Azumaryū Tsuyoshi

is a former Mongolian professional sumo wrestler from Govi-Altai Province. His highest rank has been ''maegashira'' 11. After an amateur sumo career at the Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences, he turned professional in November 2008, reaching ''sekitori'' status in January 2013 upon promotion to the ''jūryō'' division. He was ranked in the top ''makuuchi'' division on nine occasions without earning a winning record before finally achieving it on his tenth attempt in January 2023. He was demoted to the ''makushita'' division in 2015, but won promotion back to ''jūryō'' in November 2015 and the top division in September 2019. He has one ''jūryō'' division championship. He wrestled for Tamanoi stable.

Career

Azumaryū came to Japan at the age of 15, and attended Meitoku Gijuku High School, known for its strong sumo club. He joined the Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences but left in his third year when an opening became available at Tamanoi stable after the retirement of the Brazilian Takaazuma (sumo rules restrict foreigners to one per stable). The Japan Sumo Association had recently had issues with foreign wrestlers such as Hakurozan and Rohō who had been dismissed from sumo after a cannabis scandal but Azumaryū's six years in Japan convinced the stable that he had the necessary experience of Japanese culture to be a success. Although he was accepted by the stable in November 2008, he was not able to make his debut on the ''dohyō'' until the following tournament in January 2009, because of Sumo Association rules requiring foreigners to have satisfied all their visa requirements and attend sumo education classes.

Azumaryū moved through the lower divisions quickly, but found the ''makushita'' division more difficult. Finally in November 2012 a 6–1 record at the top of ''makushita'' saw him promoted to the ''jūryō'' division. He said upon his promotion that he hoped to emulate his hero Kaiō. In just his second tournament in the division he lost a play-off for the ''yūshō'' or championship to fellow Mongolian Kyokushūhō after both finished with 12–3 records, and this performance earned him promotion to the top ''makuuchi'' division for the first time. A 6–9 record saw him demoted straight back to ''jūryō'', but he returned to the top division after a 10–5 record in January 2014 at ''jūryō'' 3. In his second ''makuuchi'' tournament in March 2014 he was ranked at ''maegashira'' 14 and stood at five wins and four losses after nine days, but finished with another 6–9 record. The retirement of Kotoōshū after that tournament opened up an extra slot in ''makuuchi'', but Sadanoumi, with 8–7 at ''jūryō'' 4, was given the extra rank of ''maegashira'' 17 over Azumaryū who again was demoted. He won promotion back to ''makuuchi'' for the July 2014 tournament, but injured his knee on the 14th day and had to withdraw, losing his scheduled 15th day bout by default. This was the first bout he had missed in his career. His 7–8 record was enough to keep him in ''makuuchi'' but his injury kept him out of the following tournament in September 2014, resulting in a fall to ''jūryō''. Although he returned in November 2014 two more losing records saw him demoted to the unsalaried ''makushita'' division for the March 2015 tournament.

In September 2015 he took part in an eight-way play-off for the ''makushita'' championship, and although he was defeated by Chiyoshōma in the semi-final stage his 6–1 record was good enough for a return to ''jūryō''. He has remained a ''sekitori'' since then, and although he was consistent enough to avoid demotion he did not win promotion back to the top division until 2019, when a majority of wins at ''jūryō'' 1 saw him return to makuuchi after 30 tournaments away. This is the second longest gap between top division appearances after Satoyama's 37 tournaments. He managed only a 6–9 record in his ''makuuchi'' return and was demoted back to ''jūryō'', but an 11–4 record from the top rank of ''Jūryō'' 1 East ensured his immediate return to the top division. He also won the ''jūryō'' division championship after a four-way playoff with Ikioi, Kaisei and Kiribayama, his first ''yūshō'' in any division.

Azumaryū remained in the top division for two tournaments, but was back in ''jūryō'' for the third tournament of 2020, held in July. He missed the September tournament because of an outbreak of COVID-19 at his stable, but along with all his stablemates did not suffer any drop in rank as a result. After spending the whole of 2021 in , he won promotion back to following a 10-5 record at 2 in the March 2022 tournament. He had to withdraw from Day 11 of the July 2022 tournament after another COVID outbreak at Tamanoi stable. He returned to the top division for the November 2022 tournament at ''maegashira'' 14, and secured his first top division ''kachi-koshi'' in January 2023. In the following tournament in March he lost 11 of his 15 matches and was subsequently demoted back to ''jūryō''. He injured his left knee in his opening bout of the November 2023 tournament against Hakuyōzan, forcing his withdrawal from competition.

Soon after the release of the ''banzuke'' on 25 December 2023 Azumaryū, having been demoted out of ''sekitori'' status, retired from professional sumo.

Fighting style

Azumaryū preferred a ''migi yotsu'' (left hand outside, right hand inside) grip on his opponent's ''mawashi.'' His favourite ''kimarite'' or techniques were ''yori-kiri'' (force out) and ''uwatenage'' (overarm throw).

Personal life

Azumaryū has been married to a Mongolian woman one year his senior since 2011, when their marriage was registered in Ulaanbaatar. They have two daughters and one son. A formal wedding ceremony was held in Tokyo on 19 February 2023, one month after Azumaryū secured his first winning record in the top division.

Career record

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of sumo tournament second division champions
*List of past sumo wrestlers

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azumaryu, Tsuyoshi
1987 births
Living people
Mongolian sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Ulaanbaatar
People from Govi-Altai Province