Hitoshi Tadakatsu

Hitoshi Tadakatsu - 日翔志 忠勝 (born August 14, 1997) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tachikawa, Tokyo. He made his debut in May 2021 and currently wrestles for Oitekaze stable. He was promoted to the juryo division in November 2023. His highest rank as of 2023 is juryo 11.

## **Early Life**

Sawada was born in Musashino, Tokyo, but would use Tachikawa, Tokyo, as his official birthplace when joining sumo because he was mainly raised there. He began sumo wrestling at the age of 5 due to the influence of his grandfather, who was a major sumo fan. For junior high school, he moved to Niigata prefecture and attended Itoigawa City Nou Junior High School where he was a member of the school's sumo club. In his third year, he finished third at the All-Japan Junior High School Sumo Tournament. He went on to attend Saitama Sakae High School where he performed well on the national level.

After graduating high school, Sawada enrolled at Nihon University where he studied sports science and was a member of the school's strong sumo program. Upon graduating university, he got a job at Nihon University Enterprise Co.,Ltd. and worked as a coach for the Nihon University Sumo Club. He also took part in corporate sumo and participated at the All Japan Sumo Championship. However, he decided to try out professional sumo and joined Oitekaze stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 2021 under the shikona "Sawadasho" (沢田翔), however, in the following July 2021 tournament, he began wrestling under the shikona "Hitoshi" (日翔志). He won his first jonidan yusho in September 2021 with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to sandanme for the following November 2021 tournament. However, he injured his neck prior to the November 2021 tournament and had to miss three consecutive tournaments. He returned to sumo in May 2022 and took his second jonidan yusho in July 2022. In November 2022, Hitoshi won the sandanme yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to makushita for the following January 2023 tournament.

In September 2023, Hitoshi ranked at makushita 3 and after posting a strong 6-1 record, he partook in a 7-man playoff for the division championship. He defeated Kayo in the final round, winning the championship and ensuring promotion to the salaried division of Juryo for the November 2023 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

On the second day of the November 2023 tournament, Hitoshi injured his right leg in his match against Akua and had to be wheeled off the dohyo. Nevertheless, Hitoshi decided to still compete but subsequently finished with an abysmal 2-13 record in his juryo debut and was demoted back down to makushita for the January 2024 tournament.

## **Fighting Style**

Hitoshi is proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite is oshidashi (push out), followed by hatakikomi (slap down).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 61-31-21/92 (16 basho)
* **Juryo:** 2-13/15 (1 basho)
* **Makushita:** 23-12/35 (5 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 12-2-7/14 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 14-0-14/14 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 10-4/14 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (September 2023)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (November 2022)
* 2 **Jonidan** Championships
	+ 1st (September 2021)
	+ 2nd (July 2022)

## **Shikona History**

* Sawadasho Hitoshi (2021.05 - 2021.05)
* Hitoshi Tadakatsu (2021.07 - )

## **Gallery**

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

Hitoshi Tadakatsu - 2023 (Retrieved from the JSA)Hitoshi Tadakatsu - 2023 (Retrieved from the JSA)Hitoshi's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Hitoshi during his time in Maezumo (c. 2021)Hitoshi wins his first Jonidan Yusho (c. 2021)Hitoshi wins his 2nd Jonidan Yusho (c. 2022)Hitoshi prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2022)Hitoshi receives the Sandanme Yusho certificate (c. 2022)Hitoshi wins the Makushita Yusho (c. 2023)Hitoshi after promotion to Juryo (c. 2023)Hitoshi presented with his kesho-mawashi (c. 2023)Hitoshi defeats Kagayaki (c. 2023)
## **Sources**

* Hitoshi Tadakatsu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Hitoshi Tadakatsu Rikishi Information