Takanofuji Sanzō

Takanofuji Sanzō (born 13 May 1997 as Tsuyoshi Kamiyama) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sakai, Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 2013 and his highest rank was jūryō 5. He is the twin brother of former makuuchi division wrestler Takagenji, and they are the first twins to both reach the second highest jūryō division. He won one makushita division championship. He was suspended from the September 2019 tournament after an investigation found he had struck an attendant, and was asked to retire by the Japan Sumo Association. After initially refusing to comply, he retired on 11 October 2019.

Takanofuji Sanzō
貴ノ富士三造
Personal information
BornTsuyoshi Kamiyama
(1997-05-13) May 13, 1997
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight157 kg (346 lb)
Career
StableTakanohana → Chiganoura
Record165–112–28
DebutMarch 2013
Highest rankJūryō 5 (Sept 2019)
RetiredOctober 2019
Championships1 (Makushita)
* Up to date as of 11 October 2019.

Career

He was born as Tsuyoshi Kamiyama in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture. He has a Japanese father and Filipino mother. He is the older of identical twins, and is distinguished from his brother by the fact that he has a mole near his upper lip. They also have an older sister. They grew up in Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Their sister played soccer in national competitions at high school and the twins both played basketball, representing Ibaraki Prefecture in national competition and coming in third place. They had no amateur sumo experience but were encouraged by their father to give professional sumo a try. They joined Takanohana stable in March 2013. Tsuyoshi initially wrestled under the shikona of Takayoshitoshi and made his jūryō debut in March 2018. With his brother Takagenji already in the division it was the first time in sumo history that twins had both achieved sekitori status.[1] However he withdrew partway through that tournament and was suspended from the next for assaulting his personal attendant or tsukebito after a match.[2][3] He was reportedly angry that the attendant was late in telling him the time of his match, making him late entering the stadium.[4] His absence resulted in him falling back to the makushita division. His stablemaster, former yokozuna Takanohana, was demoted in the Sumo Association's hierarchy for failing to report the incident to them and subsequently decided to leave the Sumo Association altogether.[5] Upon the resignation of his stablemaster Takayoshitoshi moved along with his stablemates to Chiganoura stable in October 2018.

He returned to jūryō in March 2019 under his new name of Takanofuji, although he lasted only one tournament before being demoted. In May he won the makushita championship or yūshō with a perfect 7–0 score, ensuring his return to jūryō. In July 2019 he was ranked at jūryō 12, his highest rank to date, with his brother Takagenji making his top makuuchi division debut in the same tournament.[6] Takanofuji had his best result in the division, an 11–4 record, which ensured a new highest rank of jūryō 5 for the following tournament. However, this was to be his final tournament appearance.

Retirement from sumo

He was withdrawn by his new stablemaster Chiganoura from the September 2019 tournament after it emerged that he had once again assaulted an attendant after a practice session on 31 August.[7] The incident was investigated by Japan Sumo Association's compliance committee which on September 26 recommended that he retire.[8] He had been found to have hit his attendant in the forehead with his fist, and also used derogatory language toward him and two other attendants.[7] However, the following day Takanofuji held a press conference in which he said he would not go voluntarily because "this penalty is too heavy and I can't accept it." His retirement was urged by his stablemaster, and the Sumo Association said they would take disciplinary measures against him at a later meeting which could involve a forced retirement. Takanofuji was accompanied by a lawyer at his press conference and he said he had written to the Sumo Association asking for a lighter penalty, and sent a petition to the Japan Sports Agency seeking better governance of professional sumo.[9] He moved out of the stable to an apartment and refused to deal directly with his stablemaster, asking his lawyer to be the intermediary.[10]

On 11 October 2019 his retirement was announced by the Japan Sumo Association. Through his attorney Takanofuji said, "I still wanted to continue, but my interactions with the Sumo Association left me exhausted."[11] His decision to retire before harsher penalties were imposed means he is entitled to severance pay.[12]

In July 2020 Takanofuji said in an interview that he was training to become an MMA fighter and hoped to enter a Rizin event.[13]

Fighting style

Takanofuji was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, who sought a grip on the mawashi rather than pushing or thrusting. His preferred grip was migi-yotsu, a right hand inside and left hand outside position. His most common winning kimarite was a straightforward yori-kiri or force out.[14]

Career record

　

Takanofuji Sanzō[15]
Year in sumo January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
2013 x (Maezumo) West Jonokuchi #13
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #61
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #25
3–4
 		 East Jonidan #46
5–2
 
2014 West Jonidan #9
3–4
 		 West Jonidan #26
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #92
3–4
 		 East Jonidan #9
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #74
6–1
 		 East Sandanme #19
4–3
 
2015 West Sandanme #6
5–2
 		 West Makushita #42
4–3
 		 East Makushita #37
2–5
 		 East Makushita #57
4–3
 		 East Makushita #47
5–2
 		 East Makushita #28
1–6
 
2016 West Makushita #53
6–1
 		 West Makushita #38
3–4
 		 West Makushita #45
3–4
 		 West Makushita #53
6–1
 		 West Makushita #24
2–5
 		 East Makushita #39
4–3
 
2017 West Makushita #30
6–1
 		 East Makushita #11
2–5
 		 East Makushita #25
4–3
 		 East Makushita #21
4–3
 		 West Makushita #15
4–3
 		 West Makushita #11
4–3
 
2018 East Makushita #7
5–2
 		 East Jūryō #14
3–6–6
 		 West Makushita #9
Suspended
0–0–7		 West Makushita #49
6–1
 		 West Makushita #21
5–2
 		 East Makushita #10
5–2
 
2019 East Makushita #3
5–2
 		 West Jūryō #13
6–9
 		 West Makushita #2
7–0
Champion
 		 East Jūryō #12
11–4
 		 West Jūryō #5
Suspended
0–0–15		 West Makushita #5
Retired
0–0–0
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi(s); P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira
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See also

References
  1. "Photo Journal: Talented twins". The Mainichi. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  2. "Sumo wrestler beat attendant following loss in Osaka tourney". Asahi Shimbun. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. "Sumo wrestler Takayoshitoshi reported to prosecutors on suspicion of striking attendant". The Mainichi. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  4. "Sumo wrestler pulls out of ongoing tournament for beating his junior". Kyodo News. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  5. "Takanohana resigns from JSA after lengthy controversies". Asahi Shimbun. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  6. Gunning, John (4 July 2019). "Title appears up for grabs at upcoming Nagoya Basho". Japan Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  7. "SUMO/ Takanofuji faces punishment after second assault on attendant". Asahi Shimbun. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  8. "SUMO/ JSA seeks Takanofuji's retirement after second assault". Asahi Shimbun. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  9. "Sumo: Takanofuji says punishment for off-ring violence 'too heavy'". The Mainichi. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  10. "千賀ノ浦親方　音信不通の貴ノ富士と「顔見て話をしたい」、マンション訪れるも応答なし". Sponichi (in Japanese). 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  11. "暴力行為の貴ノ富士が現役引退「協会の将来に失望。やりとり疲れ果てた」". Sanspo (in Japanese). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  12. "SUMO/ Takanofuji gives in to JSA urging, retires at 22 after 2 assaults". Asahi Shimbun. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  13. "元貴ノ富士、格闘家に転向". Kyodo (in Japanese). 7 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  14. "Takanofuji bouts by kimarite". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  15. "Takanofuji Sanzo Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
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