Yoshinotani Akitoshi (born Sakuri Yoshitani; April 23, 1949 – January 14, 2000) was a sumo wrestler from Miiraku, Nagasaki, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1965 and reached the top division in January 1974. His shikona was adapted from own surname of Yoshitani after he had previously used Utonoyama. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he fought in seven top division tournaments, although he struggled with a persistent elbow injury. He was one of the smallest sekitori, weighing less than 100kg for much of his career. He was a contemporary of Washuyama, another small wrestler from Dewanoumi stable. He won the jūryō division championship in September 1973 with an 11–4 record, despite losing his last three matches. In May 1978 he inflicted the first defeat of future ōzeki Asashio's career to secure his majority of wins on the final day of the tournament. His final tournament as a sekitori was in November 1978. He fought in 102 tournaments in total, 27 as a sekitori, with no bouts missed and 930 career matches. Upon retirement from active competition in May 1982 he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under a series of different names, since he didn't own a toshiyori-kabu of his own. He died while active as Onaruto-oyakata of multiple organ failure in January 2000, having been ill for several months.[1]

Yoshinotani Akitoshi
吉の谷 彰俊
Personal information
BornSakuri Yoshitani
(1949-04-23)April 23, 1949
Miiraku, Nagasaki, Japan
DiedJanuary 14, 2000(2000-01-14) (aged 50)
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 15.0 st)
Career
StableDewanoumi
Record461-469-0
DebutMay, 1965
Highest rankMaegashira 4 (September, 1974)
RetiredMay, 1982
Elder namesee bio
Championships1 (Jūryō)
2 (Makushita)
1 (Sandanme)
* Up to date as of June 2020.

Career record edit

Yoshinotani Akitoshi[2]
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
1965 x x (Maezumo) West Jonokuchi #22
4–3
 
West Jonidan #121
2–5
 
East Jonidan #121
5–2
 
1966 West Jonidan #67
4–3
 
East Jonidan #51
3–4
 
West Jonidan #71
3–4
 
East Jonidan #81
4–3
 
East Jonidan #41
4–3
 
West Sandanme #101
6–1
 
1967 West Sandanme #56
3–4
 
West Sandanme #70
3–4
 
West Jonidan #33
3–4
 
West Jonidan #43
4–3
 
East Jonidan #10
6–1
 
East Sandanme #64
2–5
 
1968 West Sandanme #84
3–4
 
West Sandanme #88
4–3
 
West Sandanme #68
4–3
 
East Sandanme #54
3–4
 
East Sandanme #64
6–1
 
West Sandanme #21
5–2
 
1969 West Makushita #55
2–5
 
East Sandanme #13
4–3
 
West Sandanme #6
2–5
 
West Sandanme #19
2–5
 
East Sandanme #38
5–2
 
East Sandanme #13
3–4
 
1970 East Sandanme #23
4–3
 
West Sandanme #11
2–5
 
West Sandanme #30
7–0
Champion

 
East Makushita #31
6–1
 
West Makushita #11
3–4
 
West Makushita #17
2–5
 
1971 West Makushita #28
5–2
 
East Makushita #16
5–2
 
East Makushita #6
3–4
 
East Makushita #9
5–2
 
East Makushita #3
3–4
 
West Makushita #5
3–4
 
1972 West Makushita #8
5–2
 
East Makushita #3
4–3
 
West Jūryō #12
7–8
 
West Makushita #1
4–3
 
East Jūryō #11
9–6
 
West Jūryō #6
4–11
 
1973 West Jūryō #12
10–5
 
East Jūryō #5
6–9
 
West Jūryō #8
8–7
 
West Jūryō #5
7–8
 
West Jūryō #7
11–4
Champion

 
West Jūryō #1
9–6
 
1974 West Maegashira #12
9–6
 
East Maegashira #8
5–10
 
West Maegashira #12
9–6
 
West Maegashira #7
8–7
 
West Maegashira #4
7–8
 
East Maegashira #6
4–11
 
1975 West Maegashira #13
6–9
 
West Jūryō #2
3–12
 
West Jūryō #11
4–11
 
East Makushita #7
2–5
 
East Makushita #22
4–3
 
East Makushita #16
7–0–P
Champion

 
1976 East Jūryō #13
6–9
 
West Makushita #3
3–4
 
West Makushita #6
7–0
Champion

 
West Jūryō #9
9–6
 
West Jūryō #4
7–8
 
East Jūryō #5
4–11
 
1977 West Jūryō #12
2–13
 
East Makushita #15
5–2
 
East Makushita #8
2–5
 
East Makushita #22
5–2
 
West Makushita #12
4–3
 
West Makushita #8
4–3
 
1978 West Makushita #7
6–1–P
 
West Jūryō #12
7–8
 
West Jūryō #13
8–7
 
West Jūryō #10
6–9
 
East Makushita #2
4–3
 
West Jūryō #12
5–10
 
1979 West Makushita #4
3–4
 
West Makushita #11
3–4
 
East Makushita #19
4–3
 
East Makushita #14
4–3
 
East Makushita #10
1–6
 
East Makushita #33
5–2
 
1980 West Makushita #19
3–4
 
West Makushita #27
3–4
 
West Makushita #34
4–3
 
West Makushita #25
2–5
 
East Makushita #45
4–3
 
East Makushita #34
5–2
 
1981 East Makushita #20
2–5
 
West Makushita #38
4–3
 
West Makushita #25
4–3
 
West Makushita #17
4–3
 
East Makushita #14
2–5
 
East Makushita #32
4–3
 
1982 West Makushita #19
1–6
 
East Makushita #42
3–4
 
West Makushita #57
Retired
3–4–0
x x x
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. ^ "Yoshinotani Akitoshi Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  2. ^ "Yoshinotani Akitoshi Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2012-09-20.