Toyohibiki Ryūta

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Toyohibiki.
Toyohibiki Ryūta
豊響 隆太
Hakuhō
)
* Up to date as of July 13, 2021.

Toyohibiki Ryūta (

san'yaku. His ring name roughly translates as "abundant echo". He retired in June 2021 to become a coach and elder of the Japan Sumo Association
under the name of Yamashina Oyakata.

Early life and sumo background

Kadomoto became interested in sumo in his second year of primary school when he joined an area boys' sports club; also in the club was the future sumo star Hōmashō, three years his senior. Though he showed promise in sumo, preferring to stay local, he did not transfer to one of the more well-known high schools with a strong sumo program. While he was in the sumo club, the owner of Sakaigawa stable visited him with an eye to recruiting him, but did not like his attitude and dismissed him as a candidate. After high school he tried out various jobs such a shipyard work and truck driving. Eventually, however, a dialogue was opened again with Sakaigawa stable and he joined in January 2005. This was the same time that future ōzeki Gōeidō also joined the stable.[1]

Career

Initially fighting under his own surname of Kadamoto, he won the

jūryō division in January 2007. To mark the occasion he adopted his present ring name of Toyohibiki. The "toyo" part of his ring name came from the name of his home area of Toyoura (the same "toyo" also being the first character in his mother's name Toyomi) and the second part came from the name of his high school, Yamaguchi Hibiki. He won the jūryō championship in his debut tournament with a 10–5 record, and reached the top makuuchi
division for the first time in July 2007.

Toyohibiki in May 2009

Toyohibiki produced a strong 11–4 record on his debut in makuuchi and was awarded the Fighting Spirit

detached retina
in his left eye.

Toyohibiki returned to action in January 2009 but could win only five bouts, resulting in demotion back to the jūryō division. He bounced back with a 12 – 3 victory in the jūryō division in the

yusho
in the division, which returned him immediately to makuuchi. He produced a strong 11–4 record at maegashira 11 in the May 2009 tournament, and was promoted back to maegashira 2 for the July tourney.

In the January 2010 tournament he broke a run of three consecutive

Hakuho and Baruto
) on 12–3, and he was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize for the third time. He was suspended along with over a dozen other wrestlers from the July 2010 tournament after admitting involvement in illegal betting on baseball. As a result, he fell to the jūryō division in September. After two tournaments in the second division he returned to makuuchi in January 2011.

In the May 2012 tournament he recorded his first victory over a yokozuna, defeating

referee initially awarded the match to Hakuho, but the judges overturned the decision.[3]

He largely alternated winning and losing tournaments during the period in which he was a makuuchi regular, and had one of the longest tenures among active members of the top division without ever making

irregular heartbeat.[4] This resulted in him dropping to the makushita division, and he never managed to return to the sekitori
ranks. He had knee surgery in December 2020, and did not return to active competition.

Retirement from sumo

Toyohibiki retired in June 2021. He is staying in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the elder name of Yamashina.[5] His retirement ceremony was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on 29 January 2023.[6]

Fighting style

One of the heaviest men in the top division at 185 kg (408 lb), Toyohibiki was a wrestler with great power but he also had suspect footwork. He favoured pushing techniques, using his weight to his best advantage. Of his victories in his last six tournaments, 45 percent were by oshi-dashi, or a simple push out.[7] He was not fond of grips on the mawashi, winning only 15 percent by yori-kiri or force out during the same period.

Career record

　
Toyohibiki Ryūta[8]
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
2005 (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #32
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #94
7–0
Champion
 		 West Sandanme #86
6–1
 		 West Sandanme #29
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #7
6–1
 
2006 West Makushita #32
3–4
 		 East Makushita #40
6–1
 		 East Makushita #17
4–3
 		 East Makushita #12
5–2
 		 East Makushita #8
5–2
 		 West Makushita #3
4–3
 
2007 East Jūryō #14
10–5–PPP
Champion
 		 West Jūryō #8
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #6
10–5
 		 West Maegashira #14
11–4
F		 East Maegashira #6
7–8
 		 East Maegashira #7
7–8
 
2008 West Maegashira #8
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #11
5–10
 		 West Maegashira #15
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #13
10–5
F		 East Maegashira #5
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #2
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
2009 East Maegashira #14
5–10
 		 West Jūryō #3
12–3
Champion
 		 West Maegashira #11
11–4
 		 West Maegashira #2
3–12
 		 West Maegashira #9
6–9
 		 West Maegashira #12
5–10
 
2010 West Maegashira #16
12–3
F		 East Maegashira #5
4–11
 		 West Maegashira #8
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #6
Suspended
0–0–15		 West Jūryō #3
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #4
11–4–PP
 
2011 West Maegashira #15
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #12
Tournament Cancelled
0–0–0		 West Maegashira #12
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #12
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #8
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #11
9–6
 
2012 West Maegashira #5
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #7
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #3
5–10
★		 West Maegashira #7
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #4
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #5
9–6
 
2013 East Maegashira #3
5–10
 		 West Maegashira #7
6–9
 		 West Maegashira #10
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #8
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #4
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #7
9–6
 
2014 West Maegashira #3
5–10
 		 East Maegashira #7
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #11
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #8
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #5
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #2
5–10
 
2015 West Maegashira #6
3–12
 		 East Maegashira #15
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #12
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #14
5–10
 		 East Jūryō #3
10–5
 		 West Maegashira #13
7–8
 
2016 West Maegashira #14
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #9
3–12
 		 East Jūryō #2
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #13
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #13
6–9
 		 West Maegashira #15
6–9
 
2017 East Jūryō #1
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #3
10–5–PP
Champion
 		 East Maegashira #13
4–11
 		 East Jūryō #2
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #4
4–11
 		 West Jūryō #11
8–7
 
2018 West Jūryō #9
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 East Makushita #9
2–5
 		 East Makushita #20
4–3
 		 West Makushita #14
6–1
 		 East Makushita #3
4–3
 		 East Makushita #2
3–4
 
2019 West Makushita #5
2–5
 		 West Makushita #11
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
3–4
 		 West Makushita #13
4–3
 		 West Makushita #10
3–4
 		 West Makushita #15
4–3
 
2020 East Makushita #10
4–3
 		 East Makushita #6
3–4
 		 East Makushita #10
Tournament Cancelled
0–0–0		 East Makushita #10
3–4
 		 East Makushita #14
3–4
 		 East Makushita #21
3–4
 
2021 West Makushita #31
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Sandanme #11
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Sandanme #71
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Jonidan #31
Retired
0–0		 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

See also

References

  1. ^ Sumo Journal, October 2013 edition
  2. ^ Alexander Hermann (February 2008). "Ones to Watch-Haru 2008" (PDF). Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  3. Japan Times
    . 13 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  4. ^ "宇良は右膝負傷の診断書…豊響は途中出場も" (in Japanese). Sanspo. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  5. ^ "大相撲 元幕内の「豊響」が引退". NHK News Web (in Japanese). 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Former maegashira Toyohiki (Yamashina-oyakata) retirement ceremony. About 400 people cuted the hair bun". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Kimarite Of Late". Japan Sumo Association. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Toyohibiki Ryuta Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2013-01-27.

External links

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