Tosayutaka Yūya
Introduction '''Tosayutaka Yūya''' (born 10 March 1985) is a former sumo wrestler from Tosa City, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 2007, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in July 2009.His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 1.After a long hiatus due to injury, he worked his way back up the ranks, logging several lower division championships on the way. In January 2015 he finally reached the top division again after an 18 tournament absence. His comeback from ''sandanme'' 84 was the lowest any wrestler since World War II has fallen and still managed to again reach the top division, until surpassed by Terunofuji. After further injury setbacks he announced his retirement in January 2016.He became stablemaster of Tokitsukaze stable in February 2021 after the Japan Sumo Association asked the previous stablemaster to retire.
Early life and sumo background Yūya Morishita went to high school in his home prefecture, Kōchi. While attending the Kōchi Prefecture Industrial High school he took the high school sumo championship. Upon entering the Tokyo University of Agriculture, he was very active in sumo, but never achieved one of the four amateur titles that would have allowed him ''makushita tsukedashi'' status, which lets experienced wrestlers start professional sumo at a higher division than other wrestlers. The ''shikona'' that he eventually settled on takes the two Chinese characters used for the city of his birth Tosa City and the third kanji was taken from one of the characters from his father's dharma name. There are other wrestlers in the past from the same Tokitsukaze stable that used this character in their ring names but this is coincidental.
Career 170pxIn his May, 2007 ''jonokuchi'' division debut tournament, he posted an impressive 6-1 record. In the next three tournaments he would go on to win three consecutive championships in each successive division. His third consecutive championship, which he achieved at his ''makushita'' debut ranked at #33, was not enough to promote him directly to the next ''jūryō'' division, but his 5-2 record ranked at ''makushita'' #4 in the following January 2008 tournament was more than enough to grant him a ''jūryō'' promotion. In the achievement of this feat, he logged 30 consecutive wins, a record for a wrestler in ''makushita'' and below. During this span, after his defeat on the 6th day of the May 2007 tournament he did not lose again until his bout with Aran on the 11th day of the January 2008 tournament. He had made ''juryo'' in just six tournaments from his professional debut, tying the long-standing record held by Itai.His fortunes would change somewhat for his ''jūryō'' debut in the following tournament. Possibly due to stress from the then ongoing investigation into the hazing scandal at his stable, as well as an injury to his toe on the 12th day, Tosayutaka only managed an uncharacteristic 6-9 record. His first demotion dropped him to the top ''makushita'' slot, but a convincing 4-3 record put him straight back in ''jūryō'' for the July 2008 tournament in Nagoya. In his next 5 consecutive ''jūryō'' appearances after this, he only had one ''make-koshi''.He was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2009, and came through with a winning record. After a 6-9 in November, he had two ''kachi-koshi'' performances of 8-7 and 10-5 in his next two ''makuuchi'' appearances, which saw him promoted to the upper ''maegashira'' ranks for the first time. He defeated ''ozeki'' Kotooshu but could win only two other bouts. After a quiet year or so in the mid-''maegashira'' ranks, he was promoted to his highest rank to date of ''maegashira'' 1 following a 10-5 score in the May 2011 Technical Examination Tournament. In the July tournament he injured his knee on Day 3 against Kotooshu and had to withdraw for the first time in his career. He could manage only a 4-11 record on his return in September, and was demoted to ''jūryō.'' Although he made an immediate return to ''makuuchi'' for the January tournament, he was unable to re–establish himself in the top division and recorded another 4–11 score.He was unable to compete after pulling out of the July 2012 tournament due to a knee injury at the rank of ''jūryō'' 8 and dropped to the fourth ''sandanme'' division after missing three tournaments in a row. However, he had made a complete recovery upon his return and achieved a perfect record and the ''sandanme'' championship after a playoff win. After six tournaments in ''makushita'' with all but one winning tournament, one of which was the championship in the division in November 2013, Tosayutaka finally earned promotion back to the salaried ranks for the May 2014 tournament. After a series of steady scores in ''jūryō,'' a 9-6 performance at the rank of ''Jūryō'' 5 was, somewhat unusually, good enough to earn promotion to the top division as there were four openings and only three men above him had ''kachi-koshi'' scores. He returned to ''makuuchi'' in January 2015, a comeback from the rank of ''sandanme'' 84 in March 2013 - which at the time was the lowest any top division wrestler earning promotion back has fallen. The same fate would befall him again, however, when just two days into his ''makuuchi'' comeback he suffered a medial collateral ligament injury. In July 2015 he underwent surgery and again dropped down to the ''sandanme'' ranks due to his repeated absences.
Retirement from sumo In January 2016 Tosayutaka finally made the decision to retire. He has stayed in sumo as a coach at his stable, initially under the elder name of Ajigawa Oyakata (stock borrowed from the active wrestler Aminishiki) From October 2016 he was Sanoyama Oyakata (owned by Chiyootori), but in April 2018 he switched to Magaki. His ''danpatsu-shiki'' or official retirement ceremony was held in a hotel at the same time as his wedding reception in October 2016.Tosayutaka became the stablemaster of Tokitsukaze stable in February 2021 after the Sumo Association asked the previous stablemaster, former ''maegashira'' Tokitsuumi, to retire for violating COVID-19 safety protocols. His appointment continues the association of the head of the stable with the Tokyo University of Agriculture, which Tokitsuumi and Yutakayama Katsuo also attended.
Fighting style Tosayutaka listed his favourite techniques as ''migi yotsu'', a left hand outside and right hand inside grip on the opponent's ''mawashi'', and ''nage'' or throws. His most common winning ''kimarite'' was ''yorikiri'' (force out), which accounted for nearly half his victories in his career.
Family Tosayutaka announced at a press conference in February 2016 that he would be marrying TV personality Eri Koizumi. They have been in a relationship since 2009.Tosayutaka remarked that he would have retired much earlier than he did were it not for her support. The marriage was registered in March and the wedding reception was held in October 2016.
Career record
See also *Glossary of sumo terms*List of past sumo wrestlers*List of sumo elders
References
External links * *  Complete biography and basho results (Japanese)