Toyozakura Toshiaki

Toyozakura Toshiaki - 豊桜俊昭 (born March 12, 1974) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Asakita-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima. He made his debut in March 1989 and wrestled for Michinoku stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 2003 and has 1 special prize. His highest rank was maegashira 5 and he retired in May 2011.

Early Life[]

Toshiaki Muko's father was a sumo wrestler in the 1960s who wrestled under the shikona "Toyozakura" (豊櫻), but he never climbed higher than sandanme. After retirement his parents operated a Chankonabe restaurant. He practiced judo until his third year at Hiroshima Shiritsu Kabe Junior High School and decided to transition to sumo. His older brother Kitazakura was already a sumo wrestler at Kitanoumi stable, but his father encouraged his son to join a different stable than Kitakazura, so Toshiaki joined Tatsutagawa stable.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He adopted the shikona of his father and steadily climbed the ranks of the lower divisions. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1991 and makushita in March 1993. In May 1993 he won the sandanme yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to makushita 7 for the following tournament. However, many injuries declined his advance through the lower divisions and he struggled to break through the sekitori wall. In September 1997 he won the makushita yusho and was promoted to makushita 3. Six tournaments later he was promoted to juryo in September 1998.

Juryo Career[]

Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.36 AM — Toyozakura prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2008)

After losing his last four matches, Toyozakura finished with a 7-8 record and was emoted back down to makushita. He remained in makushita for another nine tournaments before reaching juryo again in May 2000. Tatsutagawa stable folded in September 2000 upon the stablemaster's retirement and Toyozakura moved to Michinoku stable. He fell back down to makushita in May 2001, but won the makushita yusho in May 2002 which earned him a promotion back to juryo. After a 10-5 at the rank of juryo 2 in September 2003 he was promoted to makuuchi.

Makuuchi Career[]

The 88 tournaments it took him to get there is the sixth-slowest ever—even longer than Kitazakura, who took 86 tournaments to reach makuuchi (in 2001). Though Toyozakura is lesser known than his brother Kitazakura, he spent 17 tournaments in the top makuuchi division, which was five more than his brother, and he also reached a higher rank, maegashira 5. He achieved this after a strong 12-3 record in July 2004, where he finished runner-up to Yokozuna Asashoryu, winning the Fighting Spirit prize. He peaked with this performance, however, as he only managed a majority of wins against losses on two further occasions in makuuchi, and spent more time back in juryo than in the top division.

His 10-5 performance at the rank of juryo 4 in January 2009 was enough for a surprise return to the top division for the first time in over two years at maegashira 16. However, he could win only five bouts in the March 2009 tournament. Following the suspension and subsequent demotion of six wrestlers to the juryo division in September 2010, he returned to makuuchi once again at the age of 36 despite only barely making his majority of wins at the rank of juryo 11 in the July tournament. His tenth promotion to the top division for the January 2011 tournament put him in fourth place on the all-time list behind Oshio, Onishiki and Otsukasa for most promotions to makuuchi.

Retirement from Sumo[]

126418221 4041612859186471 5999942036782809653 o — Toyozakura after retirement

Toyozakura was one of 23 wrestlers found guilty of fixing the result of bouts after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association, and he was forced to retire in April 2011. After retirement, Toyozakura attended a vocational school in Shibuya, Tokyo, where he earned medical qualifications to assist judokas. As of February 2020, he currently works at the vocational school that he attended (日本鍼灸理療専門学校). He also works as an acupuncturist.

Controversy[]

Assault Scandal[]

In May 2008 it emerged that the previous January Toyozakura had beaten a junior wrestler in his stable up to ten times with a ladle, so badly that he required eight stitches. Coming in the wake of the death of trainee Takeshi Saito, he was severely criticised for such actions and issued an apology. Both he and his stablemaster Michinoku Oyakata were docked 30 percent of their salary by the Japan Sumo Association for three months.

Match-fixing Scandal[]

Toyozakura was one of 23 wrestlers found guilty of fixing the result of bouts after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association, and he was forced to retire in April 2011. He submitted his retirement papers in April 5th, 2011.

Personal Life[]

Toyozakura is married with three children.
Toyozakura's hobbies are watching TV and visiting public baths.

Fighting Style[]

Toyozakura's favorite techniques were open-handed thrusts known as tsuppari, and simple pushes to the opponent's chest, oshidashi. When he chose to fight on the mawashi his preferred grip was migi-yotsu, a left-hand outside, right-hand inside position. He also frequently employed hikiotoshi, the pull down, and the similar hatakikomi, or slap down.