Toyonoumi Yoshimi

Toyonoumi Yoshimi - 豊ノ海 義美 (born March 28, 1939) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nagasu, Oita. He made his debut in May 1954 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1958. His highest rank was maegashira 18 and he retired in May 1959.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Born in the town of Nagasu (currently the city of Usa) in Oita prefecture, he joined Tokitsukaze stable after graduating from junior high school and made his professional debut in May 1954. Wrestling under the shikona "Toyonoumi" (豊ノ海), he was promoted to sandanme in March 1955 and makushita in March 1956. In September 1957, he posted a 6-2 record at the rank of makushita 4 and was promoted to juryo for the November 1957 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

At the time of his juryo promotion Toyonoumi was only 18 years and 6 months old. In his first tournament as a sekitori, Toyonoumi finished with a strong 12-3 record. He followed with four more winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in September 1958.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He was only 19 years old at the time of his top division debut and was compared to aspiring teenagers Kashiwado and Wakachichibu. He posted an 8-7 record in his makuuchi debut and was promoted to the rank of maegashira 18 in November 1958. However, he finished with a poor 4-11 record and was demoted back down to jute in January 1959.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon getting demoted from the top division, Toyonoumi began to struggle with issues in his personal life and would regularly run away from his stable after the honbasho. Finally, the coaches at his stable called Toyonoumi's parents and told them that he would be barred from returning to the stable. He officially retired from sumo in May 1959. At the time of his retirement, Toyonoumi was only 20 years and 2 months and old and was the youngest sekitori to retire after the Meiji Era (1868-1912). The record would not be broken for nearly 50 years until Russian Wakanoho was forced to retire in 2008 at the age of 20 years and 1 month due to cannabis possession.

After retiring, Toyonoumi returned to his hometown in Oita prefecture and worked for Todaka Mining Co., Ltd. (戸高鉱業社), which is based in Tsukumi, Oita.

## **Fighting Style**

Toyonoumi 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. He was also fond of employing uchigake (inside leg trip) and kirikaeshi (twisting backwards knee trip).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 148-88-6/236 (24 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 12-18/30 (2 basho)
* **Juryo:** 63-42/105 (8 basho)
* **Makushita:** 37-13-6/50 (7 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 20-12/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 13-3/16 (2 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Nishio Yoshimi (1954.05 - 1954.05)
* Toyonoumi Yoshimi (1954.09 - 1959.05)

## **Gallery**

Toyonoumi poses with his kesho-mawashiToyonoumi with Wakachichibu and Kashiwado (c. 1958)Toyonoumi shorty before retirement (c. 1959)
## **Sources**

* Toyonoumi Yoshimi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Toyonoumi Yoshimi Rikishi Information