Banryuyama Takaharu

Banryuyama Takaharu - 播竜山 孝晴 (born May 4, 1951) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tatsuno, Hyogo. He made his debut in November 1966 and last wrestled for Mihogaseki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1975 and has one special prize. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in November 1984.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Taguchi began sumo wrestling at Tatsuno Shiritsu Kamioka Junior High School and was an active member of the school's sumo club. He was later recruited by Mihogaseki Oyakata (former ozeki Masuiyama I) and he joined Mihogaseki stable while still in junior high school. He made his professional debut in November 1966 under the shikona "Ibogawa" (揖保川), but he later switched to "Banryuyama" (播竜山) in November 1967. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1968 and makushita in September 1969. In May 1974, he produced a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following July 1974 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Banryuyama produced a solid 9-6 record in his first tournament as a sekitori. In November 1974, he won the juryo yusho with a 10-5 record after defeating both Takanosato and Aobajo in a four-way playoff. In the following tournament he won his second consecutive juryo yusho with an 11-4 record and was promoted to makuuchi in March 1975.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Banryuyama was ranked in the top division for a total of 32 tournaments. His best performance came in September 1978 where he produced a 10-5 record at the rank of maegashira 3. He was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize and promoted to komusubi int he following November 1978 tournament. However, he could only manage a 2-13 record at the rank of Komusubi and was demoted back down to the maegashira ranks. This proved to be his only tournament ranked in san'yaku.

In July 1979, Banryuyama contracted hepatitis A, but was given permission by the doctor to participate. Nevertheless, he withdrew form the 3rd day and was eventually hospitalized. There was an outbreak in his stable which forced ten other wrestlers to be hospitalized as well. Banryuyama's case was so severe that he developed jaundice. Due to this, he eventually dropped down to juryo and makushita. He did manage to return to makuuchi, but was never a top division regular again.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired in November 1984 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Matsuchiyama. He worked as a coach at Mihogaseki stable until its closure in 2013, whereupon he moved to Kasugano stable. Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in May 2016 he was re-hired as a consultant for five more years. He left the Sumo Association upon turning 70 in May 2021.

## **Fighting Style**

Banryuyama 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 oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 579-591-26/1169 (109 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 200-268-12/467 (32 basho)
* **Juryo:** 178-167/345 (23 basho)
* **Makushita:** 134-104-14/238 (36 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 37-26/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 26-23/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 4 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1974)
	+ 2nd (January 1975)
	+ 3rd (March 1976)
	+ 4th (November 1982)
* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1972)
	+ 2nd (May 1980)

### **Achievements**

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

## **Shikona History**

* Ibogawa (1966.11 - 1967.09)
* Banryuyama Takaharu (1967.11 - 1984.11)

## **Gallery**

Banryuyama poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Banryuyama defeats future Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (c. 1979)Banryuyama (left) celebrates Kitanoumi's Yusho (c. 1977)Banryuyama prepares for his upcoming boutBanryuyama serves as Kitanoumi's dew sweeperBanryuyama after retirement as Matsuchiyama Oyakata (c. 2010)Banryuyama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Banryuyama Takaharu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Banryuyama Takaharu Rikishi Information