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Sotairyu Ryozo

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Sotairyu Ryozo - 双大竜 亮三 (born July 26, 1982) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fukushima City, Fukushima. He made his debut in May 2005 and wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 2013. His highest rank was maegashira 15 and he retired in January 2018.

Early Life[]

Ryozo Takahashi was born on July 26, 1982, in Fukushima. He began sumo wrestling during his fourth year at Horai Elementary School after a teacher recommended it to him. He later attended Fukushima Shiritsu Horai Junior High School, however, the school did not have a sumo club, so he participated in shot put instead.[1]

He then attended Aizu Agricultural & Forestry High School and went on to continue his education at Tokyo University of Agriculture. He joined the sumo club and was members with high school teammate Suzaku. He was a regular in national competitions and served as the team captain during his fourth year. However, he sat out most of his senior year due to peritonitis which resulted in him losing 20 kg (44 lb). He was later given permission from his doctor to continue sumo and he went on to join Tokitsukaze stable after graduating university.[1]

Career[]

Early Career[]

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Sotairyu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2010)

Takahashi made his professional debut in May 2005 and took the jonokuchi yusho with a perfect 7-0 in July 2005. In the following September 2005 tournament, he finished with a strong 6-1 record, with his only loss coming against Wakanoho. Nevertheless, he followed with a perfect 7-0 record in November 2005, however, he missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing the playoff to Kageyama. Nevertheless, he was promoted to makushita for the January 2006 tournament after only spending one tournament in each of the previous divisions.[2]

After two tournaments in makushita, he was given the shikona "Sotairyu" (双大竜) in May 2006. Like most wrestlers, Sotairyu found makushita much harder, but he still gradually rose through the rankings and reached makushita 10 in July 2007, however, he finished with a 2-5 record in this tournament. In March 2009, Sotairyu was ranked at makushita 9 and produced a 4-3 record which boosted him up to the rank of makushita 3 for the May 2009 tournament. During the May 2009 tournament, he faced off against three juryo-ranked wrestlers and defeated two of them (Kiyoseumi and Hoshihikari), finishing with 4-3 record. As a result, he was promoted to makushita 1 for the following July 2009 tournament. During his tournament, he produced a 6-1 record and qualified for an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho. In the playoff, he defeated Ryuden in the first round, but lost to Fukao in the second round. Nonetheless, he was promoted to juryo for the following September 2009 tournament.[2]

Juryo Career[]

Upon his promotion to juryo, his stablemaster (former maegashira Tokitsuumi) considered changing Sotairyu's ring name. This was due to its close resemblance to that of his former stablemaster, former komusubi Futatsuryu, who was involved in the fatal hazing scandal of 2007. Both shikona included the characters “双” (twin) and “竜” (dragon). However, Sotairyu declined the change, stating that his name also evoked the great yokozuna Futabayama, and he wished to retain it.[3] As a result, he became the last wrestler in the stable to continue using the character “双,” as all others who also had the “双” character had changed their ring names following the scandal. In his first tournament as a sekitori in September 2009, Sotairyu finished with a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to makushita in November 2009.[2]

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Sotairyu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2013)

Sotairyu remained in makushita for another two years and in May 2011, he produced a 6-1 at the rank of makushita 7 which was good enough to earn a promotion back to juryo for the July 2011 tournament. In his first tournament back, Sotairyu produced an 8-7 and was promoted to juryo 4 for the September 2011 tournament. On the seventh day of this tournament, Sotairyu was injured after landing awkwardly in a match against Myogiryu. He subsequently had to pull out for the first time as a result. In January 2012, Sotairyu was in the yusho race for majority of the tournament and was ranked 10-2 by the end of the twelfth day, however, he lost his last three matches and finished with a 10-5 record. He would remain in juryo for another year before earning promotion to the top makuuchi division in March 2013.[2]

Makuuchi Career[]

In Sotairyu's makuuchi debut, he was ranked at Maegashira 15 and he defeated makuuchi-regulars Tochinowaka, Tamawashi, Kotoyuki, and Chiyootori. However, he still struggled and finished with a 4-11 record. As a result, he was demoted back down to juryo for the May 2013 tournament. This proved to be his last appearance in the top division.[2]

Later Career[]

Sotairyu remained in juryo for another two years where he produced mixed results. In March 2015, Sotairyu injured his right elbow and neck in a match against Shotenro.[4] He pulled out on the seventh day, but would return on the twelfth day and he finished with a 4-7-4 record. However, since he was ranked at juryo 11, he was ultimately demoted back down to the unsalaried ranks for the May 2015 tournament. He remained in makushita for around two years, gradually slipping down the rankings each year.[2]

Retirement from Sumo[]

Sotairyu withdrew midway from the September 2017 tournament and completely sat out of the following November 2017 tournament. As a result, he was demoted back down to sandanme for the following January 2018 tournament. He announced his retirement on January 13, 2018, one day prior to the January 2018 tournament.[5] His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on February 3, 2018, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, with 300 participants taking turns cutting his hair.[6]

After retirement, he plans to attend a vocational school to obtain qualifications in osteopathic manipulative treatment, acupuncture, and moxibustion. He is currently using his existing medical background to treat judo practitioners, aiming to reduce their risk of injury.[6]

Fighting Style[]

Sotairyu's Fighting Style

Sotairyu defeats Kagamio by oshidashi (push out)

Sotairyu is a tsuki/oshi specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting at his opponents rather than fighting on the mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite or technique is oshidashi or a straightforward push out, followed by yorikiri or force out.[7]

Record[]

Division Results[]

  • Total: 351-340-20/689 (76 basho)
  • Makuuchi: 4-11/15 (1 basho)
  • Juryo: 156-178-11/332 (23 basho)
  • Makushita: 171-150-9/321 (47 basho)
  • Sandanme: 7-0/7 (2 basho)
  • Jonidan: 6-1/7 (1 basho)
  • Jonokuchi: 7-0/7 (1 basho)

Championships[]

  • 1 Jonokuchi Championship (July 2005)

Shikona History[]

  • Takahashi Ryozo (2005.05 -2006.03)
  • Sotairyu Ryozo (2006.05 - 2018.01)

Gallery[]

JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]

Career Overview[]

External Links[]

References[]

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