Oko Itsuo

Oko Itsuo - 王湖 伊津男 (born August 17, 1956 - April 24, 2013) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kushiro, Hokkaido. He made his debut in September 1970 and last wrestled for Tomozuna stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1982. His highest rank was maegashira 14 and he retired in November 1985.

## **Early Life**

Suzuki attended Kushiro Shiritsu Harutori Junior High School and he was a practitioner of judo. During his second year of junior high school, an owner of a local Furo (bathhouse) recommended that he join sumo. As a result, he moved to Tokyo and joined Tomozuna stable in September 1970 at the age of 14.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under the shikona "Suzukiyama" (鈴木) which was derived from his surname Suzuki. Since he had no sumo experience, he initially struggled and did not post a winning record until 4th professional tournament and his second winning record in his 12th professional tournament. However, as he started to put on weight, his results stared to improve and he was promoted to sandanme in November 1972 and makushita in March 1976. The following May tournament he changed his shikona to "Oko" (王湖). In January 1979, he won the makushita yusho after defeating future komusubi Tamaryu in a playoff. In January 1981, Oko produced a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Oko could only manage 4 wins in his juryo debut and he was demoted back down to makushita. He returned to sekitori status in September 1981 and posted a solid 8-7 record. He was promoted to juryo 4 in May 1982 where he produced a strong 10-5 record and was promoted to makuuchi in the following tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Oko made his top division debut in July 1982, however, he developed diabetes and thus struggled, and lost his first four bouts. He defeated Sakahoko on the fifth day but went on to lose his following eight bouts. Eventually, he finished with a 3-12 record and was demoted back down to juryo.

### **Later Career**

Oko's diabetes symptoms worsened and he only managed 5 wins in his return to juryo and was demoted back down to makushita in the following November 1982 tournament. Oko remained in makushita for another three years before briefly returning to juryo in May 1985 for one tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Due to ligament injuries, Oko suffered a drastic fall in rank and subsequently announced his retirement after the November 1985 tournament. Even though he was not eligible for elder stock, he remained in the Sumo Association as a sewanin, or assistant. He remained with his Tomozuna stable and mainly assisted with the new recruits.

### **Death**

Oko felt ill and was hospitalized after the March 2013 tournament. Oko died in Tokyo of pneumonia on April 24, 2013, at the age of 56. His funeral was held on the 28th in Koto, Tokyo, where his eldest son was the chief mourner.

## **Fighting Style**

Oko was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting 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, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 345-330-20/675 (92 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 3-12/15 (1 basho)
* **Juryo:** 54-66/120 (8 basho)
* **Makushita:** 184-146-13/330 (49 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 55-50-7/105 (16 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 46-52/98 (16 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 3-4/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (January 1979)

## **Shikona History**

* Suzukiyama (1970.09 - 1976.03)
* Oko Itsuo (1976.05 - 1985.011)

## **Gallery**

Oko (right) gets advice from senior stablemate Kaiki (c. 1981)Oko retires former Sekiwake Kurohimeyama (c. 1982)Oko poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1982)
## **Sources**

* Oko Itsuo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Oko Itsuo Rikishi Information