Daitetsu Tadamitsu

Daitetsu Tadamitsu - 大徹 忠晃 (born October 29, 1956) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ono, Fukui. He made his debut in July 1971 and wrestled for Nishonoseki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1983 and has one kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in September 1990.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Minami practiced kendo in junior high school. Upon graduation, he was recruited to Nishonoseki stable and he made his professional debut in July 1971. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1973 and makushita in January 1976. In July 1976, he changed his shikona from his surname to "Daitetsu" (大徹). In July 1979, he won all seven matches, but missed out on the makushita yusho after losing to Sadanoumi in a playoff. Nevertheless, the was promoted to juryo two tournaments later.

### **Juryo Career**

Daitetsu made his juryo debut in January 1980, but he finished with a dismal 2-13 record and was demoted back down to makushita. He regained his sekitori status in July 1982 and was able to establish himself in the division with an 8-7 record. In September 1983, he finished with a strong 11-4 record at the rank of juryo 4 which earned him a promotion to makuuchi in the following November 1983 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Daitetsu made his makuuchi debut in November 1983 and was ranked in the top division for 31 consecutive tournaments. In July 1985 he defeated Chiyonofuji with a last minute utchari (backward pivot throw) and claimed his first career kinboshi. This proved to be the only time that he defeated a yokozuna. In January 1987, he posted a 9-6 record at the rank of maegashira 6 and was promoted to komusubi in the following March 1987. Daitetsu struggled in his lone san'yaku tournament and lost his first ten matches. He finished with a poor 3-12 record and was demoted back down to the maegashira ranks.

### **Later Career**

Daitetsu was demoted back down to juryo in January 1989. In May 1989, he produced a strong 10-5 record, but missed out on the yusho after losing to Komafudo in the playoff. He replicated his performance in September 1989 where he posted yet another 10-5 record, but missed out on the yusho after losing to Ryukozan.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Daitestu remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, under the name of Minatogawa Oyakata. He coached at Nishonoseki stable until it folded in January 2013. He transferred to Matsugane stable, which changed its name to Nishonoseki stable in 2014. He has also been a member of the judging department. From March 2014 until March 2018 he was of three oyakata appointed as members of the board of trustees as the Sumo Association applied for public interest corporation status. He reached the mandatory retirement age for elders of 65 in October 2021, but was re-hired by the Sumo Association as a consultant for a further five years.

## **Fighting Style**

Daitetsu favored yori (grappling) and tsuri (lifting) techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri (force out) followed by tsuridashi (lift out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 587-612/1199 (116 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 209-256/465 (31 basho)
* **Juryo:** 146-154/300 (20 basho)
* **Makushita:** 139-120/259 (37 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 59-53/112 (16 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 30-26/56 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Minami Tadamitsu (1971.07 - 1976.05)
* Daitetsu Tadamitsu (1967.07 - 1990.09)

## **Gallery**

Daitetsu poses with his kesho-mawashiDaitetsu defeats Komusubi Itai (c. 1986)Daitetsu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1987)Daitetsu battles future Yokozuna Akebono (c. 1990)Daitetsu's retirement ceremony (c. 1990)Daitetsu after retirement as Minatogawa OyakataDaitetsu's tegata
## **Sources**

* Daitetsu Tadamitsu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Daitetsu Tadamitsu Rikishi Information