Aminishiki Ryūji

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 安美錦 竜児 Aminishiki Ryūji


realname = Ryūji Suginomori
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|10|3
placeofbirth = Aomori, Japan
height = height|meters=1.85
weight = convert|135|kg|lb|abbr=on
heya = Isegahama
rank = Maegashira 4
record = 468-442-4
debut = January, 1997
highestrank = Sekiwake (September, 2007)
prizes = Outstanding Performance (3) Fighting Spirit (1) Technique (3)
goldstars = 6 (Musashimaru, Takanohana, Asashōryū (3), Hakuho)
update = Sept 2008

Aminishiki Ryūji (born October 3, 1978 as Ryūji Suginomori) is a Japanese sumo wrestler. The highest rank he has reached is "sekiwake".

Career

Aminishiki was born in Fukaura, Nishitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture. He joined Ajigawa stable, run by former "yokozuna" Asahifuji, who originally came from the same area of Japan and is a cousin of Aminishiki's father. He made his professional debut in January 1997. He reached the second highest "jūryō" division after three years in January 2000. He made the top "makuuchi" division just three tournaments later in July 2000. In January 2003, he defeated "yokozuna" Takanohana, who announced his retirement in the next day.

Aminishiki has remained in the top division ever since, winning the prestigious "gino-sho" or Technique Award on three occasions. He has earned five gold stars for defeating "yokozuna". Having come close on a number of occasions, Aminishiki finally made his "sanyaku" debut in November 2006, having chalked up an impressive 11-4 record at "maegashira" 3 rank the previous September. He fell short with 6 wins at "komusubi", but remained in the upper "maegashira" ranks. In July 2007 he returned to "komusubi" and scored 8-7, winning his second successive Outstanding Performance Award. This earned him promotion to "sekiwake" for September 2007. It took him 43 top division tournaments to reach sumo's third highest rank, the fourth slowest rise ever. He won his first eight bouts in his "sekiwake" debut, leading the race for the championship, although he faltered in the second week and finished with a 10-5 record. In the November 2007 tournament he won his last three bouts to preserve his rank with an 8-7 score. In January 2008 he could win only five matches and fell back to the "maegashira" ranks. In May 2008 he scored an impressive ten wins and was the only man to defeat Kotooshu, the winner of the tournament, which secured him his third Outstanding Performance prize.

Aminishiki prefers to work on the belt rather than push his opponents, and specialises in throwing and tripping techniques. He is also known for the controversial sidestepping "(henka)" move, which he used to defeat yokozuna Hakuhō in March 2008. He had injured his right knee the day before the match in a loss to Asashōryū. [ [http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=14873&hl= Ami's Knee - Sumo Forum ] ]

His older brother Asōfuji is also a sumo wrestler, but has spent only two tournaments in the top division and is currently in the lower "jūryō" division.

Top division record

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_1080.html Japanese Sumo Association Biography]