Amamifuji Toyohiro

Amamifuji Toyohiro - 奄美富士豊巨 (born October 20, 1959) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Amagi, Kagoshima. He made his debut in March 1976 and wrestled for Takasago stable. His highest rank was makushita 4 and he retired in September 1988.

Career[]

Shimada joined Takasago stable and made his professional debut in March 1976. He managed a strong 6-1 record in his first tournament and was promoted to sandanme in March 1977. He was rising the through the ranks of sandanme, but he suffered an injury and fell down to jonidan. He immediately won the jonidan yusho in his return and was promoted to makushita in November 1978. However, he could not immediately establish himself in makushita until six years later in January 1984.

He changed his shikona to "Amamifuji" (奄美富士) in May 1980. In July 1981, he posted a strong 6-1 record which qualified him for a seven man playoff for the makushita yusho. He defeated former juryo wrestler Kotonoryu in the first round but lost to eventual winner Kusatake in the second round. He briefly fell back down to sandanme in July 1982 but was able to bounce back by winning the sandanme yusho with a perfect 7-0 record.

Amamifuji's most memorable moment of his sumo career came in March 1987 where he won a nine-man playoff to claim the makushita yusho. All of his opponents were either former or future sekitori. Initially, he was gunning for a perfect 7-0 record, but lost his final match on the 13th day which meant he finished the tournament with a 6-1 record. Luckily no other rikishi finished with a flawless 7-0 record and as a result Amamifuji was placed into a nine-man playoff. He defeated Ishinriki by tsukidashi (thrust out) in the first round and followed with a thrust down win against Wakanoumi in the second round. He then beat Iwatefuji by hatakikomi (slap down). In the final round, Amamifuji defeated stablemate Morita by yorikiri (force out) to claim the makushita yusho. He was promoted to the rank of makushita 4 in May 1987 as a result, but he went on to lose his first four matches. Nevertheless, he defeated juryo-ranked Kaneshiro, who was once a sekiwake, by uwatedashinage (pulling overarm throw).

Retirement from Sumo[]

After reaching as high as makushita 4 in May 1987, he went on a little slump and fell to the lower ranks of makushita by March 1988. He subsequently announced his retirement after the September 1988 tournament. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on September 25th, 1988.

After retiring, he opened up a chankonabe restaurant called "Amamifuji" (奄美富士) in Amagasaki, Hyogo. His restaurant contains many old memorabilia from his late stablemaster (the 46th yokozuna Asashio) including his kesho-mawashi and his special red tsuna for his kanreki dohyo-iri which he never wore.

Fighting Style[]

Amamifuji was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. Even though many of his kimarite were not recorded as he never rose to sekitori, his playoff match kimarite were recorded. He won by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out), hatakikomi (slap down), uwatedashinage (pulling overarm throw), and many other various different techniques.