Shishio Masaki

Shishio Masaki - 師子王 正樹 (born July 4, 1978) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fujiidera, Osaka. He made his debut in March 1994 and wrestled for Hakkaku stable. His highest rank was makushita 1 and he retired in January 2010.

## **Early Life**

Masaki Noguchi was born on July 4, 1978, in the city of Fujidera in Osaka prefecture. He attended Fujiidera Daisan Junior High School where he was a member of the school's baseball club. Noguchi initially had no aspirations to join sumo, however, upon watching a documentary of Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, he decided to join professional sumo and entered Hakkaku stable.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in March 1994 and initially wrestled under his surname Noguchi. In September 1994, he finished with a 6-1 record and was placed into a seven-man playoff for the jonokuchi yusho, however, he lost to Asaito in the first round. He was given the shikona "Hokutowaka" (北勝若) in May 1995. In May 1996, he finished with a perfect 7-0 record, but missed out on the jonidan yusho after losing to Akiyama in the playoff. Nevertheless, he was promoted to sandanme in the following July 1996 tournament. After three years in sandanme, he was promoted to the makushita division in November 1999.

In September 2000, he won the sandanme yusho with a flawless 7-0 record. In May 2001, he was given the new shikona "Shishio" (師子王). In July 2002, he finished with a 6-1 record and was placed in an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho, however, he lost to Kinkaiyama in the first round. Nevertheless, in the following September 2002 tournament, Shishio finished with a perfect 7-0 record to claim the makushita yusho. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of makushita 1 for the November 2002 tournament. At the end of the 11th day in the November 2002 tournament, Shishio's record was 3-3, however, he lost an exchange match to juryo-ranked Kitazakura on the 14th day to finish with a 3-4 record. Shishio never managed to come close to a juryo promotion again.

Shishio suffered from neck and knee injuries and fell down to sandanme on multiple occasions. After falling down to the lowest jonokuchi division in July 2009, he retired from sumo shortly after in January 2010.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, Shishio decided to become an acupuncturist and enrolled in a correspondence high school. During this time he remained at Hakkaku stable as a manager and after graduating from the correspondence high school, he attended an acupuncture and moxibustion school. After graduating from the acupuncture and moxibustion school, he successfully passed the exams for both acupuncture and moxibustion practitioner and massage therapist. While working as a exclusive trainer for Hakkaku stable, he opened up his own massage therapy business in Musashino, Tokyo, called "Shishio" (はり灸マッサージ ししおう).

## **Fighting Style**

Shishio was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward oshidashi, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 322-289-54/609 (96 basho)
* **Makushita:** 91-112-7/203 (30 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 148-113-33/260 (42 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 67-59-14/125 (20 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 16-5/21 (3 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (September 2002)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (September 2000)

## **Shikona History**

* Noguchi Masaki (1994.03 - 1995.03)
* Hokutowaka Masaki (1995.05 - 2001.03)
* Shishio Masaki (2001.05 - 2010.01)

## **Gallery**

Shishio prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2007)
## **Sources**

* Shishio Masaki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shishio Masaki Rikishi Information