Owakamatsu Yoshihiro

Owakamatsu Yoshihiro - 大若松 好弘 (born November 17, 1966) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Koshigaya, Saitama. He made his debut in March 1982 and last wrestled for Taiho stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1990. His highest rank was maegashira 13 and he retired in March 1996.

## **Early Life**

Yoshihiro Wakamatsu belonged to the tennis club in junior high school. Due to his big frame, in his second year of junior high school, his father's acquaintance took him to visit the Taiho Oyakata (48th yokozuna Taiho). After the visit, Wakamatsu decided to join professional sumo and upon graduating junior high school, he joined Taiho stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his debut in March 1982 and was given the shikona "Owakamatsu" (大若松). Since he had no sumo experience prior to joining sumo, he rose up the ranks rather slowly. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1984 and makushita in March 1986. Initially, Owakamatsu could not establish himself in makushita and would bounce back and forth between sandanme and makushita. He won the sandanme yusho with a prefect 7-0 record in September 1987 and five tournaments later he was promoted to juryo.

### **Juryo Career**

Owakamatsu could only manage 5 wins in his sekitori debut and he was demoted back down to makushita. He returned two tournaments later and posted a strong 10-5 record. In May 1990, he was ranked at juryo 3 and he produced an impressive 11-4 record and was promoted to makuuchi in the following July tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his makuuchi debut, Owakamatsu could only manage 7 wins and was demoted back down to juryo. He returned two tournaments later but finished with a poor 4-11 record. He was promoted to makuuchi for the third time in July 1991, but again finished with a losing record. In November 1991, during his fourth return to makuuchi, Owakamatsu injured the medial collateral ligament on his left knee during a match with Musashimaru and subsequently withdrew from the tournament on the 11th day. He was demoted to juryo as a result.

### **Later Career**

Due to his knee injury, Owakamatsu continued to sit out, but did not lose his sekitori status due to the kosho seido (public injury system). He returned from injury in March 1992, but could only manage 2 wins and withdrew from the tournament on the 12th day. As a result he fell down to makushita. He spent majority of his later career in makushita and returned to juryo for one tournament in March 1994.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Owakamatsu announced his retirement after losing his first three matches in the March 1996 tournament. He stayed with the Japan Sumo Association, but could not acquire permanent elder stock, and instead borrowed from former and active wrestlers. He worked as a coach for Taiho stable and was known as Otowayama and Asakayama oyakata. He left the Sumo Association on February 12th, 2003. After leaving, he ran a yakiniku restaurant in Sumida, Tokyo.

## **Fighting Style**

Owakamatsu was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who preferred fighting on the mawashi to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip was hidari-yotsu, with his right hand outside and left hand inside his opponent's arms. He won most of his matches by yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 373-351-32/722 (85 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 24-32-4/55 (4 basho)
* **Juryo:** 121-116-18/236 (17 basho)
* **Makushita:** 122-120-10/242 (36 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 57-41/98 (14 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 41-36/77 (11 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 8-6/14 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (September 1987)

## **Shikona History**

* Owakamatsu Yoshihiro (1982.03 - 1996.03)

## **Gallery**

Owakamatsu (c. 1991)Owakamatsu with his kesho-mawashiOwakamatsu's tegata
## **Sources**

* Owakamatsu Yoshihiro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Owakamatsu Yoshihiro Rikishi Information