Wakashoyo Shunichi

Wakashoyo Shunichi - 若翔洋 俊一 (born March 8, 1966) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nakano, Tokyo. He made his debut in May 1981 and last wrestled for Futagoyama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1991 and has two special prizes. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in November 1997.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Although born in Chiba, he grew up in Nakano, Tokyo. After graduating Nakano Fujimi Junior High School, he joined Futagoyama stable and made his debut in May 1981. He initially fought under his family name before switching to "Shidenryu" (紫電隆). He temporarily reverted his shaken back to his surname before switching to "Wakashoyo" (若翔洋) in May 1991. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1983 and makushita in July 1985. He won the sandanme yusho in January 1986, but a spine injury prevented him from reaching sekitori. Nevertheless, he was promoted to juryo in May 1991.

### **Juryo Career**

Wakashoyo accelerated pass the juryo division. In his first tournament he finished with a strong 10-5 record and followed with a solid 9-6 record. He was promoted to makuuchi in the following September 1991 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Initially, Wakashoyo struggled to establish himself in makuuchi and was demoted three times after one tournament stints. It was not until September 1992 where he finished with a strong 10-5 record. In January 1993, Wakashoyo produced a 10-5 record at the rank of Maegashira 3 and was awarded his first fighting spirit prize. He made his san'yaku debut March 1993 where he posted a strong 10-5 record and defeated yokozuna Akebono. As a result he was awarded his second fighting spirit prize. He was promoted to sekiwake in May 1993, but could only manage 7 wins. Due to injuries, he fell to juryo in July 1994.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Wakashoyo fell down to makushita in September 1997. He retired in November 1997 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Otowayama. However, the retirement of his former stablemate, Wakanohana in March 2000 meant that his elder name was needed by the former Takamisugi (who had been borrowing Wakanohana's), and Wakashoyo had to leave the sumo world.

After his MMA, kickboxing, and professional wrestling career, he currently works as the manager for a soba restaurant called "Tokyo KING" (東京KING) in Higashi-Kakogawa Station.

### **MMA and Kickboxing Career**

He then signed with K-1, a kickboxing and mixed martial arts organization, fighting under his old shikona (He uses the Latin script, appearing as "WAKASHOYO" rather than using the Japanese characters. The Sumo Association requested that Konishiki do the same thing in his post-sumo career). He made his debut in a kickboxing bout against fellow newcomer, South Korean giant Choi Hong-man in the quarter-final of the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Seoul on 19 March 2005. Wakashoyo was knocked down twice in the first round; he was not able to recover from the second one. In July 2005 he entered Hero's, the mixed martial arts series promoted by K-1, against kickboxing legend Peter Aerts in an MMA bout at Hero's 2. He was again knocked out in the first round. Wakashoyo returned to the promotion against Kazuhiro Hamanaka at Hero's 5 on 3 May 2006 and was submitted with an arm lock.

In 2008 he began using his real name, Yoichi Babaguchi, as his fighting name. However, he reverted to the name Wakashoyo in December 2010 for a kickboxing match with fellow former sekitori Sentoryu. Out of shape in his first match in over two and a half years, he lost in the first round.

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

Babaguchi, under his Wakashoyo name, started his career in professional wrestling in Inoki Genome Federation in 2008, later changing to Real Japan Pro Wrestling in 2011. As of 2020, his last wrestling appearance was on July 16th, 2017, at the Dotonbori Pro Osaka Summer Battle event in Osaka where he participated in a Royal Rumble match.

## **Fighting Style**

During his sumo career Wakashoyo favored yotsu-sumo, or grappling techniques. He preferred a hidari-yotsu, or right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri, or force out, but he also liked using kotenage, or armlock throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 496-444-52/939 (100 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 144-185-16/328 (23 basho)
* **Juryo:** 126-99/225 (15 basho)
* **Makushita:** 93-69-22/162 (27 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 91-56-14/147 (23 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 38-32/70 (10 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (July 1992)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (January 1986)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (2)

## **Shikona History**

* Babaguchi Yoichi (1981.05 - 1983.09)
* Shidenryu Yoichi (1983.11 - 1989.11)
* Babaguchi Yoichi (1990.01 - 1991.03)
* Wakashoyo Shunichi (1991.05 - 1997.11)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata**

Wakashoyo Shunichi - 1998 (Retrieved from the JSA)Wakashoyo's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Wakashoyo (big rikishi in the center) in Maezumo (c. 1981)Wakashoyo (c. 1993)Wakashoyo with his Sansho prize (c. 1993)Wakashoyo (left) after promotion to Sekiwake (c. 1993)Wakashoyo defeats former Ozeki Konishiki (c. 1995)Wakashoyo's retirement ceremony pamphlet (c. 1998)Wakashoyo before his MMA debut against Choi Hong-man (c. 2005)Wakashoyo's professional wrestling career (c. 2014)
## **Sources**

* Wakashoyo Shunichi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakashoyo Shunichi Rikishi Information