Wakakirin Shinichi

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 若麒麟 真一 Wakakirin Shinichi
birthname = Shinichi Suzukawa
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|9|21
placeofbirth = Kawanishi, Hyogo, Japan
height = height|meters=1.86
weight = convert|125|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Oguruma, formerly Oshiogawa
rank = "Jūryō" 4
record = 261-220-22
debut = March, 1999
highestrank = Maegashira 9 (January, 2008)
yushos = 2 (Makushita)
prizes =
goldstars =
update = Sept 2008

Wakakirin Shinichi (born September 21, 1983 as Shinichi Suzukawa) is a sumo wrestler from Hyogo prefecture in Japan. His highest rank has been "maegashira" 9.

Career

Born in Kawanishi, he made his professional debut in March 1999. He is the fourth wrestler from that class to make the top division, following Kotomitsuki, Takamisakari and Hamanishiki, but the first to do so after making his debut at the lowest level of sumo entry, "mae-zumo". He joined Oshiogawa stable. He began competing under his own surname, but upon reaching the second highest jūryō division for the first time in July 2004 his stablemaster Oshiogawa Oyakata honoured him with the name of Wakakirin. The "Kirin" part of his name, meaning "giraffe" or "qilin", had only been given to three previous wrestlers: his own stablemaster (former "ōzeki" Daikirin), former "sekiwake" Kirinji, and Tamakirin, who quit sumo to become a professional wrestler.

Wakakirin scored an impressive ten wins in his "jūryō" debut, but in January 2005 he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that forced him to sit out two tournaments, resulting in demotion back to the unsalaried "makushita" division. The injury reduced the effectiveness of his favoured "tsuppari", or thrusting techniques, and although he returned to the second division in January 2006 he could manage only four wins and was immediately demoted once again. He slowly returned to full fitness and after a series of solid performances he took his second "makushita" championship in May 2007 with a perfect 7-0 record from the rank of "makushita" 3, to earn promotion back to "jūryō". After scores of 10-5 in July and 9-6 in September, he was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division for the November 2007 tournament. He achieved ten wins in his top division debut, a feat that normally wins the Fighting Spirit Award, but he missed out, the prize going to Baruto instead. Disappointing scores of 4-11 in January 2008 and 6-9 in March 2008 meant he was demoted back to the "jūryō" division for the May tournament. He missed out on a "kachi-koshi" winning score on the final day in May 2008, falling to 7-8. He scored 7-8 once again in July.

In April 2005 Oshiogawa stable was absorbed into Oguruma stable, in anticipation of Oshiogawa Oyakata's retirement the following year. Wakakirin is the third member of Oguruma stable to make his top division debut, following Takekaze and Yoshikaze.

Top division record

Sumo record year start|2007 Basho Basho Basho Basho Basho Basho|m|15|w|10|5 Sumo record year start|2008 Basho|m|9|w|4|11 Basho|m|15|e|6|9 Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO Basho |JURYO 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.php?A=2110 Japan Sumo Association biography]