Mizuguchi Tsuyoshi

Mizuguchi Tsuyoshi - 水口剛 (born July 21, 1981) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kadoma, Osaka. He made his debut in July 2004 and last wrestled for Oitekaze stable. His highest rank was makushita 4 and he retired in November 2016.

Early Life[]

Mizuguchi had his first sumo experience during the spring of his second year at Hotoku Gakuen High School. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Ritsumeikan University's Faculty of Social Sciences and was a member of the school's sumo club. During his time in university, he struggled to obtain any strong results due to injuries and could not find a job after graduation, so as a result, he joined Kasugayama stable in July 2004. He is the first wrestler from Ritsumeikan's sumo club to go professional.^[1]^[2]

Career[]

At the time of his debut, Mizuguchi was already 22 years and 11 months old and was just right under the age cap of 23 years old. He won the jonokuchi yusho in his first tournament with a perfect 7-0 record. He was promoted to sandanme in January 2005 and makushita in May 2005. In January 2006, he was given the shikona "Teno" (天扇), but reverted back to Mizuguchi in July 2007. In January 2010, he was given the new shikona "Shoho" (祥鳳). In September 2010, he was aiming for the makushita yusho and won his first six matches, however, he lost his final match to Takayasu. To make matters worse, he ruptured his right knee ligament and had to miss the following two tournaments.^[2] He served as the official bow twirler from May 2011 to November 2012.^[3] In January 2012, he finished with a 6-1 record and qualified for an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho, however, he lost to Chiyootori in the first round. He reached a career-best rank of makushita 4 in May 2013, but finished with a 3-4 record and was unable to capitalize on a promotion to juryo. In the May 2013 tournament, Mizuguchi was placed against juryo-ranked Kitaharima, but he lost. This proved to be his only match in juryo. In July 2014, his shikona was reverted back to his surname Mizuguchi.^[4]

Retirement from Sumo[]

In October 2016, his stablemaster Kasugayama Oyakata (former maegashira Hamanishiki) was ordered to resign by the Japan Sumo Association. Mizuguchi and stablemate Mankajo held a press conference demanding that their stablemaster be reinstated, however, Kasugayama Oyakata accepted the resignation demand. As a result, Mizuguchi and his stablemates transferred to Oitekaze stable. Mizuguchi and 10 other stablemates subsequently retired from sumo prior to the upcoming November 2016 tournament.^[5]

After retiring, he became a salaryman. In April 2020, he started a YouTube channel called Sumo Gucchan Channel (お相撲ぐっちゃんねる).^[6] In addition, he runs a sumo dojo in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, ^[7]^[8] and serves as an advisor for the sumo manga Sumahito Rashimu (すまひとらしむ).^[9]

Fighting Style[]

Mizuguchi was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward hatakikomi, or slap down.^[10] He also regularly employed henka, or sidestepping at the initial charge.^[11]