Ichinowatari Mitsuyoshi

Ichinowatari Mitsuyoshi - 市ノ渡 三四四 (born April 2, 1959) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tenmabayashi, Aomori. He made his debut in March 1982 and wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the juryo division in March 1983. His highest rank was juryo 5 and he retired in September 1989.

## **Early Life**

Ichinowatari was born in the village of Tenmabayashi in Aomori Prefecture. He started sumo wrestling at Aomori Prefectural Sanbongi Agriculture High School and played an active part in national competitions during his time at Tokyo University of Agriculture. After graduating college, he opted to go professional and joined Tokitsukaze stable in March 1982.

## **Career**

Due to his amateur accomplishments, Ichinowatari was granted makushita tsukedashi status which allowed him to start in the bottom of the makushita division. In his very first tournament he was in the yusho race for the majority of the tournament and only missed out after losing to Hiyama in a playoff. In November 1982, he finished with a 6-1 record and was placed in an eight-man playoff where he defeated Kototsubaki in the first round, Maenoshin in the second round and Otamura in the final round to claim the makushita yusho. He was promoted to juryo two tournaments later in March 1983.

Ichinowatari's first juryo stint lasted five tournaments. He fell down to makushita in January 1984 but returned to sekitori status in the following March 1984 tournament. However, prior to the May 1984 tournament, he suffered a calf muscle rupture and had to sit out of the tournament. As a result, he was demoted back down to makushita. He returned for another four tournaments in 1985, reaching as high as juryo 5 in march 1985. However, he was demoted yet again in July 1985. He returned for a one tournament stint in May 1987, but this proved to be his last tournament ranked as a sekitori.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After falling back down to makushita in July 1987, he remained in the unsalaried ranks for another two years before announcing his retirement after the September 1989 tournament. After retiring, he opened up a chanko restaurant in Iwaki, Fukushima, called "Chanko Ichiseki" (ちゃんこ市関).

## **Personal Life**

* Ichinowatari's maternal cousin is former sekiwake Kaiki.

## **Fighting Style**

Ichinowatari 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:** 205-190-22-1d/396 (46 basho)
* **Juryo:** 75-90-15/165 (12 basho)
* **Makushita:** 130-100-7-1d/231 (34 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (March 1982)

## **Shikona History**

* Ichinowatari Mitsuyoshi (1982.03 - 1989.09)

## **Gallery**

Ichinowatari as a college sumo Yokozuna (c. 1981)Ichinowatari during his first professional tournament (c. 1982)Ichinowatari during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 1987)The entrance to Ichinowatari's restaurant, Chanko IchisekiIchinowatari's tegata
## **Sources**

* Ichinowatari Mitsuyoshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ichinowatari Mitsuyoshi Rikishi Information