Tamanoshima Arata

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 玉乃島 新 Tamanoshima Arata
realname = Arata Okabe
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|9|15
placeofbirth = Fukushima, Japan
height = height|meters=1.88
weight = convert|158|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Kataonami
rank = Maegashira 12
record = 445-431-4
debut = March, 1998
highestrank = Sekiwake (January, 2004)
yushos = 1 (Jūryō)
prizes = Fighting Spirit (5) Technique (1)
goldstars = 2 (Musashimaru (1), Asashoryu (1))
update = Sept 2008

Tamanoshima Arata (born September 15, 1977 as Arata Okabe) is a professional sumo wrestler from Izumizaki, Fukushima, Japan. His highest rank has been "sekiwake."

Career

He was born into a sports family. Not only was his father a former professional boxer, but his mother is the niece of the former "ōzeki" Kiyokuni and his older brother is the former "jūryō" wrestler Tamamitsukuni. Tamanoshima was a college champion at Toyo University and so was allowed to make his professional debut in the "makushita" division. [cite web | author=| title=Brothers in Sumo | publisher= sumofanmag.com | language=English | url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_5/Brothers3.htm| date=February 2006 | accessdate=2007-06-14] He was only twenty years of age, as he left the university in his second year, making him the youngest former amateur to join professional sumo in this way. [cite web|title=Active University/College Grad Rikishi|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|year=2007|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/lists/gakusei.htm|accessdate=2008-02-06]

Initially competing under the "shikona" or ring name of Tamanonada, he reached the second highest "jūryō" division in September 1999 and the top "makuuchi" division for the first time in November 2000. In March 2001, upon his second promotion to the top division, he adopted the Tamanoshima name, which had previously been used by a former "yokozuna" from his stable, Tamanoumi.

Tamanoshima has twice been runner-up in a tournament, in July 2001 and March 2005, and he has earned five Fighting Spirit prizes. In July 2003 he earned two "kinboshi" for defeating the "yokozuna" Musashimaru and Asashoryu. The highest rank he has achieved is "sekiwake", which he reached after scoring ten wins (including another victory over Musashimaru) at "maegashira" 3 in November 2003. He could only manage five wins in his "sekiwake" debut, but returned to the "sanyaku" ranks in July 2004 and January 2006. He was ever present in the top division from March 2001 to January 2008, [cite web | author=| title="玉乃島" | publisher=ja.wikipedia.org | language=Japanese | url=http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/玉乃島 | date=2007 | accessdate=2007-06-09] but a poor 3-12 record in January 2008 meant he was demoted to the second division for the March 2008 tournament. He produced a 10-5 score there which was enough to return him immediately to the top division for May 2008, where he scored a creditable nine wins.

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.php?A=1783 Japan Sumo Association profile]