Tochibayama Akiteru

Tochibayama Akiteru - 栃葉山 暁輝 (born May 7, 1946 - January 11, 1992) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Gifu City, Gifu. He made his debut in January 1966 and last wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the juryo division in November 1970. His highest rank was juryo 9 and he retired in September 1971.

## **Early Life**

Usui's father participated in amateur sumo while serving for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Because of this, Usui began sumo wrestling during his second year at Gifu Seiryu Junior High School. Although he was scouted by Kasugano stable after junior high school graduation, he moved to Tokyo instead to attend Meiji Univ. Nakano Senior High School, which had a strong sumo program (yokozuna Wakanohana later attended the school). In high school he won the National High School Sumo Championship consecutively in 1963 and 1964. He went on to attend Meiji University, but subsequently dropped out to join professional sumo.

## **Career**

Upon dropping out of college, he joined Kasugano stable and made his professional debut in January 1966. He won the jonokuchi yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in his first tournament and the sandanme yusho with another perfect record in his third tournament. He was promoted to makushita by September 1966 after just one tournament in the previous divisions. He changed his shikona to "Tochibayama" (栃葉山) in November 1968 after wrestling under his surname Usui.

In September 1970, he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 6 and was promoted to juryo in the following November 1970 tournament. In his first three tournaments as a sekitori, Tochibayama put up passable results consisting of 8-7 and 7-8 records. However, he sprained his left knee in May 1971 and subsequently pulled out of the tournament on the seventh day after going winless. He was demoted back down to makushita in the following tournament and he announced his retirement shortly after in September 1971.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, Tochibayama trained at his family's restaurant before opening up his own restaurant in Gifu City called "Uojin" (割烹料理うを仁). He died on January 11, 1992, at the age of 45.

## **Fighting Style**

Tochibayama was a tsuki/oshi specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting at his opponents rather than fighting on the mawashi or belt. However, his most common winning kimarite or technique was yorikiri, or force out, which requires a belt grip.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 143-109-18/251 (35 basho)
* **Juryo:** 23-29-8/51 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 100-79-10/179 (27 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (July 1966)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (March 1966)

## **Shikona History**

* Usui Hitoshi (1966.01 - 1968.09)
* Tochibayama Akiteru (1968.11 - 1971.09)

## **Gallery**

Tochibayama wins his second national high school title (c. 1964)Tochibayama (right) gets recruited for professional sumo (c. 1966)Tochibayama (squatting) trains upon recruitment (c. 1966)Tochibayama during the juryo dohyo-iri (c. 1970)Tochibayama's restaurant: "Uojin" (割烹料理うを仁)
## **Sources**

* Tochibayama Akiteru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tochibayama Akiteru Rikishi Information