Ushiomaru Motoyasu

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 潮丸 元康
Ushiomaru Motoyasu
birthname = Motoyasu Sano
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|05|11
placeofbirth = Shizuoka, Japan
height = height|meters=1.76
weight = convert|167|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Azumazeki
rank = Jūryō 11
record = 445-410-51
debut = March 1994
highestrank = Maegashira 10 (November 2002)
yushos = 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita)
prizes =
goldstars =
weburl = http://ameblo.jp/ushiomaru-s/
update = Sept 2008

Ushiomaru Motoyasu (born May 11, 1978 as Motoyasu Sano) is a sumo wrestler from Shizuoka, Japan. His highest rank has been "maegashira" 10.

Career

Ushiomaru made his debut in March 1994, joining Azumazeki stable. He began using the fighting name of Takamisano, switching briefly to Tenfuku before adopting his current name in November 1995. In his early career in the lower ranks, he served as a "tsukebito", or personal attendant, to "yokozuna" Akebono. After a long stint in the third "makushita" division, he reached "sekitori" status by winning promotion to the second "juryo" division in January 2002. After winning the "juryo" division title in July of that year with a 13-2 record, he was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division for the next tournament. He was injured during his second top division tournament and had to withdraw, resulting in demotion back to the second division. He struggled in 2005, losing "sekitori" status on two occasions, but he has made something of a comeback more recently, returning to the top division for four straight tournaments from November 2006 to May 2007.

The current head coach of Azumazeki stable, former "sekiwake" Takamiyama, has indicated that Ushiomaru will succeed him when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of sixty-five in 2009. [cite web | author= Lewis, Ferd| title= Maui-born Kuhaulua able to bridge generation gap| publisher=The Honolulu Advertiser | language=English | url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/COLUMNISTS06/706070352/1142/SPORTS | date=2007-06-07 | accessdate=2007-06-19] This came as a surprise to some, who assumed that the more high profile wrestler Takamisakari would take over.

He is one of the few high ranking sumo wrestlers from Shizuoka Prefecture, which has not supplied nearly as many new entrants as the colder northern parts of Japan such as Aomori and Hokkaidō. Cite book |author=Sharnoff, Lorna |title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill |year=1993 |id=ISBN 0-8348-0283-x]

Top division record

Sumo record year start|2002 Basho Basho Basho Basho Basho |m|15|e|9|6 Basho |m|10|w|3|7|5 Sumo record year end Sumo record year start|2003 Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |m|14|e|7|8 Basho |m|15|w|6|9 Basho |JURYO Sumo record year end Sumo record year start|2004 Basho |m|14|e|7|8 Basho |m|14|w|7|8 Basho |KYUJO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Sumo record year end Sumo record year start|2005 Basho |MAKUSHITA Basho |JURYO Basho |MAKUSHITA Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Sumo record year end Sumo record year start|2006 Basho |JURYO Basho |m|16|e|4|11| Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |m|12|e|5|10| Sumo record year end Sumo record year start|2007 Basho |m|15|w|9|6| Basho |m|12|e|6|9| Basho |m|15|e|5|10| Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Sumo record year end Sumo record year start|2008 Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho | Sumo record year end

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_1049.html Japan Sumo Association profile]