Toyonishiki Kiichiro - 豊錦 喜一郎 (born February 3, 1920 - September 26, 1998) was a American-born Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Pierce, Colorado. He made his debut in January 1938 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1944. His highest rank was maegashira 17 and he retired in November 1945.
Early Life[]
Harley Ozaki was born in Pierce, Colorado, to agricultural immigrants from Fukuoka Prefecture. During a visit to Japan in 1937, he was introduced to Dewanoumi stable by a relative. Initially he knew nothing about sumo, assuming that the sand covered clay dohyo was made of concrete.
Career[]
Early Career[]
He made his professional debut in January 1938 and was the fifth Japanese-American in sumo, however, like most Japanese-Americans in sumo, he adopted a Japanese birthplace and was listed as being from Chikujo, Fukuoka. Initially wrestling under his surname Ozaki, he was promoted to sandanme in May 1939 and makushita in January 1941. He reached juryo in January 1943 becoming the first Japanese-American sekitori. Upon promotion he was given the shikona "Toyonishiki" (豊錦) and he was promoted to makuuchi in May 1944.
Makuuchi Career[]
In his top division debut, Toyonishiki finished with a 6-4 record. He never had a losing score in his eight years in sumo. However, this was his last tournament as he was drafted into the Japanese Army prior to the following November 1944 tournament.
Retirement from Sumo[]
Prior to the November 1944 tournament, he was drafted into the Japanese Army. He still had American citizenship and had really wanted to fight for the United States, but as he could not return to the US he agreed to change his citizenship at the urging of the Japan Sumo Association. He adopted the Japanese name of Kiichiro Ozaki.
He survived the war but decided not to return to sumo, believing he could make a better living as an interpreter for the US forces. He regained his US citizenship and in his later years ran a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Tokyo with his wife.
He died on September 26, 1998, at the age of 78.
Fighting Style[]
Toyonishiki was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to 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, or force out. He was also fond of employing uwatenage (overarm throw) and tsuridashi (lift out).
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 74-51/125 (15 basho)
- Makuuchi: 6-4/10 (2 basho)
- Juryo: 26-19/45 (3 basho)
- Makushita: 19-13/32 (4 basho)
- Sandanme: 15-9/24 (3 basho)
- Jonidan: 4-3/7 (1 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 4-3/7 (1 basho)
Achievements[]
- 1st American-born wrestler to reach elite sekitori ranks
Shikona History[]
- Ozaki Kiichiro (1938.01 - 1942.05)
- Toyonishiki Kiichiro (1943.01 - 1945.11)
Gallery[]
