Tenfuku" (天福) for four tournaments before switching to "Ushiomaru" (潮丸) in November 1995. He was promoted to sandanme in the following January 1996 tournament. He was promoted to makushita in September 1997 and gradually rose to the top of the division. After five consecutive winning records he was promoted to juryo in January 2002.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first juryo tournament, Ushiomaru was in contention for the juryo yusho for the whole tournament, before losing his last match to Shimotori. Nonetheless, he finished with a strong 11-4 record and was promoted to the high-level juryo ranks. In July 2002, Ushiomaru won the juryo yusho with an impressive 13-2 performance and was promoted to makuuchi in September 2002.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Ushiomaru produced a solid 9-6 record in his makuuchi debut and was promoted to a career-best maegashira 10 in November 2002. However, due to injuries on his left knee and leg he could not establish himself in makuuchi and bounced between makuuchi and juryo. He even fell back down to makushita twice in 2005 but immediately returned to juryo on both occasions. His last appearance in makuuchi was in May 2007 and he spent the rest of his later career in the juryo division.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In 2007, the head coach and founder of Azumazeki stable, former sekiwake Takamiyama, indicated that Ushiomaru would succeed him when he reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty-five in June 2009. This came as a surprise to some, who had assumed that his more high profile and higher ranked stablemate Takamisakari would take over. After completing his last match in the May, 2009 tournament, Ushiomaru did announce his retirement from active sumo to take over head coach duties from the retiring Kuhaulua. He assumed the name Onogawa until 16 June when Kuhaulua officially retired and he became Azumazeki Oyakata. His danpatsu-shiki, or official retirement ceremony, was held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on 31 January 2010. Takamisakari remained an active wrestler until January 2013, when he announced his retirement. He then assisted Ushiomaru in running Azumazeki stable under the elder name of Furiwake. In February 2018 Azumazeki moved his stable to new premises in Shibamata District, Katsushika.

### **Death**

On December 13, 2019, he died of angiosarcoma in the Azumazeki stable in Shibamata, Tokyo, aged 41. A tsuya (wake) was held at Azumazeki stable on December 18 with Akebono, for whom Ushiomaru was a tsukebito, in attendance despite ill health. The funeral was held on December 19, with the former Azumazeki Oyakata (ex-Takamiyama) attending and the chair of the Sumo Association Hakkaku giving the memorial address. Takamisakari was confirmed as Ushiomaru's successor to the Azumazeki stable in January 2020.

## **Personal Life**

* Ushiomaru was married, and the couple's child, a daughter, was born in January 2018.
* He was known for his cheerful personality and his hobby was karaoke.

## **Fighting Style**

Ushiomaru preferred oshi-sumo or pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common winning kimarite were oshidashi or push out, and yorikiri or force out, which together accounted for nearly half his career victories.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 482-448-51/927 (92 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 68-92-20/158 (12 basho)
* **Juryo:** 222-212-31/433 (31 basho)
* **Makushita:** 107-82/189 (27 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 39-31/70 (10 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 41-29/70 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (July 2002)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (May 2005)

## **Shikona History**

* Takamisano Motoyasu (1994.03 - 1995.01)
* Tenfuku Motoyasu (1995.03 - 1995.09)
* Ushiomaru Motoyasu (1995.11 - 2009.05)

## **Gallery**

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

Ushiomaru Motoyasu - 2002 (Retrieved from the JSA)Ushiomaru's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Ushiomaru after promotion to Juryo (c. 2001)Ushiomaru wins the Juryo Yusho (c. 2002)Ushiomaru after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 2002)Ushioamru defeats his opponent (c. 2007)Ushiomaru was an oshi-sumo specialist (c. 2008)Ushiomaru (c. 2009)Ushiomaru takes over Azumazeki stable (c. 2009)Ushiomaru's retirement ceremony (c. 2010)Ushiomaru after retirement as Azumazeki OyakataUshiomaru's funeral (c. 2019)
## **Sources**

* Ushiomaru Motoyasu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ushiomaru Motoyasu Rikishi Information