Ozutsu Takeshi

Ozutsu Takeshi - 巨砲 丈士 (born April 18, 1956) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yokkaichi, Mie. He made his debut in May 1971 and last wrestled for Taiho stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1979 and has four special prizes as well as ten kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in May 1992.

## **Early Life**

Born in Yokkaichi, he came from a sumo family as his father, Ryuichi Matsumoto, was a professional sumo wrestler known as Kenryu Taketora who reached a highest rank of juryo 1 in 1955. He played baseball and karate, and he was particularly skilled at baseball, earning an offer to play for Toho High School.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He joined Nishonoseki stable in May 1971 at the age of 15. The great yokozuna Taiho retired in the same tournament and that December he followed Taiho to a newly created heya, Taiho stable. In his early days he wrestled under a different shikona, Daishin. He was promoted to sandanme in November 1972 and makushita in May 1974. In May 1977, he posted a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 4 and was promoted to juryo in July 1977.

### **Juryo Career**

Daishin, alongside Mitsuruyama (later known as Shishiho) became the first sekitori from Taiho stable. He was injured during the November 1977 tournament and had to withdraw, dropping back to makushita. However, he was never to miss another bout in his career. Upon his return to juryo in March 1978 he adopted the shikona of Ozutsu (literally "big cannon"; he was sometimes nicknamed "Top Gun"). In September 1978 he claimed the juryo championship with an 11–4 record (his only career yusho), and in January 1979, after losing a playoff for the championship to Oshio he was promoted to the top makuuchi division for the March 1979 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Ozutsu won the Fighting Spirit Prize in his second top division tournament in May 1979, and in July he defeated two yokozuna, Wakanohana and Mienoumi, the first of his ten career kinboshi. In March 1980 he made his san'yaku debut at komusubi but fell short with a 6–9 record. He was runner-up to Kitanoumi with an 11–4 record in March 1981 and was promoted to sekiwake, the highest rank he was to achieve. He held it on two further occasions, in July 1981 and November 1983, and made his final appearance in san'yaku at komusubi in November 1984, continuing as a rank-and-file maegashira for the rest of his makuuchi career.

He won his first two bouts against Chiyonofuji before the latter became a yokozuna, and earned two kinboshi from him in September 1984 and March 1986, but was defeated by him on every one of the 37 other occasions they met. He was the man Chiyonofuji beat in September 1989 to reach 965 career wins, more than any other wrestler in history.

He remained in the top division for 78 consecutive tournaments but was finally demoted in January 1992 after recording only a 4–11 score at maegashira 15. His 1170th and final bout in makuuchiwas a win over Mainoumi. He announced his retirement from sumo two tournaments later at the age of 36 after facing certain demotion to the makushita division.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Ozutsu remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, and worked as a coach at Taiho stable, initially under the name Otake Oyakata. In 1997 he switched to the Tateyama kabu when it was vacated by the former ozeki Daiju. In 2003 Taiho retired as head coach and the former Takatoriki took over, renaming the heya Otake stable. Ozutsu continued to work as a coach there until 2008 when his Tateyama stock, which he was only borrowing, was needed by the retiring Tamakasuga. Ozutsu had to leave the Sumo Association as a result.

After leaving the sumo world, he ran a French-style restaurant in Yokohama called "Bistro Lyon Ozutsu" (Bistro Lyon 巨砲), however the restaurant has since closed. He now works as the managing director for a non-profit organization called "Japan Aoi no Kai" (日本あおいの会専務).

## **Fighting Style**

Ozutsu was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, preferring to fight on the mawashi rather than push his opponents. His favorite grip was migi-yotsu, with a right hand inside and left hand outside his opponent's arms. His most common winning kimarite was yorikiri or force out, but he also regularly used his outside grip to win by uwatenage (overarm throw) and uwatedashinage (pulling overarm throw). He was also fond of tsuridashi, the lift out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 753-809-18/1561 (127 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 533-637/1170 (78 basho)
* **Juryo:** 84-76-5/159 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 56-43-6/99 (15 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 57-34-7/91 (14 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 19-16/35 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 1978)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Outstanding Performance Prize (2), Fighting Spirit Prize (1), Technique Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 10: (4) Wakanohana II, (2) Chiyonofuji, (1) Kitanoumi, (1) Wajima, (1) Takanosato, (1) Mienoumi
* **Record:** **2nd** most consecutive top division bouts (1170 bouts)
* **Record:** Tied for **5th** most gold stars (10 kinboshi)
* **Record:** **10th** most consecutive career bouts (1267 bouts)

## **Shikona History**

* Daishin Takatoshi (1971.05 - 1973.11)
* Daishin Katsuichi (1974.01 - 1975.01)
* Daishin Takeshi (1975.03 - 1975.05)
* Daishin Takekazu (1975.07 - 1976.01)
* Daishin Takeshi (1976.03 - 1977.01)
* Daishin Takekazu (1977.03 - 1977.03)
* Daishin Takeshi (1977.05 - 1978.01)
* Ozutsu Takeshi (1978.03 - 1992.05)

## **Gallery**

Ozutsu's early career in the unsalaried ranks (c. 1977)Ozutsu after promotion to Juryo (c. 1977)Ozutsu wins the Juryo Yusho (c. 1978)Ozutsu after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1979)Ozutsu receives his first of many sansho prizes (c. 1979)Ozutsu after promotion to Sekiwake (c. 1981)Ozutsu defeats Yokozuna Kitanoumi (c. 1981)Ozutsu defeats Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (c. 1984)Ozutsu poses with his kesho-mawashiOzutsu's French-style restaurant: "Bistro Lyon Ozutsu"Ozutsu's tegata
## **Sources**

* Ozutsu Takeshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ozutsu Takeshi Rikishi Information