Futatsuryū Jun'ichi

{{Short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | native_name = 双津竜順一 | name = Futatsuryū Jun'ichi | image = File:Mono-ii (cropped).jpg | caption = | birth_name = Yamamoto Jun'ichi | birth_date = {{birth date|1950|02|28}} | birth_place = Hokkaidō, Japan | death_date = {{death date and age|2014|08|12|1950|02|28}} | death_place = Tokyo, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.85}} | weight = {{convert|172|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Tokitsukaze | rank = | record = 676-669-30 | debut = September, 1963 | highestrank = Komusubi (July, 1979) | retireddate = November, 1982 | eldername = Tokitsukaze | yushos = 2 (Jūryō)<br/>1 (Makushita) | prizes = | goldstars = | update = June 2020 }} '''Futatsuryū Jun'ichi''' (双津竜順一, born '''Jun'ichi Yamamoto'''; February 28, 1950 – August 12, 2014) was a sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. After retirement he became the head coach of Tokitsukaze stable. Following his involvement in the hazing and death of trainee Takashi Saito, in October 2007 he became the first serving stablemaster to be dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association. In May 2009 he was sentenced to six years in prison.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 May 2009 |title=Former stable master gets six years for young wrestler's hazing death |url=https://beta.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/05/30/national/former-stable-master-gets-six-years-for-young-wrestlers-hazing-death/ |accessdate=1 June 2009 |publisher=Japan Times}}</ref> He died on August 12, 2014, of lung cancer.<ref name="nikkan">{{cite web|title=元時津風親方が死去 64歳|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140812-1349739.html|publisher=Nikkan Sports|accessdate=16 January 2015|language=ja|date=12 August 2014}}</ref>

==Career== Born in Muroran, he made his professional debut in September 1963, at just 13 years of age. He reached the second highest ''jūryō'' division six years later in November 1969, after winning the third highest ''makushita'' division championship with a perfect 7-0 record from the rank of ''makushita'' 20 (before the rules were changed to make ''makushita'' 15 the lowest rank for ''juryo'' promotion in 1977). He made his debut in the top ''makuuchi'' division in March 1972 but was demoted back to the second division a number of times. He was ranked in the top division for 29 tournaments in total, peaking at ''komusubi'' rank in July 1979. This promotion was due to some ''banzuke'' luck as he had been ranked only at ''maegashira'' 7 in the previous tournament, but there were few other viable promotion candidates. He scored 4-11 in his ''komusubi'' debut, which was to be his only tournament in the ''sanyaku'' ranks. He was one of the heavier wrestlers in his time. His last top division tournament was in March 1980, but he continued to fight despite falling greatly in rank. He finished his career back in the ''makushita'' division.

==Retirement from sumo== He retired from active competition in November 1982, becoming an elder of the Sumo Association under the name Nishikijima. After nearly twenty years working as an assistant coach at his old ''heya,'' he became head of the stable when former ''ōzeki'' Yutakayama reached the mandatory retirement age in August 2002, and adopted the Tokitsukaze name. He oversaw the promotion of Tokitenkū and Toyonoshima to the top division in July and September 2004. In May 2007 he criticised Asashōryū for injuring Toyonoshima during training, and visited his wrestler in the hospital.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} He also served as a judge during tournament matches.

==Dismissal and trial== {{Main|Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal}} It was reported on October 3, 2007, that he would be dismissed from the Sumo Association over his involvement in hazing which contributed to the death of a young recruit at Tokitsukaze stable.<ref name="Japan">{{cite web |date=2007-10-03 |title=Stable master faces ax over wrestler's hazing death |url=https://beta.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/10/03/national/stable-master-faces-ax-over-wrestlers-hazing-death/ |accessdate=2007-10-03 |publisher=Japan Times Online}}</ref> Junior wrestler Tokitaizan, real name Takashi Saitō, collapsed and died in June after an intense training session called ''butsukari-geiko'' which reportedly lasted 30 minutes instead of the usual five. His death was originally put down to natural causes, but after Tokitsukaze pressed for a quick cremation the young wrestler's family insisted on an autopsy, which revealed the extent of his injuries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Heavy hitters|newspaper=The Economist|url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10696234|date=2008-02-14|accessdate=2008-07-18}}</ref> Tokitsukaze admitted to police that the day before Tokitaizan's death he had hit him across the forehead with a beer bottle and allowed other wrestlers in the stable to strike Tokitaizan with a metal baseball bat.<ref name="Japan"/> It was also reported that Tokitsukaze failed to give Tokitaizan any aid and delayed calling an ambulance.<ref>{{cite web |date=2007-10-01 |title=Neglect alleged in sumo death |url=https://beta.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/10/01/national/neglect-alleged-in-sumo-death/ |accessdate=2007-10-03 |publisher=Japan Times Online}}</ref> On October 5, the Sumo Association announced his dismissal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japan sumo boss fired over death|publisher=BBC|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7029366.stm|date=2007-10-05|access-date=2008-01-28|archive-date=2007-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011005532/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7029366.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> They commented, "His actions were unbecoming as a stablemaster, he's outraged the public, and he's defiled the name of the Sumo Association."<ref name="Sumo Talk: Tokitsukaze">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sumotalk.com/tokitsukaze.htm |title=Sumo Talk: Tokitsukaze |access-date=2008-07-18 |archive-date=2009-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309020705/http://www.sumotalk.com/tokitsukaze.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the first serving stablemaster to be dismissed from sumo (Yamahibiki Oyakata, the former ''komusubi'' Maenoshin had been dismissed in January 1997, but was an assistant coach and not a head coach).

On February 7, 2008, he and three sumo wrestlers were arrested for accidental mortality.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japanese sumo trainer arrested over death of wrestler|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020700587.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104070440/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020700587.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-04|date=2008-02-07|accessdate=2008-02-07}}</ref> Yamamoto admitted for the first time that Tokitaizan was tied to a pole and beaten for up to 20 minutes. He continued to deny the charges against him however, saying "it was not assault, it was discipline."<ref name="Sumo Talk: Tokitsukaze"/> On December 18, 2008, three sumo wrestlers were found guilty but received suspended sentences because they could not fight Yamamoto's commandment.<ref>{{cite web |date=2008-12-18 |title=Japan wrestlers convicted in death of sumo fellow |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/18/sports/SUM-Japan-Death.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218220231/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/18/sports/SUM-Japan-Death.php |archive-date=2008-12-18 |accessdate=2008-12-18 |publisher=International Herald Tribune}}</ref> They were all dismissed from sumo. Yamamoto's trial was conducted separately because he had continued to deny the charges, and began in February 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 February 2009 |title=Ex-stablemaster denies ordering assault |url=https://beta.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/02/13/national/ex-stablemaster-denies-ordering-assault/ |accessdate=17 April 2009 |publisher=Japan Times}}</ref>

On May 29, 2009, he was imprisoned for six years.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|title=Sumo trainer jailed over killing|publisher=BBC News Online|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8073297.stm|date=29 May 2009|access-date= 1 June 2009}}</ref> The Nagoya District Court found that he had "overwhelming authority" over the three wrestlers who he had ordered to carry out the beating, even though he had not directly taken part himself.<ref name="bbc"/> He immediately appealed the ruling and was released on bail. He then reportedly requested severance pay from the Sumo Association in the region of 20 million yen (200,000 USD).<ref>{{cite web |date=4 June 2009 |title=Disgraced sumo trainer at centre of beating scandal requests severance pay |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5haOlxuzTfLzwscNP2R-49FHukMTA |accessdate=4 June 2009 |publisher=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The two sides reached an out-of-court settlement in January 2010, the details of which were not disclosed. In July 2011 he gave an interview in which he claimed to be involved in ''yaocho'' or match-fixing at least ten times in his career, but insisted he was "framed" over Tokitaizan's death. His final appeal was rejected in August 2011 and a five-year prison term was finalized.<ref>{{cite web |date=2011-08-31 |title=5-yr term on ex-sumo master over death of wrestler to be finalized |url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20110831p2g00m0sp013000c.html |publisher=Mainichi Daily News}}{{dead link|date=March 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Death== He died of lung cancer on August 12, 2014, at the age of 64. He had still been serving a sentence but was moved to a hospital as his condition deteriorated.<ref name="nikkan"></ref>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Futatsuryū Jun'ichi<ref>{{cite web | title=Futatsuryū Jun'ichi Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=4081 | accessdate=2012-08-25}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start|1963}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1964}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|23|w|2|5}} {{Basho|jk|8|w|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|97|e|3|4}} {{Basho|jo|108|e|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|75|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1965}} {{Basho|jo|26|e|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|54|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|19|w|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|83|e|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|67|e|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|44|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1966}} {{Basho|sa|56|e|2|5}} {{Basho|sa|75|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|41|e|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|20|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|82|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|93|e|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1967}} {{Basho|ma|81|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|67|w|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|6|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|54|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|35|w|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|44|e|2|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1968}} {{Basho|ma|58|e|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|8|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|42|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|25|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|20|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|14|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1969}} {{Basho|ma|17|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|33|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|18|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|20|e|7|0<br>Champion}} {{Basho|j|13|w|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1970}} {{Basho|j|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|4|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|9|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|5|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|9|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1971}} {{Basho|j|3|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|10|e|12|3|P}} {{Basho|j|4|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|6|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1972}} {{Basho|j|1|e|10|5}} {{Basho|M|9|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|6|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|8|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|11|e|4|11}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1973}} {{Basho|j|4|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|10|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|4|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|12|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|2|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1974}} {{Basho|j|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|1|e|5|10}} {{Basho|j|10|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|2|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|5|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1975}} {{Basho|j|10|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|9|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|w|11|4<br>Champion}} {{Basho|m|13|w|4|11}} {{Basho|j|5|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|e|12|3<br>Champion}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1976}} {{Basho|m|11|e|11|4}} {{Basho|m|3|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|9|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|5|e|4|11}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=m|r-no=10|tozai=w}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1977}} {{Basho|j|9|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|4|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|12|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|7|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1978}} {{Basho|m|3|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|9|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|4|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|11|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|8|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|4|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1979}} {{Basho|m|9|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|10|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|7|e|10|5}} {{Basho|k|1|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1980}} {{Basho|m|8|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|13|e|3|4|8}} {{Basho|j|9|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|6|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|8|e|5|10}} {{Basho|j|12|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1981}} {{Basho|j|7|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|11|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|5|w|4|11}} {{Basho|j|10|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|7|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|12|w|4|11}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1982}} {{Basho|ma|7|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|12|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|8|w|3|4}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=ma|r-no=15|tozai=w}} {{Basho|ma|50|e|5|2}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=ma|r-no=32|tozai=w|win=1|loss=6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Futatsuryu Junichi}} Category:1950 births Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Sumo wrestlers from Hokkaido Category:Komusubi Category:2014 deaths Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Japan Category:Sportspeople from Muroran Category:Sportspeople convicted of murder Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen Category:Tokitsukaze stable sumo wrestlers