Tokinishiki Tsunenori

Tokinishiki Tsunenori - 時錦 恒則 (born February 13, 1931 - August 7, 1991) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shingu, Fukuoka. He made his debut in May 1949 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1956 and has 1 kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1963.

## **Early Life**

Tsunenori Kobayashi was born to farmers in Shingu, Fukuoka. After graduating from elementary school, he engaged in the family business until he joined Tokitsukaze stable at the age of 18.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1949 and initially wrestled under his surname Kobayashi. Standing at 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) he was seen to have a successful career by many in his stable. In May 1951 he won the sandanme yusho with a 13-2 record (back then all divisions wrestled the full fifteen days) and was promoted to makushita in January 1952. In January 1953 he changed his shikona to "Tokinishiki" (時錦) and was promoted to juryo in September 1954.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Tokinishiki could only manage a 7-8 record, but he bounced back with four consecutive winning records, consisting of 9-6 and 10-5 performances, and was promoted to makuuchi for the January 1956 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Tokinishiki produced an 8-7 record in his first top division tournament. In May 1956 he dislocated his left knee and subsequently withdrew from the tournament. In September 1957, he defeated Yokozuna Chiyonoyama on the first day to earn his first and only kinboshi. Three tournaments later in January 1958, Tokinishiki produced a strong 11-4 record at the rank of maegashira 5 and was promoted to komusubi in March 1958. In his san'yaku debut, Tokinishiki could only manage a 4-11 record and this proved to be his only time ranked at the san'yaku level. By 1959, he began suffering from hip and spine injuries and was demoted down to juryo in November 1959 after 20 consecutive tournaments in makuuchi. He remained in juryo for the remainder of his later career and in Janaury 1961 he changed his shikona to "Yoshakayama" (四釈迦山).

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In May 1963, Tokinishiki won his first match, but went on to lose his following 14 matches to finish with a 1-14 record. Knowing that demotion to makushita was inevitable, he retired from sumo after the tournament. He was unable to acquire elder stock and had to leave the Japan Sumo Association.

He died on August 7, 1991, at the age of 60.

## **Fighting Style**

Tokinishiki 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 yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 445-448-25/892 (65 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 136-146-18/281 (20 basho)
* **Juryo:** 188-210-7/398 (27 basho)
* **Makushita:** 62-46/108 (10 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 28-17/45 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 24-21/45 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-8/15 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Kobayashi Tsunenori (1949.05 - 1952.09)
* Tokinishiki Tsunenori (1953.01 - 1960.11)
* Yoshakayama Tsunenori (1961.01 - 1963.05)

## **Gallery**

Tokinishiki with his kesho-mawashiTokinishiki loses to future Yokozuna Wakanohana (c. 1957)
## **Sources**

* Tokinishiki Tsunenori Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tokinishiki Tsunenori Rikishi Information