Toryu Kenji

Toryu Kenji - 闘竜賢二 (born December 19, 1958) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kakogawa, Hyogo. He made his debut in March 1974 and last wrestled for Mihogaseki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1979 and has one special prize as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in January 1990.

Early Life[]

Tanaka was born in Iwabuchimachi, Kita Ward, Tokyo. He later moved to Kakogawa, Hyogo, where he attended Takasago Shiritsu Hoden Junior High School. After graduating, he moved back to Tokyo where he joined Mihogaseki stable.

Career[]

Early Career[]

Tanaka made his professional debut in March 1974 under the shikona "Toryu" (闘竜) which literally translates to "Fighting Dragon." He was promoted to sandanme in March 1975 and makushita in September 1976. In November 1978, he posted a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following January 1979 tournament at the age of 20 years and 1 month.

Juryo Career[]

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Toryu finished with a 7-8 record, but bounced back with a strong 10-5 record in March 1979. In September 1979, he finished with another strong 10-5 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing to Fujizakura in a playoff. Nevertheless, he was promoted to makuuchi in the following November 1979 tournament.

Makuuchi Career[]

Toryu was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 50 tournaments. In July 1982, he defeated yokozuna Wakanohana II by the impressive utchari (backward pivot throw) to earn his first kinboshi. He finished the tournament with an 8-7 record and was awarded the Fighting Spirit Prize. He was promoted to the rank of komusubi in the following September 1982 tournament. In his san'yaku debut, he defeated yokozuna Wakanohana II again and finished with a satisfactory 8-7 record. However, he was not promoted to sekiwake and finished the November tournament with a 6-9 record which sent him back down to the maegashira ranks. In January 1983, he earned his second kinboshi over yokozuna Wakanohana II. He was promoted to sekiwake in May 1984, but finished with a 6-9 record. This was his last tournament ranked at the san'yaku level.

Later Career[]

Toryu fell down to juryo in May 1988 and remained there for majority of his later career. He was one of the few wrestlers to face ozeki Takanohana and his sons Wakahanada and Takahanada. He faced off against the senior Takanohana in September 1980 where he lost. He battled Takahanada in November 1989 and Wakahanada in January 1990, losing to both of them in the process.

Retirement from Sumo[]

Toryu announced his retirement after the January 1990 due to a inevitable fall back down to the unsalaried makushita division. Toryu remained in the Japan Sumo Association, but did not obtain permanent elder stock, instead borrowing the names Hatachiyama and Nakadachi. He worked as a coach for Mihogaseki stable, before leaving the sumo world all together in December 1992.

Fighting Style[]

Toryu was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was yorikiri (force out), followed by oshidashi (push out) and hatakikomi (slap down).