Wakasugiyama Toyoichi

Wakasugiyama Toyoichi - 若杉山 豊一 (born January 24, 1933 - November 4, 1999) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shime, Fukuoka. He made his debut in March 1953 and wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1959 and has one special prize as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in May 1967.

## **Early Life**

While attending Fukuoka Prefectural Yamada High School, Kumamoto was the captain of the sumo club, and after graduating high school he got a job at a coal mine. However, he left the job for Tokitsukaze stable because the stable had recently produced new sekitori Kenryu who went to the same high school as Kumamoto.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in March 1953 at the age of 20 and was given the shikona "Wakasugiyama" (若杉山). He was promoted to sandanme in September 1953 and makushita in March 1956. In January 1958 he posted a 6-2 record at the rank of makushita 3 and was promoted to the juryo in March 1958.

### **Juryo Career**

Wakasugiyama posted two consecutive 10-5 records from his juryo debut and followed with two additional 9-6 records. In January 1959 he won the juryo yusho with a 12-3 record and was promoted to makuuchi for the March 1959 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Wakasugiyama struggled to establish himself in makuuchi and was demoted back down to juryo on several occasions. After three years in juryo he returned to the top division in January 1965. In his first tournament back, Wakasugiyama finished with an outstanding 12-3 record and was runner-up to Sadanoyama's 13-2 record. Furthermore, he was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize and was promoted to the rank of maegashira 1 for the following March 1965 tournament. In the tournament he defeated Yokozuna Tochinoumi to earn his first kinboshi, but he finished the tournament with a 5-10 record and never managed to reach san'yaku.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After falling back down to makushita in May 1967, Wakasugiyama retired from sumo. After retiring, he worked at a trading company called "Yutaka Trusty Securities Co.,Ltd." (豊商事), before opening a chanko restaurant in his hometown of Shime, Fukuoka.

### **Death**

He died on January 24, 1933, at the age of 66 due to a pulmonary edema.

## **Fighting Style**

Wakasugiyama 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.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 496-495-4/989 (77 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 128-187/314 (21 basho)
* **Juryo:** 267-239-4/505 (34 basho)
* **Makushita:** 50-37/87 (11 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 41-31/72 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 7-1/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (January 1959)

### **Achievements**

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

## **Shikona History**

* Kumamoto Toyoichi (1953.03 - 1954.03)
* Wakasugiyama Toyoichi (1954.05 - 1967.05)

## **Gallery**

Wakasugiyama after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1959)Wakasugiyama poses with his kesho-mawashiWakasugiyama's restaurant which he opened after retirement
## **Sources**

* Wakasugiyama Toyoichi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakasugiyama Toyoichi Rikishi Information