Futagodake Takeshi

Futagodake Takeshi - 二子岳武 (born November 15, 1943) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kanagi, Aomori. He made his debut in January 1961 and wrestled for Futagoyama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1967 and has one special prize as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in September 1976.

Early Life[]

Yamanaka was a member of the sumo club in junior high school. After graduating junior high school, his sumo club teacher introduced him to yokozuna Wakanohana I who personally asked his teacher to find him the best recruit. Yamanaka subsequently joined Hanakago stable (where Wakanohana belonged) and made his professional debut in January 1961.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He briefly wrestled under his surname before changing it to "Wakafutago" (若二子) in 1962 after transferring to the newly established Futagoyama stable which was created by recently retired Wakanohana I. He was promoted to makushita in November 1962 and produced twelve straight winning records to earn promotion to juryo in November 1964.

Juryo Career[]

At the time of his juryo debut, Wakafutago was on 21 straight winning records (excluding a tournament in July 1961 which he sat out). In his first tournament as a sekitori, Wakafutago withdrew from the tournament after only finishing with four wins and was subsequently demoted back down to makushita. He returned to juryo in March 1966 and produced a 10-5 record. After this, he changed his shikona to "Futagodake" (二子岳). After two consecutive double-digit winning records, he was promoted to makuuchi for the January 1967 tournament.

Makuuchi Career[]

Futagodake was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 57 tournaments. In September 1967, he produced an 8-7 record at the rank of maegashira 4 and was promoted to komusubi for the following November 1967 tournament. In his san'yaku debut, Futagodake finished with a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to maegashira ranks, but he returned to komusubi one tournament later in March 1968 and posted an 8-7 record. However, there was no change in rank for the following tournament and he subsequently withdrew from the tournament after recording zero wins. In November 1968, he finished with a 10-5 record and was awarded the Technique prize (he employed eight different kimarite). In November 1969 he defeated yokozuna Taiho to earn his only career kinboshi. In September 1974, his 11th day match with Mienoumi was declared a draw (hikiwake). This is the last draw in the top division to date.

Retirement from Sumo[]

He retired in September 1976 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. In 1993 he branched out from Futagoyama-beya and opened up Araiso-beya. Araiso-beya folded when Futagodake reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in November 2008. He had produced zero sekitori, however, one of his wrestlers, Arawashi, later became a sekitori after the stable's closure.

Fighting Style[]

Futagodake 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. He also regularly employed shitatenage, or underarm throw, and uchimuso, or inner thigh propping twist down.