Tochinishiki Kiyotaka - 栃錦 清隆 (born February 20, 1925 - January 10, 1990) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Edogawa, Tokyo. He made his debut in January 1939 and wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the makuuchi division in June 1947 and has ten special prizes, one kinboshi and ten top division championships. He was the 44th yokozuna and he retired in May 1960.
Early Life[]
Born Otsuka Kiyoshi (大塚 清), he later changed his name to Nakata Kiyoshi (中田 清). One of few yokozuna to hail from the city rather than the country, he was born in what is now Koiwa, Edogawa. He was a fine all round athlete in elementary school, and although he had no family connections to sumo, he was introduced by a shop owner to Kasugano Oyakata, the former yokozuna Tochigiyama. He made his professional debut in January 1939. He was of such small size that he had to drink copious amounts of water to meet the weight requirement at his physical exam. However, his stablemaster, to whom Tochinishiki served as an attendant or tsukebito and was a great influence on him in his early days, expected him to become strong.
Career[]
Early Career[]
Initially wrestling under his surname, he was promoted to sandanme in May 1941 and makushita in May 1942. After four tournaments in makushita, he was promoted to juryo in May 1944. Upon promotion to juryo, he was given the shikona "Tochinishiki" (栃錦).
Juryo Career[]
In his first tournament as a sekitori, Tochinishiki finished with a 6-4 record. However, he was drafted by the Imperial Japanese Army for military service prior to the following November 1944 tournament, and he did not return until over a year later in November 1945. Upon returning, he posted two winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in June 1947.
Makuuchi Career[]
Tochinishiki celebrates after winning his 4th yusho (c. 1954)
He made up for his lack of size by showing superb technique. He won no fewer than nine special prizes for Technique, and it was even suggested that the prize had been created especially for him. Tochinishiki was known as the Mamushi (Viper) due to his tenacity once he grabbed hold of his opponent's mawashi. In only his second tournament, Tochinishiki finished runner-up to Haguroyama with a 9-2 record. In October 1949, he was runner-up to Chiyonoyama with a 12-3 record and was promoted to komusubi for the following January 1950 tournament. In January 1951, he lost 7 consecutive bouts, but bounced back to win eight in a row and clinched his majority of wins or kachi-koshi on the final day, despite the bout being interrupted by a drunken spectator. After this performance, Tochinishiki began to raise his rank on the banzuke rapidly, taking his first top division championship in September 1952 and earning promotion to ozeki.
Ozeki Career[]
Tochinishiki posted a solid 11-4 record in his ozeki debut. He followed by winning his second yusho with an outstanding 14-1 record. He followed with a 13-2 record, but was unable to capitalize on a yokozuna promotion as he was not a runner-up. He finally reached yokozuna in October 1954 after winning two successive championships.
Yokozuna Career[]
There had been four yokozuna in the September 1954 tournament, Kagamisato, Chiyonoyama, Yoshibayama and Azumafuji, but Azumafuji announced his retirement so as not to hinder Tochinishiki's promotion.
Tochinishiki (left) battles his rival Wakanohana I (c. 1960)
When Tochinishiki was promoted to yokozuna, he expected that his stablemaster Tochigiyama would commend him. However, his stablemaster told him, "From this day on, you should spend every day of your yokozuna life by thinking about the day you retire." At first, he struggled somewhat against heavier wrestlers, but he raised his weight to around 130 kg and became a wrestler able to use more orthodox methods. Between March 1959 and March 1960, he won 95 bouts and lost only 10.
Tochinishiki had a great rivalry with yokozuna Wakanohana Kanji I, who reached the top rank in January 1958. They were of a similar build, and each won ten top division tournament championships in their careers, with Tochinishiki coming out slightly ahead in their personal meetings with 19 wins out of 35 bouts. In July 1959 he defeated Wakanohana on the final day and won the championship with a perfect 15–0 score despite the fact that his father had been fatally hit by a truck the previous day. In October 1959 his stablemaster died suddenly and Tochinishiki became head coach of Kasugano stable whilst still an active wrestler (a practice no longer permitted). After losing to Wakanohana in a championship-deciding match on the final day of the March 1960 tournament, he decided to retire from active competition two days into the following tournament.
Retirement from Sumo[]
In addition to his position as stable boss, Tochinishiki was also the chairman (rijichō) of the Japan Sumo Association from 1974 to 1988, making him the longest serving chairman to date. Under his direction the new Ryogoku Kokugikan was built in 1985. Suffering from diabetes, he stood down voluntarily, allowing his old rival Wakanohana to ascend to the position. During his tenure as head of the Association, in 1985, Tochinishiki performed his kanreki dohyo-iri or '60th year ring entrance ceremony' to commemorate his years as yokozuna.
Death[]
He died in January 1990, following a stroke. He had been due to retire from the Sumo Association the following month when he would have turned 65 years old.
Fighting Style[]
Tochinishiki defeats Taiho by oshidashi (push out)
Tochinishiki was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (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 (force out) and oshidashi (push out). He was also fond of employing uwatedashinage, or pulling overarm throw.
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 578-245-44-1d-1a/821 (66 basho)
- Makuuchi: 513-203-44-1d/713 (52 basho)
- Juryo: 18-14-1a/33 (3 basho)
- Makushita: 20-12/32 (4 basho)
- Sandanme: 11-5/16 (2 basho)
- Jonidan: 8-8/16 (2 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 6-2/8 (1 basho)
- Shinjo: 2-1/3 (1 basho)
Championships[]
- 10 Makuuchi Championships
- 1st (September 1952)
- 2nd (March 1953)
- 3rd (May 1954)
- 4th (September 1954)
- 5th (May 1955)
- 6th (September 1957)
- 7th (May 1958)
- 8th (March 1959)
- 9th (July 1959)
- 10th (January 1960)
Achievements[]
- Special Prizes: Technique Prize (9), Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
- Kinboshi: (1) Azumafuji
Shikona History[]
- Otsuka Kiyotaka (1939.01 - 1944.01)
- Tochinishiki Kiyotaka (1944.05 - 1960.05)
Gallery[]
