Kōji Kitao
Futahaguro Kōji | |
---|---|
双羽黒光司 | |
Personal information | |
Born | Takanosato | 12 August 1963
* Up to date as of March 2007. |
Kōji Kitao (
Sumo wrestling career
Early career
Born in
Promotion to yokozuna
After this result the
Downfall and expulsion
The decision to promote Futahaguro backfired and he proved to be a great embarrassment to the sumo establishment. His debut as a yokozuna in the September 1986 tournament saw him pull out on the seventh day with only three wins, and after two runner-up scores in November 1986 and January 1987, a series of mediocre performances followed. His best result as a yokozuna came in November 1987 when he was runner-up for the seventh time, with a 13–2 record (losing at the hands of maegashira and also future professional wrestler, Takanofuji). However, controversy was never far away from him. Several tsukebito (junior members) of his stable refused to serve under him following an incident on the 1987 winter tour in which he physically punished one of them[5] and as a result of this, in December 1987 he had a heated argument with his stable boss, Tatsunami, and stormed out, allegedly striking Tatsunami's wife on the way[4] (however this is almost certainly not true; see the § Sumo coaching role section). His stablemaster handed in Futahaguro's retirement papers without consulting him and the elders of the Sumo Association voted, without giving Futahaguro a hearing, to accept it. Futahaguro became the first yokozuna ever to be expelled from sumo this way.[4] He had lasted just eight tournaments at yokozuna rank and had proved unable to win a championship.[6]
Fighting style
Futahaguro preferred a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) grip on his opponent's mawashi. His favourite techniques were yori-kiri (force out) and sukui-nage (scoop throw).[7]
Sumo career record
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | x | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #5 7–0–P Champion |
East Jonidan #21 4–3 |
East Jonidan #2 4–3 |
East Sandanme #78 4–3 |
1980 | West Sandanme #56 4–3 |
West Sandanme #40 2–5 |
West Sandanme #69 4–3 |
East Sandanme #55 4–3 |
East Sandanme #36 5–2 |
West Sandanme #9 4–3 |
1981 | West Makushita #55 4–3 |
West Makushita #40 5–2 |
East Makushita #23 4–3 |
West Makushita #15 3–4 |
West Makushita #21 4–3 |
West Makushita #13 4–3 |
1982 | East Makushita #9 3–4 |
East Makushita #15 0–1–6 |
East Makushita #50 6–1–P |
East Makushita #22 5–2 |
West Makushita #11 4–3 |
East Makushita #9 3–4 |
1983 | East Makushita #15 4–3 |
East Makushita #12 4–3 |
East Makushita #7 4–3 |
East Makushita #3 2–3–2 |
East Makushita #18 6–1–PPP |
West Makushita #4 4–3 |
1984 | East Jūryō #13 8–7 |
East Jūryō #9 10–5 |
East Jūryō #7 10–5 |
West Jūryō #1 12–3 Champion |
East Maegashira #8 8–7 |
West Maegashira #3 8–7 O★ |
1985 | West Komusubi #1 10–5 T |
East Komusubi #1 10–5 O |
West Sekiwake #1 6–6–3 |
East Maegashira #1 12–3 OT★★ |
West Sekiwake #1 11–4 O |
East Sekiwake #1 12–3 O |
1986 | East Ōzeki #2 10–5 |
West Ōzeki #1 10–5 |
East Ōzeki #1 12–3 |
East Ōzeki #1 14–1–P |
West Yokozuna #1 3–4–8 |
West Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
1987 | West Yokozuna #1 12–3–P |
West Yokozuna #1 7–3–5 |
West Yokozuna #1 10–5 |
West Yokozuna #1 8–7 |
East Yokozuna #2 9–6 |
West Yokozuna #2 13–2 |
1988 | East Yokozuna #2 Retired 0–0–0 |
x | x | x | x | 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 |
Professional wrestling career
Kōji Kitao | |
---|---|
Born | |
Debut | November 18, 1989 |
Retired | October 11, 1998 |
Upon being dismissed by the Sumo Association, Kitao was linked with a move to America's National Football League, but instead turned to professional wrestling. To mollify the association, he dropped the shikona and reverted to his real name.[9]
American Wrestling Association (1989)
To prepare for his debut in Japan, he debuted in the United States for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association on November 18, 1989, through Masa Saito's connections.[10] To keep his identity a secret to the Japanese press, he wrestled under the masked persona, Monster Machine. He defeated Frankie DeFalco in his singles debut and also teamed with Saito defeating Jim Evans & Randy Fox.[11]
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1990)
Trained at the
Super World of Sports (1990–1991)
Upon joining SWS in November 1990, he joined the Revolution stable and teamed with fellow former sumo wrestler
Various promotions (1991–1998)
Kitao then wandered in martial arts and got a black belt in karate. In 1992 he returned to wrestling under his new martial arts persona by appearing in a UWF International event, defeating Kazuo Yamazaki. This enabled him to face UWF-i top star Nobuhiko Takada in a worked shoot wrestling match. Pre-match discussions over the outcome of the match led to an agreement being reached for a draw, but Takada saw an opportunity and double-crossed Kitao during the match, legitimately KO'ing him with a kick to the head. Takada had won, but the importance of the match was that Kitao was truly back in puroresu. Moreover, Kitao displayed a more respectful attitude than in the past, bowing to the crowd and shaking hands with Takada after the match.
In the following years he was recruited by Genichiro Tenryu for his Wrestle Association R promotion. Kitao also formed his own dojo and promotion called "Kitao Dojo", later changed to "Bukō Dōjō". Among the wrestlers that came out of the dojo were Masaaki Mochizuki, Yoshikazu Taru, and Takashi Okamura, who later became business partners of Último Dragón in his junior heavyweight ventures. In WAR, they competed as a stable led by Kitao, also called Bukō Dōjō.
On May 5, 1995, Kitao appeared in New Japan Pro-Wrestling to reconcile with Riki Choshu, and wrestled a match alongside Antonio Inoki against Choshu and Tenryu. Kitao participated in some Martial Arts Festivals arranged by Inoki, beating foreign wrestlers like Crusher Kline, Glen Jacobs, and Mabel.
In 1997, he won his only title, the
Mixed martial arts career
From 1996 to 1997, Kitao would have three
Kitao's second MMA fight was at the
Sumo coaching role
In the summer of 2003 he made a surprise return to the world of sumo when he was invited to oversee some practice sessions at his former Tatsunami stable.
Other media
- In 1996, he had an appearance in the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie The Quest as the fighting representative of Japan, a sumo champion.
- Kitao appears unofficially in the games WCW vs. nWo: World Tour, and WCW/nWo Revenge, as Kim Chee.
Personal life and death
In 2013, Kitao was diagnosed with kidney disease.[16]
On March 29, 2019, his wife announced that Kitao had died on February 10 from
Championships and accomplishments
- Kitao Dojo
- Bukō Dojo Tournament (1995)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Super World of Sports
- One Night Tag Team Tournament (1990) – with Genichiro Tenryu
- Tokyo Sports
- Topic Award (1990)[20]
- Wrestle Association R
- WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Nobukazu Hirai and Masaaki Mochizuki
Mixed martial arts record
3 matches | 1 win | 2 losses |
By knockout | 0 | 1 |
By submission | 1 | 1 |
By decision | 0 | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–2 | Nathan Jones | Submission (keylock) | PRIDE 1
|
October 11, 1997 | 1 | 2:14 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 0–2 | Mark Hall | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 9 | May 17, 1996 | 1 | 0:40 | Detroit, Michigan , United States
|
|
Loss | 0–1 | Pedro Otavio | Submission (elbows) | Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 1 | April 5, 1996 | 1 | 5:49 | Japan |
See also
- Glossary of sumo terms
- List of sumo tournament top division runners-up
- List of sumo tournament second division champions
- List of past sumo wrestlers
- List of yokozuna
References
- ^ 北尾光司さん 早すぎる死 元横綱・双羽黒 [Mr. KITAO Koji, Too early death, Former Yokozuna FUTAHAGURO]. FNNPRIME (in Japanese). Fuji News Network. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ^ "Kitao Koji". IMDb.
- ^ ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
- ^ a b Chris Gould (August 2007). "The Curse of the Shiranui" (PDF). sumofanmag.com. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ Gunning, John (21 March 2019). "Sumo 101: Could have beens". Japan Times. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ a b Joe Kuroda. "Rikishi of Old – The 60th Yokozuna Futahaguro Koji (1963~) Part II" (PDF). Sumofanmag.com. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Futahaguro Koji Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
- ^ D'Orso, Mike (12 February 1990). "Will Sumo Wrestling's Loss Be Pro Wrestling's Gain?". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ^ a b c d Gunier, Robert (29 March 2019). "Koji Kitao Passes Away At 55". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "All My AWA results in one thread volume 3 - the Clawmaster's Archives - Sports and Wrestling - WowBB Forums".
- ^ "元横綱双羽黒の北尾光司さん死去 格闘家でも活躍 (Former yokozuna Futahaguro dies, also active in mixed martial arts)" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 4-15-1991
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 4-8-1991
- ^ "Ex-yokozuna Futahaguro died in February at age 55, wife announces". Japan Times. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "元横綱双羽黒の北尾光司さん死去 プロレスでも活躍" (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "元横綱北尾光司さん 両脚切断の危機、自殺未遂…知られざる闘病生活を妻が初告白". daily.co.jp (in Japanese). 28 June 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Koji Kitao « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". cagematch.net. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
External links
- Japan Sumo Association profile
- Will Sumo Wrestling's Loss Be Pro Wrestling's Gain? – Sports Illustrated Archived 2012-12-03 at archive.today
- Professional MMA record for Koji Kitao from Sherdog
- Koji Kitao at UFC