Hoshikabuto Yoshio

Hoshikabuto Yoshio - 星甲 良夫 (born February 10, 1926 - December 5, 2000) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Urayasu, Chiba. He made his debut in May 1942 and last wrestled for Izutsu stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1955. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he retired in May 1964.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Ogawa made his professional debut in May 1942, wrestling for Izutsu stable, and was initially given the shikona "Totoyama" (東都山). He temporarily transferred to Futabayama Dojo (later renamed Tokitsukaze stable) in 1944 before transferring back to Izutsu stable in 1947. He was promoted to sandanme in November 1944 and makushita in June 1945. In June 1947, he changed his shikona to "Umegae" (梅ヶ枝) before reverting back to his surname Ogawa in October 1949.

### **Juryo Career**

He reached the juryo division in September 1952 and posted an 8-7 record in his first tournament as a sekitori. In September 1953, he produced a strong 12-3 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing to Toyonobori in a playoff. In 1954, he was given the prestigious "Hoshikabuto" (星甲) shikona which had been used by four former sekitori. Shortly after, he won his first juryo yusho in January 1955 and was promoted to makuuchi in May 1955.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Hoshikabuto was able to establish himself in the top division, but was unable to reach the upper-level ranks due to his small frame. He was promoted to his highest rank of maegashira 4 in May 1957, but could only manage a 5-10 record. He never managed to defeat a yokozuna, but he defeated ozeki Matsunobori in May 1957 by ketaguri, or pulling inside ankle sweep. He was demoted back down to juryo in May 1959 and would spent the rest of his career bouncing between juryo and makuuchi. His last makuuchi appearance was in March 1963 and he was one of the oldest wrestlers at 37 years of age.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Hoshikabuto retired from sumo in May 1964 at the age of 38 to avoid an inevitable demotion to makushita. After retiring, he remained in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder under the name Kimigahama. He acquired the Izutsu stock one year later and later inherited Izutsu stable in April 1972. In April 1974, he changed the name of his stable to Michinoku stable and recently retired yokozuna Kitanofuji acquired the Izutsu elder stock to form the latest reincarnation of Izutsu stable (Izutsu stable closed down in 2019). The only top division wrestler he produced was Hoshiiwato in 1989, who is known for having the slowest rise to makuuchi. He reached mandatory retirement age of 65 in February 1991 and Hoshiiwato took control of the stable.

### **Death**

He died on December 5, 2000, at the age of 74 due to respiratory failure.

## **Personal Life**

He got married during his time in makushita and had to work a side job of selling clams at a market to support his family. In order to hide his chonmage, he wore a tenugui, or a Japanese hand towel, over his head. This practice is no longer allowed and wrestlers must be ranked in the top two divisions to be eligible for marriage.

## **Fighting Style**

Hoshikabuto was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was tsukidashi (thrust out), followed by hatakikomi (slap down).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 554-585-12/1139 (85 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 173-217/390 (26 basho)
* **Juryo:** 261-264/525 (35 basho)
* **Makushita:** 82-84-11/166 (15 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 21-9/30 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 13-7-1/20 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (January 1955)
	+ 2nd (July 1959)

## **Shikona History**

* Ogawa (1942.05 - 1943.01)
* Totoyama (1943.05 - 1946.11)
* Umegae Yoshiharu (1947.06 - 1949.05)
* Ogawa Nobuharu (1949.10 - 1954.05)
* Hoshikabuto Masao (1954.09 - 1959.05)
* Hoshikabuto Yoshio (1959.07 - 1964.05)

## **Gallery**

Hoshikabuto poses with his kesho-mawashiHoshikabuto dons the traditional Japanese clothing of otokomonoHoshikabuto's retirement ceremony pamphlet (c. 1964)Hoshikabuto after retirement as Michinoku Oyakata (c. 1982)Hoshikabuto outside his stable with his disciples
## **Sources**

* Hoshikabuto Yoshio Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Hoshikabuto Yoshio Rikishi Information