Kirinishiki Toshirō

(Redirected from Kirinishiki Toshiro)

Kirinishiki Toshirō (born 31 August 1962 as Toshirō Yamada) is a former sumo wrestler from Kiryū, Gunma, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1978, and reached the top division in July 1986. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He retired in November 1995, and as of 2017 he is an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Katsunoura.[1]

Kirinishiki Toshirō
起利錦 利郎
Personal information
BornToshirō Yamada
(1962-08-31) 31 August 1962 (age 61)
Kiryū, Gunma, Japan
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight160 kg (350 lb)
Career
StableKagamiyama
Record551-547-84
DebutMarch, 1978
Highest rankMaegashira 2 (March, 1987)
RetiredNovember, 1995
Elder nameKatsunoura
Championships1 (Makushita)
Gold Stars3
Chiyonofuji
Futahaguro
Hokutoumi
* Up to date as of Sep. 2012.

Career edit

He was recruited from middle school by former yokozuna Kashiwado, and joined his Kagamiyama stable in March 1978. Initially fighting under the name Yamadanishiki, adapted from his own surname, he was given the shikona of Kirinishiki ("winning trophy") in 1984. In November 1985 he won the makushita division championship or yusho with a perfect 7–0 record and was promoted to the juryo division, becoming a fully fledged sekitori. After only three tournaments he reached the top makuuchi division in July 1986. He defeated yokozuna Chiyonofuji in their first meeting in March 1987 to earn the first of his three kinboshi, the others coming against Futahaguro in July 1987 and Hokutoumi four years later in July 1991. However he was never able to win a special prize or reach the sanyaku ranks, his highest position on the banzuke being maegashira 2. He fought in the top division for 34 tournaments with 213 wins against 248 losses, but also had 49 injury absences. On the 14th day of the March 1992 tournament he received a win by default when his opponent Wakahanada withdrew, but he then broke his toe in training the following morning and had to withdraw from his final match, falling to a make-koshi 7–8. He thus became one of the few wrestlers to immediately follow a win by default with a loss by default. In January 1993 he was forced to withdraw from what proved to be his final top division tournament with a left knee medial collateral ligament injury, and was demoted to juryo. He fell to the unsalaried makushita division in March 1995 before finally retiring in November 1995 at the age of 33. He had fought in 107 career tournaments with a winning percentage of just over 50 percent.

Retirement from sumo edit

Upon retirement he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tatekawa Oyakata. His old stablemaster was in poor health and was soon succeeded by Kirinishiki's former stablemate Tagaryu. Although he was only borrowing the Tatekawa stock Kirinishiki was able to keep the name for the next 15 years, until its owner Tosanoumi retired in January 2011. He then switched to Kaio's Asakayama name, and then Ikazuchi, before in February 2012 switching to the Katsunoura name then owned by the former head of Isenoumi stable, ex-sekiwake Fujinokawa. He acquired the Katsunoura stock permanently in March 2013, securing his future in the Sumo Association. He has remained a coach at Kagamiyama stable, despite its small size (only two active wrestlers as of 2017). In March 2024, he was elected director of the Japan Sumo Association for the first time, his term of office to run until 2026.[2]

Personal life edit

In his spare time Kirinishiki had a keen interest in history, enjoying the historical novels of Ryōtarō Shiba and visiting historical sites while on regional tours (jungyo). He was also a fan of hard rock music and wrote a column for the Burrn! music magazine.

Fighting style edit

Kirinshiki favoured yori (grappling) and tsuri (lifting) techniques.

Career record edit

Kirinishiki Toshirō[3]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March
Haru basho, Osaka
May
Natsu basho, Tokyo
July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September
Aki basho, Tokyo
November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1978 x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #9
3–4
 
West Jonidan #109
5–2
 
East Jonidan #66
2–5
 
West Jonidan #85
2–5
 
1979 West Jonidan #94
3–4
 
East Jonidan #92
5–2
 
West Jonidan #56
4–3
 
East Jonidan #40
2–5
 
West Jonidan #63
4–3
 
West Jonidan #44
4–3
 
1980 East Jonidan #22
6–1
 
West Sandanme #58
0–1–6
 
West Jonidan #14
4–3
 
East Sandanme #88
3–4
 
West Jonidan #12
3–4
 
West Jonidan #25
3–4
 
1981 West Jonidan #39
6–1
 
East Sandanme #71
6–1
 
West Sandanme #20
3–4
 
West Sandanme #28
3–4
 
East Sandanme #39
4–3
 
East Sandanme #26
3–4
 
1982 West Sandanme #36
4–3
 
West Sandanme #23
5–2
 
West Makushita #58
3–4
 
West Sandanme #17
3–4
 
West Sandanme #35
5–2
 
West Sandanme #4
5–2
 
1983 East Makushita #42
4–3
 
East Makushita #36
5–2
 
West Makushita #18
2–5
 
East Makushita #34
3–4
 
West Makushita #44
3–4
 
West Makushita #56
5–2
 
1984 West Makushita #33
5–2
 
West Makushita #18
2–5
 
West Makushita #39
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
West Sandanme #19
6–1
 
West Makushita #44
5–2
 
East Makushita #27
6–1
 
1985 West Makushita #9
2–5
 
West Makushita #25
4–3
 
West Makushita #17
4–3
 
East Makushita #12
4–3
 
East Makushita #7
3–4
 
East Makushita #15
7–0
Champion

 
1986 East Jūryō #10
9–6
 
West Jūryō #3
9–6
 
West Jūryō #1
8–7
 
West Maegashira #13
6–9
 
East Jūryō #2
9–6
 
East Maegashira #12
9–6
 
1987 West Maegashira #6
8–7
 
East Maegashira #2
4–11
West Maegashira #8
8–7
 
East Maegashira #2
4–11
West Maegashira #9
8–7
 
West Maegashira #3
7–8
 
1988 East Maegashira #4
4–11
 
East Maegashira #9
8–7
 
West Maegashira #4
5–9–1
 
East Maegashira #9
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
East Maegashira #9
7–8
 
East Maegashira #11
7–8
 
1989 West Maegashira #11
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
East Jūryō #10
9–6
 
West Jūryō #3
8–7
 
East Jūryō #1
5–10
 
East Jūryō #5
9–6
 
East Jūryō #1
8–7
 
1990 East Maegashira #13
9–6
 
West Maegashira #8
6–9
 
East Maegashira #11
9–6
 
East Maegashira #5
7–8
 
East Maegashira #6
6–9
 
East Maegashira #10
9–6
 
1991 West Maegashira #4
5–10
 
East Maegashira #11
8–7
 
East Maegashira #9
8–7
 
East Maegashira #5
7–8
East Maegashira #6
8–7
 
West Maegashira #3
7–8
 
1992 West Maegashira #4
7–8
 
East Maegashira #5
7–8
 
West Maegashira #6
5–2–8
 
West Maegashira #10
8–7
 
East Maegashira #5
4–11
 
West Maegashira #12
8–7
 
1993 West Maegashira #11
0–5–10
 
East Jūryō #6
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
East Jūryō #6
7–8
 
West Jūryō #8
10–5
 
West Jūryō #4
5–10
 
East Jūryō #10
6–9
 
1994 East Jūryō #13
8–7
 
West Jūryō #7
8–7
 
West Jūryō #6
7–8
 
East Jūryō #9
8–7
 
West Jūryō #6
6–9
 
West Jūryō #10
9–6
 
1995 West Jūryō #7
4–11
 
West Makushita #2
4–3
 
West Makushita #1
3–4
 
East Makushita #5
3–4
 
East Makushita #10
3–4
 
West Makushita #14
Retired
0–0–7
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Oyakata (Coaches)". Nihon Sumo Kyokai. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  2. ^ "日本相撲協会の八角理事長が続投決定、実質5期目 暴力問題の撲滅などを誓う" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Kirinishiki Toshiro Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 3 September 2012.