Hinodeshima - 日乃出島 (born February 19, 1953 - May 10, 2012) was a Tongan professional sumo wrestler. He made his debut in November 1974 and wrestled for Asahiyama stable. His highest rank was sandanme 34 and he retired in September 1976.
Early Life[]
At the age of 21, he was part of a group of six teenagers and young men sent by the King of Tonga to Japan to study Sumo. After moving to Japan in 1974, he competed under the shikona of Hinodeshima (日乃出島, sometimes spelled 日ノ出島 and 日の出島).
Career[]
Hinodeshima was the tallest and heaviest wrestler out of his other Tongan contemporaries. This showed in his sumo as he produced strong records of 6-1 and 5-2 in his first two tournaments. However, he began to struggle at the jonidan ranks and did not reach sandanme until the May 1976 tournament. In his sandanme debut, he was in the yusho-race for majority of the tournament and was 6-0 by the end of the eleventh day. However, he ended losing a match to eventual yusho-winner Wakanobori. Nonetheless, the strong record boosted Hinodeshima to a career high rank of sandanme 34.
Retirement from Sumo[]
Controversial Dismissal[]
Hinodeshima's stablemaster, ex-maegashira Futaseyama, died suddenly in 1975 and he and his Tongan stablemates were caught up in a succession dispute between former maegashira Ryuo and the man who eventually became the new head, former komusubi Wakafutase. They sided with Futaseyama's widow, who preferred Ryuo to take over, and were ultimately dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association. As a result of the controversy sumo officials had to fly to Tonga to explain themselves to the country's king, Taufaʻahau Tupou IV.
After Retirement[]
After retirement, Hinodeshima moved to Australia where he resided in Bankstown, which is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales.
Death[]
Hinodeshima passed away on October 12, 2012, in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 59. He is buried in Rookwood Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria in Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia.
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 45-32/77 (12 basho)
- Sandanme: 13-8/21 (3 basho)
- Jonidan: 27-22/49 (7 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 5-2/7 (1 basho)
Shikona History[]
- Hinodeshima (1974.11 - 1976.09)
Gallery[]
