Yutakayama Hiromitsu

Yutakayama Hiromitsu - 豊山広光 (born October 22, 1947 - September 19, 2020) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shibata, Niigata. He made his debut in March 1970 and wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1971 and has 3 special prizes as well as 8 kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1981.

Early Life[]

He began sumo from a young age and became a high school yokozuna. He graduated in 1966 and then became an amateur champion at Tokyo University of Agriculture. He came from a poor family of farmers, and having to work to support himself as well as study, he had less time for training and did not win as many amateur titles as his rival at the time, Nihon University's Wajima Hiroshi. He had plans to become a teacher, but was persuaded to join the professional sport in March 1970.

Career[]

Early Career[]

His head coach at Tokitsukaze stable was ex-ozeki Yutakayama Katsuo, also from Tokyo University of Agriculture. Due to his amateur accomplishments, he was granted makushita tsukedashi status which allowed him to make his debut at the bottom of the makushita division. After two consecutive makushita yusho consisting of perfect 7-0 records, Nagahama was promoted to juryo in September 1970.

Juryo Career[]

Wajima had joined professional sumo one tournament earlier, and such was the interest in their rivalry that when the two met in the juryo division during the November 1970 tournament, sponsors placed kensho money on the bout, which normally is only allowed in the top division. In November 1970, he won his first juryo yusho and in March 1971, he won his second juryo yusho. He was promoted to makuuchi in November 1971.

Makuuchi Career[]

He initially fought under his own surname of Nagahama, and continued to use it upon reaching the top division in November 1971, but in July 1972 he persuaded his stablemaster to let him use his old shikona of Yutakayama. He fought in the top division for 51 tournaments, earning three special prizes and earning eight gold stars for defeating yokozuna, including four from Wajima, his rival from his amateur days. He first reached the sanyaku ranks in September 1972 when he was promoted to komusubi. Although he was to hold the rank on two further occasions, he never managed a winning record there. Despite his success against several yokozuna he was never able to defeat Kitanoumi in the top division, losing to him 21 times in 21 matches. He also had a poor record against ozeki Takanohana, beating him only once in 22 matches.

He did not miss a single bout in his career, fighting 996 consecutive matches. This is the second longest streak for former collegiate competitors, after Asanowaka's 1145.

Retirement from Sumo[]

He retired in May 1981 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Minato Oyakata. He founded Minato stable in 1982 and remained head coach there until 2010, when he passed control of the stable over to former maegashira Minatofuji, and took the name Tatsutagawa. He was also a Deputy Director of the Sumo Association. He reached the mandatory retirement age for elders of 65 in October 2012.

Death[]

He died of pancreatic cancer on 19 September 2020 at the age of 72.

Personal Life[]

He was married with two daughters. His stablemaster did not allow him to get married until he reached the juryo division in September 1970. The wedding reception took place in October 1971.
Yutakayama obtained a teaching license from Tokyo University of Agriculture.

Fighting Style[]

Yutakayama was a yotsu-zumo specialist who liked to fight on the mawashi or belt and his most common winning kimarite were yorikiri (force out), tsuridashi (lift out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).