Fujinokawa Yuji

Fujinokawa Yuji - 藤ノ川祐兒 (born August 20, 1960) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Obu, Aichi. He made his debut in March 1983 and wrestled for Isenoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1985. His highest rank was maegashira 3 and he retired in July 1987.

Early Life[]

Hattori attended Tokai High School where he practiced judo and he participated in many national tournaments where he produced strong results. He switched to sumo after entering Doshisha University. While an amateur at Doshisha University he won a then–record seventeen collegiate sumo titles.

Career[]

Early Career[]

After graduating, Hattori joined Isenoumi stable and made his professional debut in the March 1983 tournament. Due to his amateur success, he was granted makushita tsukedashi status which meant he made his debut at the bottom of the makushita divison. He won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in his second tournament and was promoted to juryo after a total of three professional tournaments.

Juryo Career[]

Even though Hattori breezed through makushita, he found it harder to break through the juryo wall. He started off strong with three straight winning records, a couple losing records set him back. Finally, in January 1985, Hattori produced a 9-6 record at the rank of juryo 1 which earned him a promotion to makuuchi for the March 1985 tournament.

Makuuchi Career[]

Hattori posted two consecutive winning records from top division debut and in July 1985 he changed his name to the prestigious shikona Fujinokawa, the fighting name of Isenoumi Oyakata, ex-sekiwake Fujinokawa Takeo. However, he was very injury–prone and never made the san'yaku ranks, his highest rank being maegashira 3. He was demoted back down to juryo in January 1987 and subsequently sat out of this tournament due to a back injury. As a result, he was demoted straight to makushita and he ultimately announced his retirement after the July 1987 tournament at the age of 26.

Retirement from Sumo[]

After retiring, Hattori enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Coaching Science at the University of Tsukuba Graduate School. He currently works as a business professor with a focus on physical education at Tokai Gakuen University in Miyoshi, Aichi. He also founded the Tokai Gakuen sumo club, but in 2019, the sumo club closed down due to lack of members.

Fighting Style[]

Fujinokawa was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out, followed closely by kotenage, or armlock throw.