Harunoyama Tatsunao

Harunoyama Tatsunao - 春ノ山 竜尚 (born August 2, 1976) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyota, Aichi. He made his debut in March 1992 and wrestled for Matsugane stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 2004. His highest rank was maegashira 10 and he retired in November 2006.

## **Early Life**

Tatsunao Haruyama was born in Toyota, Aichi, and is a third-generation Korean-Japanese. He began sumo wrestling in his first year of elementary school and played an active part in national competitions. He was also strong in judo and won the Aichi Prefectural tournament. Upon graduation from junior high school he joined the newly opened Matsugane stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Already weighing 160 kg (353 Ib), Haruyama was bigger than most of his opponents and produced a strong 6-1 record in his jonokuchi debut. He reached sandanme in July 1993 and makushita in July 1995. He changed his shikona from his family name to "Tokiryu" (豊毅竜). He reverted back to his family name of "Haruyama" as his shikona in May 1999. After five consecutive 4-3 records he was promoted to juryo in November 2000.

### **Juryo Career**

Upon promotion to juryo, he changed his shikona to "Harunoyama" (春ノ山). He produced a 7-8 record in his first tournament and since he was ranked at juryo 13 he was demoted back down to makushita. He returned immediately to juryo after winning the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. He established himself in the juryo division and at best produced single-digit winning records. In January 2004, Harunoyama was ranked at juryo 3 and he produced his first double-digit winning record which earned him a promotion to the top makuuchi division in March 2004.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Harunoyama produced a 9-6 record in his juryo debut and was promoted to a career-best maegashira 10 in May 2004. At this rank, Harunoyama struggled and could only muster four wins. In the following tournament he produced an even worse 3-12 record which sent him back to juryo. He returned to makuuchi two tournaments later, but withdrew before the tournament even started due to a knee injury. This would be his last tournament ranked in the top division.

### **Later Career**

After sitting out of the January 2005 tournament, Harunoyama fell all the way down to juryo 10. He eventually returned back to his regular sumo and in July 2005 he produced a strong 10-5 record which sent him to the top of juryo. However, this would be his last highlight as he could only produce one more winning record in his remaining eight tournaments.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Harunoyama fell back down to makushita in September 2006 and after losing his first five matches in the tournament he withdrew from the tournament due to his old knee injury. He announced his retirement on the seventh day of the following November 2006 tournament. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on January 29th, 2007. He could not obtain sumo elder stock (Toshiyori), but he stayed as a jun-toshiyori (temporary stock) where he was known as Harunoyama oyakata for a year. In November 2007, he switched to the Takenawa stock (owned by active wrestler Tochinonada), however, he left the Sumo Association in January 2008.

He currently owns a chankonabe restaurant called "Chanko Harunoyama" (ちゃんこ春ノ山) in his hometown of Shimobayashi-cho, Toyota, Aichi.

## **Personal Life**

* Harunoyama's older brother (by five years), Fukuryu, joined professional sumo in March 1989 and was also a member of Matsugane stable. He wrestled under the shikona "Shimanoryu" (嶋の龍) and his highest rank was makushita 3. He retired in March 1999 and currently owns a Chankonabe restaurant in Toyota, Aichi.
* His junior high school classmate, Ryuji Haruyama, joined Matsugane stable at the same time as him and wrestled under the shikona "Satsumanishiki" (薩摩錦). Satsumanishiki transferred from his junior high school in Kagoshima to Harunoyama's school in Toyota, Aichi. Since they both share the same last name they became close friends and decided to join Matsugane stable upon graduation.
* Harunoyama is not a fan of cats and recalls that whenever he sees a black cat on tournament day he always loses his match.
* Harunoyama's hobby is watching TV.

## **Fighting Style**

According to his Japan Sumo Association profile, his favored techniques are yori (forcing) and hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most common winning kimarite is a straightforward yorikiri or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 426-410-52/834 (89 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 16-29-15/45 (4 basho)
* **Juryo:** 213-218-19/430 (30 basho)
* **Makushita:** 112-101-18/212 (33 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 51-40/91 (13 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 28-21/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (January 2001)

## **Shikona History**

* Haruyama Tatsunao (1992.03 - 1997.01)
* Tokiryu Tatsunao (1997.03 - 1999.03)
* Haruyama Tatsunao (1999.05 - 2000.09)
* Harunoyama Tatsunao (2000.11 - 2006.11)

## **Gallery**

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

Harunoyama Tatsunao - 2003 (Retrieved from the JSA)Harunoyama Tatsunao - 2001 (Retrieved from the JSA)Harunoyama's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Harunoyama after promotion to Juryo (c. 2000)Harunoyama at the Yasukini sumo festival (c. 2004)Harunoyama after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 2004)Harunoyama during the makuuchi dohyo-iriHarunoyama announces his retirement (c. 2006)Harunoyama's retirement ceremony (c. 2007)Harunoyama's restaurant, Chanko Harunoyama

## **Sources**

* Harunoyama Tatsunao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Harunoyama Tatsunao Rikishi Information