Chikubayama Masakuni

Chikubayama Masakuni - 竹葉山 真邦 (born August 21, 1957) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ukiha, Fukuoka. He made his debut in March 1973 and wrestled for Miyagino stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1986. His highest rank was maegashira 13 and he retired in January 1989.

## **Early Life**

He began sumo wrestling from an early age, however, since there was no sumo club in his junior high school, he switched to baseball. In his second year of junior high school, he was introduced to Miyagino stable by an acquaintance of his father. After graduating junior high school, he joined Miyagino stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in March 1973 (alongside future sekiwake Koboyama), using his real name of Tazaki as his shikona. In March 1974 upon promotion to the sandanme division he became Chikubayama. His ring name (shikona) was named after former yokozuna Yoshibayama, his stablemaster, and it also references Chikugo, Fukuoka. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1974 and makushita in January 1977. In September 1978, he produced a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 2 and was promoted to juryo in the following November 1978 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

He first reached sekitori status in November 1978 when he was promoted to the juryo division but he lasted only one tournament, falling back to the unsalaried ranks. It took over four years, until January 1983, for him to win promotion back to juryo and again he had a losing record and was demoted after only one tournament. After regular and intense training sessions with top division wrestler Kaiki of the Tomozuna stable he won promotion for the third time in March 1984, and finally established himself in juryo. However he did not reach the top makuuchi division until September 1986, 81 tournaments after his professional debut – the second slowest ever at the time.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Chikubayama could only manage 6 wins in his top division debut and he was demoted back down to juryo. In his return to juryo, he produced a 10-5 record, but missed out on the yusho after losing to Tochinowaka in the playoff. Nevertheless, he was promoted back to makuuchi in January 1987, but he could only manage 5 wins. He was ranked in makuuchi for a total of two tournaments and rose as high as maegashira 13.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired from being an active wrestler in January 1989 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Nakagawa. However, following the sudden death in June of the same year of the head of the Miyagino stable (the former Hirokawa) he became the Miyagino stablemaster. The first sekitori he produced was Kengaku in 1991, followed by Wakahayato in 1994 and Kobo in 1999. In December 2000 he recruited future yokozuna Hakuho, after making a promise to then maegashira Kyokushuzan of the affiliated Oshima stable, who had invited his fellow Mongolian to Japan for trials. No other stable would take Hakuho, as he weighed just 62 kg (137 lb; 9.8 st). at the time. However, after making his debut in March 2001 at the age of 16, Hakuho trained hard and gained weight and muscle, and reached juryo in January 2004.

He was forced to give up the Miyagino name and head coach position in August 2004 when it was acquired by the former Kanechika (he had apparently only been renting it from the widow of the previous coach), but he remained in the stable under the name Kumagatani, and was still regarded as Hakuhō's mentor. In December 2010 he regained the Miyagino name and status of head coach after Kanechika was demoted by the Japan Sumo Association for being caught on tape discussing alleged match-fixing. Miyagino has also coached Ryuo, Daikiho, Ishiura and Enho to the top division.

In April 2019 Miyagino was given a ten percent pay cut for three months by the Sumo Association, in response to Hakuho's breach of etiquette on the final day of the March 2019 tournament, when he led a sanbon jime to mark the end of the Heisei era, despite the day's ceremonies not being completed.

In July 2022 the Sumo Association announced that, in light of Miyagino reaching 65 years of age, Magaki-oyakata (former yokozuna Hakuho) and Chikubayama would be exchanging elder-stocks, with Hakuho becoming the 13th Miyagino and becoming the stablemaster at the stable and Chikubayama becoming the 22nd Magaki. He remained as a coach at Miyagino stable in a consultancy role until 1 June 2023. Upon the retirement of former maegashira Ishiura Shikanosuke, it was announced that Chikubayama ceded his elder name to Ishiura and would leave the Sumo Association prior to completing his five-year role a consultant.

## **Fighting Style**

Chikubayama was a tsuki-oshi specialist who preferred pushing and thrusting techniques and did not like to fight on the mawashi or belt. He won most of his bouts by a straightforward oshidashi or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 442-402-21/842 (96 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 11-19/30 (2 basho)
* **Juryo:** 170-162-13/330 (23 basho)
* **Makushita:** 172-149-8/321 (47 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 55-50/105 (15 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 29-20/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Tazaki Makoto (1973.03 - 1974.01)
* Chikubayama Makoto (1974.03 - 1981.01)
* Chikubayama Masakuni (1981.03 - 1991.01)

## **Gallery**

Chikubayama early career in the Sandanme division (c. 1976)Chikubayama battles future Ozeki Konishiki (c. 1984)Chikubayama poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1986)Chikubayama prepares for his upcoming matchChikubayama's retirement ceremony (c. 1989)Chikubayama after retirement as Miyagino Oyakata (c. 1997)Chikubayama and his star pupil Yokozuna Hakuho (c. 2011)
## **Sources**

* Chikubayama Masakuni Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Chikubayama Masakuni Rikishi Information