Ōikari Tsuyoshi

{{Short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{distinguish|Ōikari Montarō}} {{BLP sources|date=February 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = Oikari 2011 Sep.JPG | native_name = 大碇剛 | name = Ōikari Tsuyoshi | birth_name = Tsuyoshi Saito | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|06|16}} | birth_place = Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.77}} | weight = {{convert|131|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Isenoumi | rank = | record = 356–336–57 | debut = March 1995 | highestrank = Maegashira 11 (March, 2000) | retireddate = November 2004 | eldername = Kabutoyama | yushos = 2 (Jūryō) | prizes = | goldstars = | update = Sep. 2012 }} '''Ōikari Tsuyoshi''' (born 16 June 1972 as '''Tsuyoshi Saito''') is a former sumo wrestler from Nishikyō, Kyoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1995, and reached the top division in November 1998. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 11. He retired in November 2004, and as of 2016 he is an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kabutoyama.<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Oyakata (Coaches) | publisher=Nihon Sumo Kyokai | url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataKyokaiMember/oyakata | date= | accessdate=2016-08-17}}</ref>

==Career== He was an amateur sumo wrestler at Doshisha University and upon turning professional in 1995 was given ''makushita tsukedashi'' status, allowing him to begin in the third ''makushita'' division. He joined Isenoumi stable, where another Doshisha University graduate, Tosanoumi, had joined the previous year. He was given the ''shikona'' of Ōikari (literally "large anchor") to potentially evoke the former Meiji era ''Ōzeki'', Ōikari Montarō, who also wrestled in an older incarnation of Isenoumi stable. He was promoted to the ''jūryō'' division in May 1997, becoming the first ''sekitori'' from Kyoto Prefecture since the retirement of Daimonji in July 1973, and he was to win two ''jūryō'' division championships or ''yūshō'' in 1998 and 2001. He first reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in November 1998 but was demoted after only one tournament. He had two further stints the top division, a two tournament run in January and March 2000, and four tournaments from January until July 2002. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 11 and he had an overall win/loss record in ''makuuchi'' of 45–60. He was demoted back to the ''makushita'' division in September 2004 and announced his retirement after the following tournament in November.

==Retirement from sumo== Ōikari's ''danpatsu-shiki'' or official retirement ceremony was held in the ground floor of the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on May 28, 2005, with 230 invited guests including former ''ōzeki'' Musōyama. He has remained in sumo as a coach at Isenoumi stable under the elder name of Kabutoyama Oyakata. He has worked as a trainer and instructor in the sumo school for new recruits.

==Fighting style== Ōikari was a pusher/thruster (''tsuki/oshi'') whose favourite techniques were ''oshi dashi'' (push out), ''tsuki otoshi'' (thrust over) and ''hiki otoshi'' (pull down).

==Personal life== Ōikari was married in March 2004. His elder son Seigō Saito (born 2005) joined Isenoumi stable in January 2023 under the {{Transliteration|ja|shikona}} of Wakaikari and reached the {{Transliteration|ja|jūryō}} division in November 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202409250000907.html|title=19歳で関取となった若碇次の目標は母親の役目も担った父・甲山親方越えしこ名継ぐ考えも|date=25 September 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=27 December 2024|language=ja}}</ref> Upon his promotion to the top division in July 2025 he changed his ring name to Fujinokawa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202506290002035.html|title=【名古屋場所新番付】草野、若碇改め藤ノ川、琴栄峰が新入幕幕内に兄弟が３組／平幕＆十両編|date=30 June 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=10 July 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

Ōikari's younger son, Chūgō Saito (born 2006), won a gold medal in Junior Sumo World Championships in 2023 as part of the Japan team. After a successful amateur career, Chūgō qualified as a {{Transliteration|ja|sandanme tsukedashi}}, becoming the first professional sumo recruit to be able to access the revised form of this status since its reform in September 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/11/28/kiji/20241128s00005000194000c.html|title=現行制度で初！高校生が付け出し資格取得十両・若碇の弟、斎藤忠剛の三段目最下位格付け出しを承認|date=28 November 2024|publisher=Sports Nippon|access-date=30 November 2024|language=ja}}</ref> Chūgō turned professional in December 2024, joining Isenoumi stable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202412270000659.html|title=甲山親方の次男斎藤忠剛「兄にはあまり興味ない」伊勢ノ海部屋入門、兄は十両若碇|date=27 December 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=27 December 2024|language=ja}}</ref> After passing sumo's physical examination the following month it was decided that Chūgō's {{Transliteration|ja|shikona}} would be Ikarigata, taking the kanji characters from both his father and brother.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202501070000308.html|title=元幕内大碇の甲山親方次男、斎藤忠剛のしこ名は「碇潟」新弟子検査も体格基準パス|date=7 January 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=7 January 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Ōikari Tsuyoshi<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Ōikari Tsuyoshi Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=58 | date= | accessdate=2012-09-03}}</ref> }} {{Sumo record year start link|1995}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|mt|60||6|1}} {{Basho|ma|31|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|46|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|21|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|28|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1996}} {{Basho|ma|20|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|10|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|5|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|1|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|5|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|9|w|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1997}} {{Basho|ma|3|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|6|1|P}} {{Basho|j|12|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|13|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|7|w|2|3|10}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=ma|r-no=2|tozai=w}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1998}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|4|3}} {{Basho|j|13|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|9|w|10|5|PP<br>Champion}} {{Basho|j|2|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|15|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1999}} {{Basho|j|4|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|5|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|4|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|4|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|2|e|11|4|P}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2000}} {{Basho|m|13|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|11|e|5|10}} {{Basho|j|1|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|2|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2001}} {{Basho|j|7|e|5|8|2}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=11|tozai=e}} {{Basho|j|11|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|10|e|9|6|P}} {{Basho|j|6|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|3|e|11|4<br>Champion}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2002}} {{Basho|m|11|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|12|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|13|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|15|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|2|w|4|11}} {{Basho|j|9|e|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2003}} {{Basho|j|3|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|5|w|5|2|8}} {{Basho|j|9|w|7|8}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=10|tozai=e}} {{Basho|j|10|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|11|w|11|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2004}} {{Basho|j|4|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|1|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|4|w|3|12}} {{Basho|j|10|w|3|12}} {{Basho|ma|6|e|2|5}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=ma|r-no=17|tozai=w|win=3|loss=4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Goo Sumo|A=|84}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oikari, Tsuyoshi}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:People from Nishikyō, Kyoto Category:Sumo wrestlers from Kyoto Prefecture