Itai Keisuke

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In this Japanese name, the surname is Itai.
Itai Keisuke
板井圭介
Personal information
BornKeisuke Itai
(1956-03-21)21 March 1956
Ōnokuni
)

Itai Keisuke (板井圭介, Itai Keisuke, 21 March 1956 – 14 August 2018) was a Japanese

Jōkōryū in 2012. After his retirement, Itai caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were set by match-fixing
.

Career

He played baseball at elementary school but was converted to sumo at Oita Prefectural Ocean Science High School where his older brother was active in the school's sumo team. Despite being scouted by ex-

makushita division. In an effort to change his fortunes, he dropped the shikona and reverted to his real surname, which he was to use for the rest of his career.[2]

Itai finally managed to win a top division bout on his third attempt in November 1982, and came through with his first

sanyaku
debut and never managed to return to the rank. In the July 1991 tournament, ranked at the bottom of the makuuchi division, he lost every one of his fifteen bouts and was demoted to jūryō. He announced his retirement from sumo three days into the following tournament at the age of 35. Unusually, his professional debut, jūryō debut, makuuchi debut and retirement all took place in the Aki basho held in September.

Retirement from sumo

Itai was unable to purchase or borrow toshiyori kabu, or elder stock upon his retirement and so was unable to remain in the Japan Sumo Association. As a result, his Onaruto stable folded in 1994 when no successor to his old stablemaster could be found. Itai began a new career as a chankonabe restaurant owner.[3]

In February 2000, in a lecture to the

Chiyotaikai and yokozuna Akebono among others of throwing bouts.[7] The Sumo Association strenuously denied the allegations, with its chairman Tokitsukaze Oyakata threatening Itai with legal action unless he withdraw his claims.[8] Itai, who had joined a religious group called the God Light Association in the 1980s, said he was on a "mission from God" to reveal the truth behind match-fixing.[8] Others pointed out his restaurant business was struggling and he was well paid for his interviews.[8] Itai claimed to have evidence on tape,[9]
but it was never produced publicly and the Sumo Association did not in the end go to the courts.

In October 2008 in the

Takanohana and Wakanohana had not thrown bouts in recent times.[11] He claimed that he arranged a fixed match with Kitanoumi in the July 1984 tournament, through an intermediary, for 500,000 yen.[10]
He also said he was now working in a glass factory and had no other source of income.

Death

In his later years Itai suffered from diabetes and had a pacemaker fitted.[12] He died on 14 August 2018 after collapsing at his home. He was 62.[13]

Career record

Itai Keisuke[14]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1978 x x x x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #17
7–0
Champion
 
1979 West Jonidan #24
7–0
Champion
 		 East Sandanme #34
7–0
Champion
 		 East Makushita #29
6–1
 		 East Makushita #4
5–2
 		 West Jūryō #12
9–6
 		 West Jūryō #8
9–6
 
1980 East Jūryō #3
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #2
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #8
9–6
 		 East Jūryō #5
13–2
Champion
 		 East Maegashira #12
0–5–10
 		 East Jūryō #10
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
1981 East Jūryō #10
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #2
12–3
Champion
 		 West Maegashira #11
0–3–12
 		 East Jūryō #10
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 East Jūryō #10
1–2–12
 		 East Makushita #15
0–4–3
 
1982 East Makushita #45
7–0
Champion
 		 West Makushita #3
6–1–P
 		 East Jūryō #13
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #3
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #2
10–5
 		 East Maegashira #13
4–11
 
1983 East Jūryō #6
11–4–P
 		 East Maegashira #13
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #5
6–9
 		 West Maegashira #8
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #6
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #1
5–10
 
1984 West Maegashira #7
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #2
2–13
 		 East Maegashira #13
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #7
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #2
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #8
8–7
 
1985 West Maegashira #4
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #8
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #3
5–10
 		 East Maegashira #7
7–8
 		 East Maegashira #9
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #2
3–8–4
 
1986 West Maegashira #13
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 West Maegashira #13
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #6
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #1
2–13
 		 East Maegashira #12
10–5
 		 East Maegashira #3
5–10
 
1987 West Maegashira #10
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #3
4–11
 		 West Maegashira #10
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #4
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #10
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #2
4–11
★
1988 East Maegashira #10
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #4
6–9
★		 West Maegashira #7
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #2
3–12
 		 East Maegashira #11
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #4
3–12
 
1989 West Maegashira #10
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #7
11–4
OT★		 West Komusubi #1
3–12
 		 East Maegashira #8
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #5
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #9
8–7
 
1990 East Maegashira #3
4–11
 		 West Maegashira #12
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #5
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #1
4–11
 		 East Maegashira #9
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #3
3–12
 
1991 West Maegashira #12
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #9
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #4
4–11
 		 East Maegashira #14
0–15
 		 East Jūryō #9
Retired
1–2		 x
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Playoff
(s)
Divisions:
Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: 
Maegashira

See also

References

  1. ISBN 0-356-18120-0
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-8348-0283-X
    .
  3. ^ "Sumo wobbles under wave of sleaze". BBC Sport. 2 March 2000. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Larimer, Tim (20 February 2000). "Fatties In a Fix". Time magazine. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  5. ^ a b "I Don't Care If I Get Killed". Time Magazine. 18 February 2000. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Sour grapes or sour sumo?". Japan Today. 22 May 2001. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  7. ^ Kennedy, Gabrielle (9 May 2001). "Sumo's setting sun". Salon.com. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Kattoulas, Velisarios (3 February 2000). "Vantage Point : Sumo Whistleblower Says He's on a 'Mission'". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  9. ^ Kattoulas, Velisarios (14 February 2000). "Crucial Tape to Be Unveiled This Week : Ex-Sumo Star Claims Proof of Bout-Rigging". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  10. ^ a b "Itai testifies his sumo bout with Kitanoumi was fixed". Japan Times. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  11. ^ Alford, Peter (4 October 2008). "Ex-sumo wrestler claims bout-fixing is rife". The Australian. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  12. ^ "独り暮らし蛇口から水…元小結板井さん急死だったか". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  13. ^ "「八百長に自ら関与」告発した板井圭介さん死去 元小結". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Itai Keisuke Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
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