Zenshinyama Ryota

Zenshinyama Ryota - 前進山 良太 (born April 22, 1966) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yokohama, Kanagawa. He made his debut in November 1982 and wrestled for Takadagawa stable. He reached the juryo division in May 1989. His highest rank was juryo 2 and he retired in September 1999.

## **Early Life**

Akimoto was a member of the baseball club at Yokohama High School. Although he had no experience with sumo wrestling, he dropped out of high school and joined Takadagawa stable after he was introduced by an acquaintance.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Akimoto made his professional debut in November 1982 and initially wrestled under his surname before switching to "Zenshinyama" (前進山) in May 1983. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1984 and makushita in January 1986. In March 1989, Zenshinyama won the makushita yusho at the rank of makushita 9 with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to juryo in the following May 1989 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Zenshinyama posted a solid 9-6 record in his first tournament as a sekitori, but followed with a disastrous 3-12 record which sent him back down to makushita. In November 1991, Zenshinyama returned to juryo after producing a 6-1 record at the rank of makushita 9, a surprisingly low rank and it was a record for the lowest ranked to earn a juryo promotion without a perfect 7-0 record (the record was broken in July 2010 when Ryuho produced a 6-1 record at the rank of makushita 11).

This time, Zenshinyama was able to establish himself as a sekitori and he rose to a career-best juryo 2 in July 1992, where he also appeared for makuuchi matches on the 8th and 11th day where he defeated both Hananokuni and Enazakura. He briefly fell down to makushita in November 1993, but earned an immediate promotion back to juryo after claiming his second makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. However, he eventually fell back down to makushita in November 1994.

He was ranked in makushita for two years before returning in May 1996. He was able to establish himself again and was ranked as a sekitori for another 18 consecutive tournaments. In July 1997, Zenshinyama suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury and a medial collateral ligament injury on his left knee on the 14th day in a match against Misugsato. He subsequently withdrew from the tournament on the final day and continued to sit out int he following September tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He fell back down to makushita in May 1999 due to injuries and ultimately announced his retirement after the September 1999 tournament. He was ranked in juryo for a total of 37 tournaments which is the third most for a juryo wrestler after Hakuryu (47 tournaments) and Sawakaze (40 tournaments).

He remained in the Japan Sumo Association as a Wakaimonogashira, or youth leader.

## **Fighting Style**

Zenshinyama 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 or technique was oshidashi or a straightforward push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 480-467-56/946 (102 basho)
* **Juryo:** 244-280-31/523 (37 basho)
* **Makushita:** 137-110-12/247 (37 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 67-53-13/120 (19 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 25-17/42 (6 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-7/14 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (March 1989)
	+ 2nd (November 1993)

## **Shikona History**

* Akimoto Ryota (1982.11 - 1983.03)
* Zenshinyama Ryota (1983.05 - 1999.09)

## **Gallery**

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

Zenshinyama Ryota - 1998 (retrieved from JSA)Zenshinyama's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Zenshinyama launches at his opponent (c. 1993)Zenshinyama throws salt as he prepares for his match (c. 1997)Zenshinyama leads Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1998 Olympics
## **Sources**

* Zenshinyama Ryota Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Zenshinyama Ryota Rikishi Information