Seionada Kozo

Seionada Kozo - 清王洋 好造 (born October 20, 1960 - October 8, 2003) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Makurazaki, Kagoshima. He made his debut in May 1979 and wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the juryo division in July 1983. His highest rank was juryo 9 and he retired in September 1989.

## **Early Life**

Hatano was born on October 20, 1960, in Kobe (although he used Makurazaki, Kagoshima, as his official shusshin, or birthplace, upon entering professional sumo). He was raised in Tarumi Ward, Kobe City, in Hyogo Prefecture. His father was an instructor for a driving school. He participated in judo at Tenri High School and was considering to continue his judo career at Tenri University, but opted for professional sumo. Upon graduating high school in March 1979, he joined Isegahama stable and made his professional debut in May 1979.

## **Career**

Hatano had an impressive start to his sumo career, winning both the jonokuchi and jonidan yusho's consecutively with perfect 7-0 records. He was promoted to makushita in May 1980, after only one year in sumo, and changed his shikona to "Seionada" (清王洋) in September 1980. After three years in makushita, Seionada was promoted to juryo in July 1983.

Seionada struggled in his first tournament as a sekitori. He had to pull out on the final day after developing cellulitis on both legs. He finished with a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to makushita. Since he did not completely recover, he eventually fell down to sandanme in May 1984. He eventually recovered and was promoted back to juryo in November 1987.

In his return, Seionada produced a 6-9 record, but lucky kept his sekitori status for the following January 1988 tournament. In that tournament, he finished with an embarrassing 0-15 record and was demoted back down to makushita. He eventually fell down to sandanme September 1988 and jonidan in May 1989. He subsequently announced his retirement after the September 1989 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, he and his wife opened up a chanko restaurant at Rokkomichi Station located in Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, called "Chanko Seionada" (ちゃんこ清王洋). His restaurant was introduced through numerous TV programs and magazines. However, the restaurant was damaged during the Great Hanshin earthquake in January 1995, and although his home was completely destroyed, the restaurant miraculously survived. He ran the restaurant for 11 years until his death in 2003.

### **Health Problems and Death**

After retiring, he still weighed close to 180 kg (397 Ib). In 2003, his cellulitis reoccurred and he also suffered from sepsis. He died on October 8th, 2003, at the age of 42, due to an illness.

## **Personal Life**

In December 1994, Seionada alongside Terao, Hakkaku Oyakata and Onomatsu Oyakata founded a reunion party for get-alongs twice a year for sumo wrestlers who made their debuts in 1979.

He indicated that he wanted to be a professional wrestler after retirement and even created a mask to go along with his wrestling gimmick. However, he abandoned the idea.

## **Fighting Style**

Seionada was a tsuki/oshi specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting at his opponents rather than fighting on the mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite was oshidashi, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 223-203-32/425 (63 basho)
* **Juryo:** 11-34/44 (3 basho)
* **Makushita:** 138-127-15/265 (40 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 56-39-10/95 (15 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 11-3-7/14 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (September 1979)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (July 1979)

## **Shikona History**

* Hatano Kozo (1979.05 - 1980.07)
* Seionada Kozo (1980.09 - 1989.09)

## **Gallery**

Seionada wins the Jonidan Yusho (c. 1979)Seionada poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1987)Seionada participates in an exhibition match (c. 1987)Seionada with his custom pro-wrestling mask (c. 1992)Seionada outside his chanko restaurant, ちゃんこ清王洋Seionada's tegata
## **Sources**

* Seionada Kozo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Seionada Kozo Rikishi Information