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Ryuonami Katsuteru

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Ryuonami Katsuteru - 竜王浪 勝照 (born September 12, 1987) is a former Mongolian professional sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar. He made his debut in January 2010 and wrestled for Tatsunami stable. His highest rank was makushita 11 and he retired in March 2017.

Early Life[]

Battugs Buyanjargal was born on September 12, 1987, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He began watching sumo on TV in Mongolia and developed an interest in the sport from an early age. With Asashoryu's support, he came to Japan in 2003 as an exchange student alongside future sekitori Azumaryu and enrolled at Meitoku Gijuku High School, Asashoryu's alma mater. He was a member of the school's strong sumo club. In 2006, he and Azumaryu enrolled at the Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences, where they were both members of the university’s sumo club. After graduating from university, he opted to enter professional sumo and joined Tatsunami stable. The stable was already home to two Mongolian-born wrestlers, Mokonami and Daionami, but since both had acquired Japanese citizenship, he was allowed to join without violating the one-foreigner-per-stable rule. The Japan Sumo Association has since closed this loophole.[1]

Career[]

He made his professional debut in January 2010 was given the shikona "Ryuonami" (竜王浪). In his first official tournament in May 2010, he won all seven of his matches to claim the jonokuchi yusho. In the following July 2010 tournament, he finished with another perfect 7-0 record, but missed out on the jonidan yusho after losing the playoff to Chiyozakura. In the following September 2010 tournament, he produced a 5-2 record which promoted him to makushita for the November 2010 tournament. He posted his first losing record in his makushita debut and was demoted back to sandanme in January 2011, but was immediately promoted back to makushita after a 5-2 record. He rose quickly through the makushita ranks and reached makushita 14 by January 2012. However, his progress stalled, and he spent most of his career in the mid-makushita level. In September 2015, he achieved a career-high rank of makushita 11, but was unable to advance beyond that point.[2]

From the spring 2012 regional tour onward, he was chosen as a sumo jinku (traditional folk) singer, performing while wearing the kesho-mawashi of Asasekiryu, who attended the same high school. This marked the first time a foreign-born rikishi was selected as a sumo jinku singer.[3]

Retirement from Sumo[]

In the March 2017 tournament, Ryuonami was ranked at makushita 47 but managed only two wins. Facing inevitable demotion back to the sandanme division, he announced his retirement after the tournament. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on March 26, 2017. He revealed that his decision to retire came after reflecting on his future as he approached the age of 30, and that after his danpatsu-shiki, he planned to work in the demolition industry in Yokohama.[4]

Fighting Style[]

Ryuonami's Fighting Style

Ryuonami defeats Oiwato by uwatenage (overarm throw)

Ryuonami's favored techniques are listed at the Sumo Association as migi-yotsu (a left hand outside, right hand inside grip on the opponent's mawashi), yori (forcing) and nage (throwing).[5] His most common winning kimarite are yorikiri (force out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).[6]

Record[]

Division Results[]

  • Total: 156-129-2/285 (43 basho)
  • Makushita: 132-125-2/257 (37 basho)
  • Sandanme: 10-4/14 (2 basho)
  • Jonidan: 7-0/7 (1 basho)
  • Jonokuchi: 7-0/7 (1 basho)

Championships[]

  • 1 Jonokuchi Championship (May 2010)

Shikona History[]

  • Ryuonami Katsuteru (2010.01 - 2017.03)

Gallery[]

See Also[]

External Links[]

References[]

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