Asanosho

Asanosho Hajime (born 23 December 1969 as Hajime Ozawa, later Hajime Ozuka) is a former sumo wrestler from Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1992, and reached the top division in March 1995. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 2. He defeated ''yokozuna'' Akebono in their first meeting in March 1997 to earn his only ''kinboshi.'' A back injury sent him down to the ''sandanme'' division, and he decided to retire in January 2002, after suffering a detached retina. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, but left in January 2008.

Career

Ozawa played volleyball at junior high school and was also a shotputter. He began sumo in high school, and competed for the sumo club at Kinki University. Upon graduation he was accepted by the Wakamatsu stable run by fellow Kinki University alumni, the former '' ōzeki'' Asashio. He made his professional debut in March 1992, and was given ''makushita tsukedashi'' status because of his collegiate sumo experience, allowing him to begin at the bottom of the third highest ''makushita'' division. He reached ''sekitori'' level upon promotion to the second highest ''jūryō'' division in May 1994. To mark the occasion he changed his ''shikona'' or fighting name from his family name to Asanosho, the "Asa" prefix meaning ''morning'' a common one at his stable. He was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in March 1995.

Asanosho never managed to win a special prize in his top division career, and was unable to reach the ''san'yaku'' ranks, peaking at ''maegashira'' 2 in March 1997. In this tournament he had his first and only win over a ''yokozuna,'' defeating Akebono in the pair's first ever meeting. However he fell just short of a majority of wins with a 7–8 record. He returned to ''maegashira'' 2 in September 1999 but again scored 7–8. He fought in 32 ''makuuchi'' tournaments, with a record of 213 wins against 248 losses, with 19 injury absences. He was demoted from ''makuuchi'' after the May 2000 tournament and was forced to withdraw from the following tournament in July with a herniated disc after fighting just one match, which saw him fall to ''makushita''.

Retirement from sumo

After suffering a recurrence of his herniated disc injury which sent him down to the ''sandanme'' division, Asanosho was beginning to make a comeback and climb the ''makushita'' division when he suffered a detached retina, missing the November 2001 tournament. He decided to retire and his last tournament on the ''banzuke'' was in January 2002. He did not own stock in the Japan Sumo Association but was able to stay temporarily under the ''jun-toshiyori'' system, using his fighting ''shikona'' as his elder name. In September 2003 he switched to the Wakamatsu name, changing to Sanoyama when Wakamatsu was needed by his retiring former stablemate Asanowaka in April 2005. In August 2005 he switched to Sekinoto when the former Fukunohana turned 65 and retired, and in February 2007 he changed to Oshiogawa. In August 2007 that name was needed by the former Wakatoba so he changed to Wakafuji. However, in January 2008 the owner of the Wakafuji name, Ōtsukasa lent it to his former stablemate Yōtsukasa and Asanosho was forced to leave sumo, as no other elder names were available. He later worked in general sales at a logistics company in Osaka, and he has been a coach in local amateur sumo. In March 2018 he was appointed as a ''hyōgiin'' or outside voter in the Sumo Association, although he has no ''oyakata'' status.

Fighting style

Asanosho was well known for his attacking ''tsuppari'' style, using a series of rapid thrusts to the opponent's chest to force them out of the ''dohyō.'' When fighting on the ''mawashi'' or belt his favoured grip was ''hidari-yotsu'', a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most common winning ''kimarite'' were ''oshi-dashi'' (push out), ''tsuki-dashi'' (thrust out) and ''hataki-komi'' (slap down).

Career record

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asanosho, Hajime
1969 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sportspeople from Odawara
Sumo people from Kanagawa Prefecture