Hananosato Yukio

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 塙ノ里幸与 Hananosato Yukio
realname = Yukio Murakami
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|05|8
placeofbirth = Ibaraki, Japan
height = height|meters=1.78
weight = convert|114|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Takasago
rank = Sandanme 25
record = 209-178-12
debut = March, 1999
highestrank = Makushita 8 (March, 2005)
update = Sept 2008

Hananosato Yukio (塙ノ里幸与, born 8 May 1983 as Yukio Murakami) is a sumo wrestler from Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan.

Career

Hananosato is a junior member of the Takasago stable, home to "yokozuna" Asashoryu, and he serves as one of Asashoryu's "tsukebito," or personal attendants. He made his professional debut in March 1999, an entry class that also included "ozeki" Kotomitsuki, "komusubi" Takamisakari and "maegashira" Wakakirin. He initially fought under his own surname of Murakami, switching to Hananosato in January 2000. His highest rank has been "makushita" 8, which he achieved in March 2005. This brought him close to "sekitori" status, but he was unable to achieve the necessary number of wins to earn promotion to the second highest "juryo" division. Since then his progress has faltered and he was in the fourth "sandanme" division from March 2006 until September 2007, and again from July 2008 after he was forced to pull out of the May 2008 tournament with an injury after only one bout. At just 114kg, very light for a sumo wrestler, he seems to lack the weight necessary to make it to the top.

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of active sumo wrestlers

External links

* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi.php?A=2094 Japan Sumo Association Biography]