Kimurayama Mamoru (13 July 1981 – 6 July 2024) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 7. He was a coach at Kasugano stable. He was the only wrestler in the elite ranks in his time from Wakayama Prefecture.

Career

Born in Gobo, Wakayama, Gobo, Wakayama Prefecture he was an amateur champion at Toyo University, but did not have enough collegiate titles to receive ''makushita tsukedashi'' status and join professional sumo in the third highest ''makushita'' division, instead beginning at the bottom of the rankings in March 2004. He joined Kasugano stable, run by another Wakayama Prefecture native, the former ''sekiwake'' Tochinowaka Kiyotaka, Tochinowaka. His ''shikona'' or fighting name was adapted from his own surname, which is also a time-honoured name in Kasugano stable, being the name of a ''gyoji'' or referee, Kimura Soshiro, who ran the stable in the early 20th century. Sumo May09 Kimurayama

Kimurayama reached ''sekitori'' status in January 2008 upon promotion to the second highest ''jūryō'' division and won his first ''yūshō'' or tournament championship in the following tournament with a 12–3 record. He made his debut in the top ''makuuchi'' division two tournaments later at ''maegashira'' 12, but fell short with a 7–8 record. He won his second ''jūryō'' championship in March 2010, after a three way playoff with Kōryū Tadaharu, Kōryū and Tamaasuka. He did not manage a ''kachi-koshi'' or winning record in the top division until his eighth try in July 2010. This performance, and another 8–7 in September, resulted in promotion to what was to be his highest career rank of ''maegashira'' 7 for the November 2010 tournament. He moved up from ''maegashira'' 17 to ''maegashira'' 15 despite only scoring 7–8 in the May 2011 Technical Examination tournament, due to the large number of retirements caused by a match-fixing scandal. Despite recording his fifth successive ''make-koshi'' in September 2011, he remained in ''makuuchi'' for the November tournament. After yet another losing score there he was finally demoted back to ''juryo'' in January 2012 and spent only one more tournament in the top division, in September 2012. Of his total of 16 tournaments fought in the top division, only two resulted in winning records (both 8–7), and his record there was 101 wins against 139 losses.

Retirement from sumo

Kimurayama chose to retire and take on an elder name rather than being demoted to ''makushita'' after the January 2014 tournament. He secured the Iwatomo ''toshiyori-kabu'', one of 105 shares in the Japan Sumo Association, and later worked as a coach at Kasugano stable. He was then known as Iwatomo Oyakata.

Death

Kimurayama died in Tokyo on 6 July 2024, at the age of 42, after being hospitalized in May 2024.

Fighting style

Kimurayama favoured pushing and thrusting techniques as opposed to fighting on the ''mawashi''. His most common winning ''kimarite'' (or technique) was a simple ''oshi-dashi'', or push out. He frequently employed the sidestepping ''henka'' move at the ''tachi-ai'' or initial charge, and consequently won many bouts by ''hiki-otosh''i, the pull down, and ''tsuki-otoshi'', the thrust over.

Career record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kimurayama 1981 births 2024 deaths Japanese sumo wrestlers Sumo people from Wakayama Prefecture People from Gobō, Wakayama