Daijuyama Tadaaki

Daijuyama Tadaaki - 太寿山忠明 (born April 8, 1959) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Niitsu, Niigata. He made his debut in March 1975 and wrestled for Futagoyama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1980 and has four special prizes as well as seven kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in May 1991.

Early Life[]

Sakazume was born in the city of Niitsu (currently Akiha ward) in Niigata prefecture. Before joining sumo, Sakazume participated in judo and table tennis. He joined Futagoyama stable in March 1975 at the age of 16, recruited by the former yokozuna Wakanohana I. Joining the stable at the same time as him was future ozeki Wakashimazu.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He initially wrestled under his surname Sakazume before switching to Daijuyama in 1977. He was promoted to sandanme in July 1976 and makushita in January 1978. He rose through the lower divisions steadily and in November 1979, he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 4 and was promoted to juryo in the following January 1980 tournament at the age of 20.

Juryo Career[]

Daijuyama produced a solid 9-6 record in his sekitori debut and followed with another 9-6 record in March 1980. He continued to produce consistent results and in July 1980, he secured promotion to makuuchi after finishing the tournament with a 9-6 record at the rank of juryo 1.

Makuuchi Career[]

Daijuyama made his makuuchi debut in September 1980. He fell back to juryo after only two tournaments, but returned in March 1981. In September of that year he scored an impressive ten wins, defeating yokozuna Kitanoumi to earn his first kinboshi. He was rewarded with his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit, and promotion to the sanyaku ranks at sekiwake, which was to be the highest rank he was to achieve.

In November 1982 he was runner-up in a tournament for the first time, finishing alongside Wakanohana II, Kotokaze and Koboyama on 11-4, one win behind tournament winner Chiyonofuji on 12-3. In the following tournament he defeated Kitanoumi and Chiyonofuji in the first two days, winning the Outstanding Performance prize and promotion back to sekiwake. After fighting at komusubi in March 1983 he was injured and although he recovered, he did not manage to make the sanyaku ranks again until May 1988. In July 1989, at the age of 30, he produced a strong 11-4 record and won the Fighting Spirit prize for the third time, earning one last promotion to the titled ranks in the following September tournament. He defeated yokozuna Onokuni in this tournament, but fell short with a 5-10 record. In May 1991 he announced his retirement after scoring only 3-12 at maegashira 14, rather than face demotion to juryo.

Retirement from Sumo[]

He remained in the sumo world as a coach, initially at his old stable, but in late 1992 he branched out and re-established the Hanakago stable, the previous incarnation of which had been wound up in 1985 when the previous owner of the Hanakago stock, former yokozuna Wajima, resigned from the Sumo Association. He recruited the Mongolian wrestler Koryu in 2000, and he became the stable's first sekitori after the November 2006 tournament, and reached the top division in July 2008. However, he was forced to retire in April 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing. Another Mongolian, Arawashi, was inherited from Araiso stable and reached juryo in July 2011. Hanakago closed down the stable after the May 2012 tournament because of financial problems, and he moved with his wrestlers and staff to Minezaki stable. When that stable closed in March 2021 he moved to Takadagawa stable.

Personal Life[]

He is married, with three daughters.

His nickname amongst Japanese sumo fans was "Moomin", because of his facial resemblance to the hippo-like cartoon characters.

Fighting Style[]

Daijuyama's favored kimarite or techniques were migi-yotsu (a left arm outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi), uwatenage (overarm throw) and utchari (ring edge throw). His most common winning move by far was yorikiri (force out), which accounted for nearly half his victories.