Tochigiyama Moriya

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 栃木山守也 Tochigiyama Moriya


realname = 横田 (中田) 守也
Yokoda (Nakata) Moriya
dateofbirth = birth date|1892|2|2
placeofbirth = Tochigi, Japan
dateofdeath =death date and age|1959|10|3|1892|2|2
height = height|meters=1.72
weight = convert|104|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Dewanoumi
rank =
record = 197-26-24
7draws-5holds (Total)
166-23-24
7draws-4holds (Makuuchi)
debut = February, 1911
highestrank = Yokozuna (February, 1918)
retireddate = May, 1925
yushos = 9 (Makuuchi)
1 (Makushita)
prizes =
goldstars = 2
update = September 2007

Tochigiyama Moriya (栃木山 守也, February 2 1892 - October 3 1959) was the 27th Yokozuna in sumo wrestling from 1918 till 1925. Generally he is considered one of the pioneers of modern sumo. [cite web|url=http://www.pref.tochigi.jp/intro/tochigiken/hakken/jinbutsu2_07.html|title=人物「明治時代以降」栃木山守也|language=Japanese|publisher=Tochigi Prefecture|accessdate=2008-05-25] He is the lightest yokozuna with a weight of 104 kg.cite web | author= | title=Complete List of Yokozuna| publisher=Sumo Colosseum| language=English | url=http://www.chijanofuji.com/yokozuna.html| date= | accessdate=2008-07-03] He is known as one of Herculean wrestlers.

Early career

Tochigiyama entered sumo in February 1911 but his coach Hitachiyama Taniemon didn't expect him to be strong owing to his light weight. However, he lost only 3 bouts on his way to the top "makuuchi" division, achieving promotion in January 1915. Tochigiyama defeated Tachiyama Mineemon, ending his series of 56 victories, on the 8th day of May 1916 tournament.

Tochigiyama was promoted to "ozeki" in May 1917. After he won both championships on his two tournaments as "ozeki" without suffering a single defeat, he was promoted to "yokozuna" in February 1918.

Yokozuna

Tochigiyama won his third championship at his first tournament as "yokozuna". He won following two tournaments. He finally achieved five consecutive championships between May 1917 and May 1919.

Tochigiyama defeated other wrestlers with his strong "oshi", or pushing techniques. He compensated for his lack of weight by training extremely hard. He was nicknamed the "little giant "yokozuna".cite web|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tochigi/kikaku/052/9.htm|title=３横綱生んだ本県|language=Japanese|publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun|accessdate=2008-07-04] Like Hitachiyama before him, he trained many wrestlers, such as later "yokozuna" Tamanishiki San'emon, even though they were not members of the Dewanoumi stable.

In May 1925, he suddenly retired after winning three consecutive championships between January 1924 and January 1925. Asked about his retirement, he stated that he wanted to retire while still a strong opponent.

Tochigiyama only lost 23 times while an active sumo wrestler in the top "makuuchi" division, and only eight times during his seven years in the "yokozuna" rank. His top division winning percentage was 87.8. In addition, his winning percentage as "yokozuna" reached 93.5, the fourth best in history after Jinmaku, Tachiyama and Tanikaze. [cite web | author= Kuroda, Joe| title=A Shot At the Impossible-Yokozuna Comparison Through The Ages | publisher=sumofanmag.com | url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_5/Yokozuna.htm| date=February 2006 | accessdate=2008-07-03]

Retirement from sumo

After his retirement, he was permitted to leave Dewanoumi stable and become the eighth head coach of Kasugano stable. He was the adopted son of the previous head coach, referee Kimura Soshiro. Tochigiyama produced "yokozuna" Tochinishiki Kiyotaka.

In June 1931, Tochigiyama took part in the first "Dai-Nippon Rikishi Senshuken" (大日本角力選手権), one of sumo tournaments. To their surprise, he defeated Tamanishiki and Tenryu, and won the championship. Retired wrestlers can't take part in sumo tournaments now.

His strength hardly declined. It is reported that Tochigiyama in his sixties easily carried a big hibachi which wasn't moved by his pupils' might.

He died suddenly in 1959 whilst still in charge of Kasugano stable. Tochinishiki, who Tochigiyama had in turn adopted as his son, was his successor.

Top division record

References

reflist

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*Kanreki dohyō-iri
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo tournament winners
*List of yokozuna

External links

*ja icon [http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/19150102.htm Tochigiyama Moriya]