Washuyama Yoshikazu

Washuyama Yoshikazu - 鷲羽山 佳和 (born April 2, 1949) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kurashiki, Okayama. He made his debut in March 1967 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1973 and has eight special prizes as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in November 1985.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After dropping out of Kurashiki Washu High School, he joined Dewanoumi stable where his elder brother Hideo was already a wrestler. He was given the shikona "Washuyama" (鷲羽山). His shikona or sumo name was derived from the Washuzan mountain in his native Okayama prefecture. (He was to become so popular that people would refer to the mountain as Washuyama.) He made his professional debut in March 1967 and was promoted to makushita in July 1969. After three years in the division, he was promoted to juryo in July 1972.

### **Juryo Career**

Since Washuyama was still suffering the effects of an injury which took place during a match against Tamakiyama in the previous tournament, he had to sit out of his first tournament as a sekitori. Luckily, due to the public injury system (kosho seido), he was allowed to keep his rank. He returned to the dohyo in September 1972 and after three consecutive winning records, he was promoted to makuuchi in May 1973.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He was promoted to the makuuchi division in May 1973 and made an immediate impression, finishing as the tournament runner-up with 11 wins and earning the Fighting Spirit prize. However, injury problems over the next couple of years prevented him from progressing much further and he was demoted back to the juryo division on two occasions. His fortunes turned around towards the end of 1975 when he won his second Fighting Spirit prize, and in January 1976 he was once again tournament runner-up. This earned him promotion to the titled san'yaku ranks for the first time in March 1976 at the rank of komusubi. Another strong showing earned him immediate promotion to sekiwake, which was to be his highest rank. He posted a solid 8-7 record at this rank and was awarded the Technique prize. However, he followed with a 5-10 record in May 1976 and was demoted out of san'yaku. He returned to sekiwake once more in September 1977, but could only manage 3 wins.

In 1982 Washuyama dropped to the juryo division once more, although he kept on fighting until November 1985 when he finally announced his retirement at the age of 36.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Washuyama remained in the sumo world as a coach at his old stable, under the name Sakaigawa. In 1996 he assumed the Dewanoumi name and took charge of the stable while the previous head, Sadanoyama, became Sakaigawa and concentrated on his role as the Japan Sumo Association chairman. Washuyama was also on the Sumo Association's board as a director. He reached the mandatory retirement age for an oyakata of 65 in April 2014 and handed over control of the stable to former maegashira Oginohana. In March 2018 he was appointed as a hyogiin or outside voter in the Sumo Association, although he has no oyakata status.

## **Personal Life**

His older brother, Hideo Suzuki, was also a sumo wrestler. He joined Dewanoumi stable in September 1964 and wrestled under the shikona "Tsunenoyama" (常の山). He rose to the juryo division in May 1978 where Washuyama had already established himself in the top division. Tsunenoyama could only maintain his rank for two tournaments and announced his retirement after the September 1979 tournament.

## **Fighting Style**

Washuyama was one of the lightest sumo wrestlers ever seen in the top division, at around 100 kg and rather short at 175 cm. He was very popular with the tournament crowds, earning the nickname of chibikko gangu or "midget gang" for the way he seemed to swarm around his larger opponents attacking from all sides. He became a real nemesis for the giant Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama, who was nearly twice his size. His technical skill is evidenced by the five Ginosho, or Technique Awards he picked up during his career.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 699-650-83/1345 (113 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 319-353-63/668 (49 basho)
* **Juryo:** 256-209-15/465 (32 basho)
* **Makushita:** 62-52-5/114 (17 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 46-31/77 (11 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 10-4/14 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 3 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (May 1978)
	+ 2nd (July 1978)
	+ 3rd (March 1983)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (5), Fighting Spirit Prize (3)
* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Kitanoumi, (1) Kotozakura

## **Shikona History**

* Washuyama Yoshikazu (1967.03 - 1985.11)

## **Gallery**

Washuyama after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1973)Washuyama (left) celebrates Mienoumi's Yusho (c. 1973)Washuyama poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Washuyama with one of his many sansho prizes (c. 1977)Washuyama with his older brother, Tsunenoyama (c. 1978)Washuyama prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1981)Washuyama retires after losing to Tochinohana (c. 1985)Washuyama's retirement ceremony (c. 1986)Washuyama after retirement as Takasaki Oyakata (c. 2014)Washuyama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Washuyama Yoshikazu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Washuyama Yoshikazu Rikishi Information