Akimoto Hisao

Akimoto Hisao - 秋本 久雄 (born May 5, 1965) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Katsushika, Tokyo. He made his debut in March 1984 and wrestled for Kasugano stable. His highest rank was makushita 42 and he retired in March 1985.

## **Early Life**

Hisao Akimoto was born on May 5, 1965, in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. In 1977, during his sixth year of elementary school, he became the first elementary school yokozuna after winning the inaugural Wanpaku Sumo Tournament. He went on to attend Meitoku Gijuku Junior High School where he earned the title of junior high school yokozuna during his second and third year. He then attended Meitoku Gijuku High School, which has produced many top sumo wrestlers including Asashoryu and Kotoshogiku.

During his time in high school, Akimoto was overshadowed by Keita Kushima (future maegashira Kushimaumi) and did not perform as well compared to his junior high school days. Nevertheless, after graduating high school, Akimoto received many offers from stables and top college programs, and he decided to join Kasugano stable.

## **Career**

Akimoto made his professional debut in March 1984. In May 1984, he defeated future sekiwake Kotonishiki on the 7th day and finished with a perfect 7-0 record to claim the jonokuchi yusho. He won the jonidan yusho with another perfect 7-0 record in the following July 1984 tournament. He was promoted to makushita in January 1985 after less than a year in sumo. A sumo magazine at the time praised him, stating that he will undoubtedly reach the san'yaku ranks in the future.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

For undisclosed reasons, Akimoto disappeared from his stable and missed the entirety of the January 1985 tournament. Akimoto could not be located so his stablemaster (the 44th Yokozuna Tochinishiki) submitted his retirement papers after the March 1985 tournament.

In March 1987, he was offered a spot on the Nihon University's Sumo Club which he accepted. but he later voluntarily left the school in August of the same year. After leaving, he became a drifter, working part-time jobs such as a waiter.

### **Legal Issues**

In February 2009, he was arrested for defrauding multiple women out of their savings. At the time of his arrest, he was living in the penthouse of a luxury apartment building in Koto Ward in Tokyo. The rent was around 400,000 yen a month and he used a chauffeur-driven limousine on his dates. He would pose as a successful architect and used fake business cards with fake credentials. In October 2009, Akimoto was sentenced to nine years in prison for defrauding 65 million yen out of three women by telling them he needed funds to remodel a hotel.

In April 2020, Akimoto was arrested again for defrauding a woman he met on a dating app. He tricked two women into paying him 1.6 million yen and dated many more women who also have not paid him anything.

## **Personal Life**

* Akimoto's younger brother, Norihisa Akimoto, was also a sumo wrestler.

## **Fighting Style**

Akimoto was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. He was in sumo before kimarite for lower division matches were recorded so it is unknown what his most common kimarite was.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 24-4-14/28 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 0-0-7/0 (1 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 10-4-7/14 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (July 1984)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (May 1984)

## **Gallery**

Akimoto joins professional sumo (c. 1984)Akimoto during his time in maezumo (c. 1984)Akimoto (right) after winning the jonokuchi yusho (c. 1984)
## **Sources**

* Akimoto Hisao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Akimoto Hisao Rikishi Information