Satoyama Kosaku

Sumo wrestler infobox


wrestlername = 里山 浩作
Satoyama Kōsaku
birthname = Kōsaku Satoyama
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|5|31
placeofbirth = Kagoshima, Japan
height = height|meters=1.76
weight = convert|120|kg|lb|abbr=on
heya = Onoe, formerly Mihogaseki
rank = Makushita 3
record = 160-130-3
debut = March 2004
highestrank = Maegashira 12 (May 2007)
yushos = 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita)
prizes =
goldstars =
update = Sept 2008

Satoyama Kōsaku (born May 31 1981) is a professional sumo wrestler from Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Somewhat unusually for a "sekitori" wrestler, he continues to compete under his birth name.

Career

A former amateur sumo champion at Nichidai University, Satoyama made his professional debut in March 2004, joining Mihogaseki stable alongside his team-mate at Nichidai Sumo Club, Shiraishi. Initially he was somewhat overshadowed by Shiraishi and Baruto, who made their "jūryō" division debuts together in September 2005. However, Satoyama was still highly regarded, despite his short height and relatively light weight. [cite web|author=Matilla, Mikko|title=Lower Division Rikishi|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_3/Lower_Rikishi2.htm|publisher= Sumo Fan Magazine|date=September 2005|accessdate=2007-11-29] He made his way quickly up the ranks, recording only one "make-koshi" along the way to "sekitori" status, which he achieved in January 2006 upon promotion to the "jūryō" division. In September 2006 Satoyama, Shiraishi, Baruto and a number of other wrestlers scouted by the former "komusubi" Hamanoshima joined his newly created Onoe stable.

In March 2007 Satoyama won the "jūryō" division championship or yusho with a 12-3 record and he entered the top "makuuchi" division for the first time in May 2007 at "maegashira" 12. After a poor 2-13 record in July he was demoted back to "jūryō". Restricted by a neck injury, he had two more losing scores in September and November 2007, pushing him towards the bottom of the second division. In January 2008 he won only two bouts in the first 11 days, and although he won his last four matches to finish on a 6-9 score, it was not enough to prevent demotion to the third "makushita" division. He produced a 2-5 score in March 2008, and 3-4 in May, meaning he had chalked up seven consecutive losing scores. In July 2008 he returned to form and won the "makushita" championship with a 6-1 score after an eight-way playoff, defeating his 232kg stablemate Yamamotoyama in the final. It was his first" kachi-koshi" or winning score since his "juryo" division championship in March 2007.

Top division record

Sumo record year start|2007 Basho Basho Basho|m|12|w|7|8| Basho|m|12|w|2|13 Basho|JURYO Basho|JURYO Basho|JURYO Basho|MAKUSHITA Basho|MAKUSHITA Basho|MAKUSHITA Basho|MAKUSHITA Basho|

References

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of active sumo wrestlers

External links

* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi_2668.html Japan Sumo Association profile]