Buyuzan Takeyoshi

Buyuzan Takeyoshi - 武雄山喬義 (born July 29, 1974) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyohashi, Aichi. He made his debut in March 1997 and wrestled for Musashigawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 2001 and has 2 special prizes. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in November 2007.

Early Life[]

Takeyoshi Tominaga was raised on a farm in Toyohashi, Aichi. He was the youngest of three siblings and his second oldest brother, Masuo, became a Keirin racer. When he was in elementary school he participated in swimming and basketball, but transitioned to sumo at the age of fifteen during his time at Toyohashi Shiritsu Hokubu Junior High School. He then attended Aichikogyodaigakumeiden High School and Meiji University where he was a member of the school's sumo club. Upon graduation he joined Musashigawa stable in March 1997.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He was given the shikona "Tomingayama" (富永山) and was granted makushita tsukedashi status because of his amateur accomplishments which meant that he started at the bottom of the makushita division.

He did not have a great start and even fell down to sandanme in September 1998. He returned immediately and in May 1999 he changed his shikona to "Buyuzan" (武雄山). It took him over three years (quite uncommon for rikishi with makushita tsukedashi status) to reach sekitori status, when he was promoted to the juryo division in May 2000.

Juryo Career[]

Buyuzan Sumo — Buyuzan prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2006)

He lost his first seven bouts in his juryo debut and after finishing with a 6–9 record he was demoted back to makushita. He returned to juryo in September 2000, but fell back down after two tournaments and did not return until July 2001 where he won the juryo division championship or yusho, coming through an unprecedented eight man playoff and with a mere 9–6 score – the lowest ever yusho–winning record for a 15 day tournament. He was promoted to makuuchi in November 2001 after producing an impressive 11-4 record.

Makuuchi Career[]

He posted a strong 10-5 record in his debut tournament and won the fighting spirit prize (kanto-sho). He followed this with another impressive performance, where he produced an 11-4 record to earn his second fighting spirit prize. He was listed as maegashira 1 when he suffered a right knee medial collateral ligament injury in March 2002 and dropped back to the lower maegashira ranks and even further into the juryo division. After his return to makuuchi, he remained in the middle and lower maegashira ranks. In 2005, he dropped to juryo again, but he returned to the top division in March 2006.

Later Career[]

By September he had returned to juryo where he put up a disastrous 1-14 record. He was demoted to the non-salaried makushita division in November 2006 where he again turned in a losing score. In January 2007 he managed a 6-1 mark which put him in contention for a return to juryo, but he faltered again with three straight make-koshi scores. He remained in the makushita division until his retirement after a loss on Day 13 of the 2007 Kyushu basho which gave him another makekoshi.

Retirement from Sumo[]

Buyzuan has stayed in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onaruto Oyakata, and works as a coach at Fujishima stable. His danpatsu-shiki, or official retirement ceremony, took place in October 2008. Upon Dejima's retirement in July 2009 he switched to the Sekinoto elder name. He became Yamawake Oyakata in September 2010 after the name was vacated by his former stablemate Wakanoyama. Among his duties in the Sumo Association is responsibility for the annual November tournament in Fukuoka.

Personal Life[]

Buyuzan's favorite foods are yakitori, yakiniku, and coffee.
Buyuzan's older brother is Masuo Tominaga who was a Keirin racer.

Fighting Style[]

Buyuzan's favorite techniques are listed on his profile at the Sumo Association as pushing and thrusting, or tsuki/oshi, and he won over half of his bouts with oshidashi, or push-out.