{{short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{Family name hatnote|Munkh-Orgil|Batjargal|lang=Mongolian}} {{family name hatnote|Tamawashi|lang=Japanese}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | native_name = 玉鷲 一朗 | name = Tamawashi Ichirō | image = Tamawashi 08 Sep.JPG | caption = Tamawashi in 2008 | birth_name = Batjargal Munkh-Orgil | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|16}} | birth_place = Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | height = {{height|meters=1.89}} | weight = {{convert|179|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} | heya = Kataonami | rank = see below | record = | debut = January 2004 | highestrank = Sekiwake (January, 2017) | retireddate = | yushos = {{ubl|2 (Makuuchi) | 1 (Jūryō) | 1 (Makushita)}} | prizes = {{ubl|(3) Outstanding Performance | (1) Fighting Spirit | (1) Technique}} | goldstars = {{ubl| 8 | Terunofuji (4) | Harumafuji | Kisenosato | Kakuryu | Ōnosato }} | update = 27 July 2025 }} {{nihongo|'''Tamawashi Ichirō'''|玉鷲 一朗||born 16 November 1984 as '''Batjargal Munkh-Orgil''' ({{langx|mn|Батжаргалын Мөнх-Оргил}})|lead=yes}} is a Mongolian-Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar. Wrestling for Kataonami stable, his highest rank has been ''sekiwake''. He made his debut in January 2004 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2008. He has a ''makushita'', a ''jūryō'' and two ''makuuchi'' division championships. He has eight gold stars for defeating a ''yokozuna'', and five special prizes, holding the records of oldest man ever to win a special prize and a kinboshi after the July 2025 tournament. In January 2019, he won his first top-division championship, and his second in September 2022 at the age of 37, making him the oldest winner of the top division since the introduction of the six tournaments a year system in 1958.
Nicknamed "{{Transliteration|ja|tetsujin}}" (鉄人, {{literal translation|iron man}}) and known as a "living legend" of the sport,<ref name=legend>{{cite news|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202409100001105.html|title=「阿炎には『生きる伝説』って言われた」鉄人玉鷲の歴代単独１位1631回連続出場を力士も祝福|date=10 September 2024|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> Tamawashi has not missed a bout in his career to date (except for an enforced COVID-19 quarantine during the July 2022 tournament). Still an active wrestler, he has the longest streak of consecutive matches in sumo recorded history, setting the all-time consecutive match appearance record in his 1,631st consecutive match on 10 September 2024, during that month's grand sumo tournament in Tokyo.<ref name=kyodo100924>{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/09/e590fc9c542f-sumo-iron-man-tamawashi-sets-record-for-most-consecutive-bouts.html|title=Sumo: Iron man Tamawashi sets record for most consecutive bouts|date=10 September 2024|publisher=Kyodo|access-date=10 September 2024}}</ref>
At 41, he is also the oldest active ''makuuchi'' wrestler. He is second only to Sadanoumi in most tournament appearances among current ''sekitori''-ranked wrestlers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20231019-OHT1T51157.html?page=1|title=現役関取では通算在位最多・佐田の海、準ご当地の九州場所で躍動誓う「いい相撲だったなと思われたい」|date=19 October 2023|work=Sports Hochi|access-date=20 October 2023}}</ref>
In March 2024 Tamawashi acquired Japanese citizenship in order to remain in the Sumo Association as a coach upon his retirement.<ref name=citizenship/>
==Early life and sumo background== In Mongolia, Munkh-Orgil was working toward a career in the hotel industry, but was encouraged to come to Japan by his older sister who was studying there. On a visit to see his sister in Japan, they went to Ryōgoku where Tokyo's official tournaments are held. They happened to wander by Izutsu stable and had a chance to meet the up-and-coming Mongolian sumo wrestler for that stable, Kakuryū. They talked about the prospects of Munkh-Orgil joining a stable and Kakuryū put him in touch with former senior Mongolian sumo wrestler Kyokushūzan. Through this connection, he was recruited by the former ''sekiwake'' Tamanofuji and joined Kataonami stable in January 2004.
==Career== thumb|left|upright|Tamawashi during the May 2009 tournament. He made steady progress through the lower divisions, recording only one ''make-koshi'' (more losses than wins) on the way to the third highest ''makushita'' division in May 2005. He went up and down the division until taking the championship or ''yūshō'' in September 2007 with a perfect 7–0 record, which sent him up the ranks to ''makushita'' 2. A 4–3 record in the next tournament was enough to earn him promotion to the elite ''sekitori'' ranks for the January 2008 tournament.
After producing four consecutive ''kachi-koshi'' (more wins than losses) scores in the ''jūryō'' division, Tamawashi made his debut in the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2008. A 4–11 record sent him back to ''jūryō'' but a 10–5 score in November returned him immediately to ''makuuchi''. His first winning score in the top division in March 2009 saw him at his highest rank to date of ''maegashira'' 8 in the May 2009 tournament. However, he could only manage a 5–10 score at ''maegashira'' 11 in July, and was demoted back to ''jūryō'', replaced by Masatsukasa. However, he responded by taking the ''jūryō'' championship with an 11–4 record in September, which returned him immediately to the top division. In the November 2009 tournament, he produced his best top division score so far of 10–5, which saw him promoted to ''maegashira'' 7 for the January 2010 tourney. Another ''kachi-koshi'' score of 8–7 saw him promoted to a new highest rank of ''maegashira'' 4. He was however unable to defeat any of his ''san'yaku'' opponents and had slipped back to ''maegashira'' 14 by July 2010. He responded with scores of 10–5 and 9–6 in the next two tournaments, earning him promotion to ''maegashira'' 3.
Tamawashi defeated Harumafuji in the January 2011 tournament, his first victory over an ''ōzeki'', but finished with a 5–10 record. The tournament ended on an embarrassing note for him when he injured his right arm by leaning against and breaking the window of a restaurant in Tokyo. He had been on a night out drinking following the final day's action, and was given a stiff warning by the Sumo Association.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20110129a1.html|title=Nocturnal hijinks sideline wrestler|date=29 January 2011|newspaper=Japan Times|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref> The injury did not affect his participation in the next tournament, which did not take place until May. However, after recording four consecutive ''make-koshi'' he dropped down to ''jūryō'' in January 2012. He made an immediate return to ''makuuchi'' for the March tournament, but fell back to ''jūryō'' on two further occasions, in September 2012 and May 2013. For the next few years he managed enough wins in tournaments to remain a fixture in the middle ranks of ''makuuchi''.
In March 2015 he somewhat fortuitously won promotion to the ''san'yaku'' ranks for the first time, going straight to ''komusubi'' from the relatively low rank of ''maegashira'' 9 after most of the wrestlers above him made losing scores. It took him 38 tournaments from his top division debut to reach ''san'yaku'', the slowest ever for a foreign-born wrestler.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190128/p2g/00m/0sp/081000c|title=Sumo: New champ Tamawashi vows to keep fighting age, young wrestlers|date=28 January 2019|newspaper=The Mainichi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128165757/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190128/p2g/00m/0sp/081000c|archive-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> He was unable to hold on to the rank for more than a single tournament, but In May 2015 he earned his first gold star or ''kinboshi'' for an upset of a ''yokozuna,'' defeating Harumafuji. (He was also the slowest to earn a ''kinboshi'' among foreign-born wrestlers.) 2015 was the first year in his top division career that he was ranked above ''maegashira'' 10 for the whole year.<ref name="nikkan">{{cite news|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1581662.html|title=玉鷲が即答の一字「だって幸せだったから」|date=21 December 2015|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Chiyomaru vs. Tamawashi May 2014 002.jpg|thumb|right|Tamawashi (right) facing Chiyomaru in the May 2014 tournament.]] Tamawashi returned to the ''komusubi'' rank in November 2016 and produced a career-best performance as he recorded ten wins including another victory over Harumafuji and wins over three of the four ''ōzeki''. He was rewarded with his first special prize for Technique, becoming the first wrestler since Asashoryū in 2001 to win his first special prize while ranked in ''san'yaku'' and was promoted to a career-high rank of ''sekiwake''. The 77 career tournaments it took him to reach ''sekiwake'' is the fifth-slowest in sumo history.<ref name="topics">{{cite web|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics|title=2017 January Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|date=December 2016|publisher=Japan sumo Association|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101123445/http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics|archive-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> He is the first ''sekiwake'' from Kataonami stable since Tamanoshima in January 2004, and the first produced by the current stablemaster, the former Tamakasuga, since he took over in February 2010.<ref name="topics"/> Tamawashi had a winning record in his ''sekiwake'' debut and held the rank for 4 tournaments. Having never missed a bout in his career, in May 2017 he fought his 1,000th consecutive career match. Talk of a possible ''ōzeki'' promotion ended in July: despite defeating all three active ''ōzeki'' (Terunofuji, Gōeidō and Takayasu) a number of losses to lower ranked opponents saw him end with a 7–8 record. Tamawashi lost ''san'yaku'' status after another 7–8 at ''komusubi'' in September, but in the Kyushu tournament he was one of four runners-up with an 11–4 record at ''maegashira'' 1. He returned to ''sekiwake'' in January 2018 but was demoted after one tournament. However, he returned to the ''san'yaku'' ranks in July. On the final day of the tournament Tamawashi caught up to Yoshiazuma and going forward will hold the record for most consecutive matches by an active wrestler. The record was duly passed in September but a poor 4–11 score saw him drop back to the ''maegashira'' ranks. He rebounded with a 9–6 in November and began the 2019 campaign back at ''sekiwake''.
In January 2019 Tamawashi made a solid start with three wins in his first five matches before embarking on an impressive winning streak. Having already defeated the three ''ōzeki'' he took a share of the lead by beating Hakuhō on day 12. This was his first victory over Hakuhō on his 14th attempt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_opp.aspx?r=5944|title=Tamawashi bouts by opponent|work=Sumo Reference|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> He began the final day one win ahead of Takakeishō and secured his first top-division championship with a ''tsukiotoshi'' win over Endō.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tamawashi secures first title by beating Endo on final day |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/01/27/sumo/basho-reports/tamawashi-secures-first-title-beating-endo-final-day/#.XE4uNc17mUk |newspaper=The Japan Times |access-date=27 January 2019 |date=27 January 2019}}</ref> At 34 he became the second oldest first-time ''yūshō'' winner since the six tournaments per year system was established in 1958, after Kyokutenhō in 2012.<ref name="asahi0127">{{cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201901270029.html|title=SUMO/ Sekiwake Tamawashi clinches his first career title at 34|date=27 January 2019|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> On the day after his victory Tamawashi said "I still can't believe it. I now believe that dreams really can come true. I want to keep going even in my 40s. If I take it one match at a time, the results will come".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005507849|title=Tamawashi still coming to grips with dream title|date=28 January 2019|website=The Japan News}}</ref>
Tamawashi lost his ''sekiwake'' rank after recording only five wins against ten losses in the following tournament, but a 10–5 record from ''maegashira'' 3 in May, which included a ''kinboshi'' over Kakuryū, returned him immediately to ''sekiwake'' for the July 2019 tournament. However, as in March, he could only score 5–10 at this rank. By May 2021 he had fallen to ''maegashira'' 10, his lowest rank since 2016.
Since the retirement of Kotoshōgiku in November 2020, he has been the oldest man in the top division. In May 2022 he overtook Takamiyama to reach fourth place on the all-time list of consecutive career bouts with 1426.<ref name="nikkan0819">{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202108190000050.html|title=モンゴル出身の幕内玉鷲が日本国籍取得へ 指導者になり「恩返しをしたい」|work=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref>
Tamawashi's consecutive match streak reached 1448 matches before he was forced to withdraw from the July 2022 tournament on Day 13 due to a COVID-19 infection at Kataonami stable. However, the Sumo Association did not regard an enforced quarantine as breaking a run of consecutive appearances as it is through no fault of the wrestler, and so Tamawashi was allowed to continue his streak in the following September tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202207220000342.html|title=Nishikigi and Tamawashi - fourth place in history with 1448 consecutive appearances - are absent for the first time as a corona outbreak occurs in their stables|date=22 July 2022|work=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/07/06da3b6c834a-sumo-covid-halts-tamawashis-ironman-streak-but-jsa-to-make-exception.html|title=Sumo: COVID halts Tamawashi's ironman streak but JSA to make exception|date=22 July 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> By the end of that tournament he had reached 1463 consecutive matches, passing former ''sekiwake'' Takatōriki for third on the all-time list.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202209190001056.html|title=現役最年長関取玉鷲、歴代単独３位、連続出場1457回の節目に白星 2場所ぶり勝ち越し決める|date=19 September 2022|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=19 September 2022|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="tears">{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14727840|title=Tamawashi held in tears after winning second career title|date=26 September 2022|work=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref>
In 2022 Tamawashi earned three consecutive ''kinboshi'' by defeating ''yokozuna'' Terunofuji in the January, March and May tournaments. Tamawashi is the first wrestler to earn a ''kinboshi'' against the same ''yokozuna'' in three straight tournaments since Wakamisugi pulled off the feat in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/05/e42682bd3a8e-sumo-terunofuji-suffers-2nd-defeat-as-aoiyama-takes-sole-lead.html|title=Sumo: Terunofuji suffers 2nd defeat as Aoiyama takes sole lead|date=13 May 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref> Tamawashi's win in January ended Terunofuji's 23-bout winning streak,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220114/p2g/00m/0sp/064000c|title=Sumo: Tamawashi ends Terunofuji's unbeaten run|date=14 January 2022|work=The Mainichi|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> while his victory in March on Day 5 would end up being Terunofuji's final match of the tournament before pulling out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/caf7d4ea7f90-sumo-yokozuna-terunofuji-stunned-as-former-ozeki-takayasu-takes-lead.html|title=Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji stunned as former ozeki Takayasu takes lead|date=17 March 2022|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=18 March 2022}}</ref> After he was beaten by the ''yokozuna'' in July, Tamawashi defeated Terunofuji again in September for his fourth ''kinboshi'' of the year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/e9238960c80a-sumo-unbeaten-tamawashi-hands-terunofuji-2nd-defeat.html|title=Sumo: Unbeaten Tamawashi hands Terunofuji 2nd defeat|date=15 September 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref> on his way to a 13–2 tournament victory. He was the first ''maegashira'' in 37 years to defeat all the ''yokozuna'' and ōzeki in a tournament.<ref name="tears"/> He was also the oldest to win a top division championship since the introduction of the six tournaments per year system in 1958, at the age of 37 years and 10 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/b8d8fe29fe20-sumo-oldest-winner-tamawashi-eager-to-push-on-after-autumn-success.html|title=Sumo: Oldest winner Tamawashi eager to push on after Autumn success|date=26 September 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref> For the November 2022 tournament Tamawashi was promoted back to ''san'yaku'' for the first time since 2019, becoming at 37 year and 11 months the oldest wrestler to achieve this since Takamiyama in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/10/158c55bca6cb-sumo-ageless-september-champ-tamawashi-rejoins-elite-ranks.html|title=Sumo: Ageless September champ Tamawashi rejoins elite ranks|date=31 October 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/#table1|title=2022 November Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|date=31 October 2022|work=Japan Sumo Association|access-date=1 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101174031/https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics|archive-date=1 November 2022}}</ref> During his day 9 bout against Ura, Tamawashi used the extremely rare ''gasshōhineri'' (clasped hand twist down) ''kimarite'', a move not seen in the top division since 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202211210001192.html|title=Tamawashi's decision, for the first time in 57 years, "Gasshohineri" on Ura: a first time since 1965 in makuuchi|date=21 November 2022|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref> He finished that tournament with a 6–9 record and was subsequently demoted to ''maegashira'' 2 in the 2023 January rankings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-12-26 |title=2022 Kyushu Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-kyushu-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223173823/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-kyushu-basho-results/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-12-26 |title=Sumo Rankings |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-rankings/2023-new-year-basho-rankings/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227192353/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-rankings/2023-new-year-basho-rankings/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
At the 2023 January tournament Tamawashi achieved a 9–6 winning record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2023-02-20 |title=2023 New Year Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2023-new-year-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223173753/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2023-new-year-basho-results/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September of the same year, Tamawashi made his 1543rd consecutive appearance in a tournament, making him the second wrestler in history to have the most uninterrupted appearances in competition, tied with Fujizakura. On this occasion, the latter declared that, like Tamawashi, he was a wrestler who relied more on thrusting techniques, which he felt were less dangerous and therefore favoured longevity in the ring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20230914-CQX6WZ2X4BIBHLTJGOCODBHCJY/|title=玉鷲が歴代２位タイの１５４３回連続出場 突き押しの先輩、富士桜に並ぶ|language=ja|date=14 September 2023|work=Sankei Shimbun|access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref> In March 2024 he recorded his 1,300th match in the top division, losing it nonetheless to Endō.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202403220001094.html|title=「角界の鉄人」玉鷲、史上７位の幕内出場1300回果たす 取組は遠藤に敗れ負け越し決まる|language=ja|date=22 March 2024|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>
===Consecutive appearance record=== On 10 September 2024 Tamawashi appeared in his 1,631st consecutive professional sumo match, to break the all-time consecutive match appearance record previously held by former {{Transliteration|ja|sekiwake}} Aobajō (known at the time under the name Shiranui). The match against Kagayaki resulted in his first win of the that month's tournament, to which he received loud cheers from the spectators at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Tamawashi said after the match that the moment felt like winning the championship. "I think I've been able to do it thanks to the support of a lot of people, including the fans," he said. "Of course I've had to do it my way, but without their support I wouldn't have been able to do it." He added that he planned to continue his style of sumo as he approached the age of 40.<ref name=kyodo100924/><ref name=legend/>
At the July 2025 tournament Tamawashi increased his career {{translit|ja|kinboshi}} total to eight by beating Ōnosato, becoming the oldest wrestler in sumo history ranked at {{translit|ja|maegashira}} to defeat a {{translit|ja|yokozuna}};<ref>{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/57768|title=Sumo: 40-yr-old Tamawashi topples Onosato as Ichiyamamoto keeps lead|date=22 July 2025|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=22 July 2025}}</ref> the oldest to have done so up until that point was former {{translit|ja|sekiwake}} {{interlanguage link multi|Ōshio Seijirō|ja|3=大潮清治郎|lt=Ōshio Seijirō}} in 1940.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202507220001435.html|title=85年ぶり！玉鷲が昭和以降最年長金星「ずっと楽しい」懸賞金は付け人への祝儀「チームなので」|date=22 July 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=22 July 2025|language=ja}}</ref> He finished his July 2025 tournament with 11 wins and a share of the runner up position (''jun-yusho''), and was also awarded the ''Shukun-shō'' for the third time, to break the record for the oldest ''Sanshō'' award, previously held by former {{Transliteration|ja|sekiwake}} Kyokutenhō.<ref>{{Cite news |title=大相撲名古屋場所 玉鷲が殊勲賞 40歳8か月の三賞は最年長記録 |newspaper=NHK |date=2025-07-27 |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250727/k10014875901000.html |access-date=2025-08-01 |language=ja}}</ref>
During the 2025 November tournament, Tamawashi cemented his status as a veteran and senior member of the top division by facing Aonishiki, the second youngest wrestler in the top division. This match turned out to be the clash with the biggest age gap between competitors since World War II, with nineteen years, four months, and seven days between the two wrestlers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1166212|title=幕内同士の対戦として、史上1位の年齢差対決を制した安青錦 相手の玉鷲を尊敬しつつ「土俵に上がれば年とか関係ない」1敗守り首位に並ぶ|date=18 November 2025|publisher=Chunichi Sports|access-date=18 November 2025|language=ja}}</ref> This record was then broken during the same tournament when Tamawashi faced Fujinokawa, the youngest top division wrestler, with a twenty-one-year age difference between the two.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202511230001234.html|title=41歳玉鷲が藤ノ川との「21歳差対決」制す だめ押しせず手を広げた姿に「優しさに胸打たれてる」|date=23 November 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=23 November 2025|language=ja}}</ref> Later in the tournament, he won his 701st victory in {{translit|ja|makuuchi}}, placing him in the top ten wrestlers with the most victories in the top division, tied with Takanohana.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202511210001762.html|title=玉鷲、元横綱貴乃花に並ぶ幕内通算701勝目「光栄」41歳も「力では負けていない」パワー健在|date=21 November 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=21 November 2025|language=ja}}</ref> On November 30, the 2025 edition of ''Guinness World Records'' recognized him by formally certifying the record for the most consecutive matches since his debut, with 1,748 fights at the date of publication of the record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/11/30/articles/20251130s00005000166000c.html|title=鉄人・玉鷲の連続出場記録がギネス世界記録認定！ 歓喜の41歳「ヤッターという気持ち。感動です！」|date=30 November 2025|publisher=Sports Nippon|access-date=30 November 2025|language=ja}}</ref>
Tamawashi would continue to break records at the 2026 March Tournament. On Day 4 of the tournament, Tamawashi fought his 1,471st Makuuchi bout, surpassing the record of 1,470 set by a fellow Mongolian-born former {{Translit|ja|sekiwake}}, Kyokutenhō. He broke this record 17 and a half years after making his Makuuchi debut in September 2008. Unfortunately, he could not mark this historic day with a win, as Ukrainian Shishi defeated him at the edge with a {{Translit|ja|shitatenage}} at the end of a spirited bout.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-11 |title=Sumo: Hoshoryu loses, Aonishiki beaten again as Tamawashi sets record |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/72078 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS |language=en}}</ref> He finished this tournament with a record of 5 wins and 10 losses.
The May 2026 tournament was Tamawashi's 100th tournament in {{translit|ja|makuuchi}}, which put him in 3rd place for most tournaments ranked in {{translit|ja|makuuchi}}, just behind Hakuhō and Kaiō. Tamawashi had fallen to a rank of west {{Translit|ja|maegashira}} 13, the lowest rank he had occupied since returning to the top division in 2013. This was his first time occupying the west side of the rank, though. Because of this, Tamawashi had now occupied every rank on the Banzuke from {{Translit|ja|sekiwake}} to {{Translit|ja|maegashira}} 16, except for east {{Translit|ja|maegashira}} 2. Despite this, Tamawashi started the tournament with nine consecutive losses, struggling with an injury to his right calf. On Day 10, he got his first win of the tournament by defeating fellow mongolian Asahakuryū. This was his 713th victory in {{translit|ja|makuuchi}}, surpassing Harumafuji and putting Tamawashi in 8th place on the all-time list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-19 |title=幕内在位１００場所目の玉鷲が初白星 幕内勝ち星７１３勝で歴代単独８位に |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20260519-OHT1T51180.html |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=スポーツ報知 |language=ja}}</ref>
==Fighting style== Unusually for a Mongolian wrestler, Tamawashi is an ''oshi-sumo'' specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques. His most common winning ''kimarite'' is overwhelmingly ''oshidashi'' (push out), which accounts for half his career wins; it is thought that his preference of ''oshi-sumo'' instead of ''yotsu-sumo'' (grabbing the belt and throws) that other Mongolian wrestlers prefer has been a key reason for Tamawashi maintaining his health and iron-man streak.
On the other hand, he is not comfortable fighting on the ''mawashi'' (belt), winning only around 5 percent of his matches by ''yorikiri'' (force out) in his career to date (the average is 25 percent).<ref>{{cite web|title=Tamawashi bouts by kimarite|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_kim.aspx?r=5944|publisher=Sumo Reference|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> If an opponent gets an upper hand on Tamawashi's belt and quickly takes him to the edge of the ''dohyō'' and the ''tawara'' (the rice bales that mark the edge of the sumo ring), Tamawashi usually steps out to cut his losses and avoid major injury.
==Personal life== Tamawashi married a fellow Mongolian in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140614-1317847.html|title=幕内玉鷲、モンゴル美女と結婚していた|date=14 June 2014|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> His wife is the elder sister of another sumo wrestler, Tamashōhō, who became Tamawashi's stablemate in 2020 when he was transferred to Kataonami stable.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/624087|title=十両昇進の玉正鳳は『付け人兼務』で春場所へ "人手不足"片男波部屋うれしい悲鳴【大相撲】|date=25 January 2023|newspaper=Chunichi Shimbun|language=Japanese|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> Tamawashi's second child was born in January 2019, on the same day as his tournament championship was confirmed.<ref name="asahi0127"/> In terms of hobbies, Tamawashi is a talented embroiderer<ref>{{cite web |title=手芸好きの玉鷲一朗関と人気編み物作家の横山起也さんが語り合う「手芸の力」。 (クロワッサンオンライン) |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5f2f0126590312ba0be2c6e73ba3e52c4e401615/images/000 |website=Yahoo! News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319141106/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5f2f0126590312ba0be2c6e73ba3e52c4e401615/images/000 |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |language=ja-JP}}</ref> and a baker, known for his cakes and cookies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/09/05/sumo/sumos-yokozuna-deliberation-council-plays-important-role-overseeing-sport/|title=Sumo's Yokozuna Deliberation Council plays important role in overseeing sport|first=John|last=Gunning|date=5 September 2018|publisher=|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref>
In 2021 he applied for Japanese citizenship with the help of his stablemaster,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/291079?rct=sumo|title=幕内最年長36歳の玉鷲、4場所ぶり勝ち越し 新入幕の一山本に一気の押し「心の中はやばかった」【大相撲名古屋場所】|date=15 May 2021|work=chunichi.co.jp|language=Japanese|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref> stating that he hoped to stay as a coach after retiring and "I want to give back."<ref name="nikkan0819"/> His Japanese citizenship was formally announced during the March 2024 tournament.<ref name=citizenship>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202403190000254.html|title=玉鷲が日本国籍を取得 引退後も親方として相撲協会に残る資格を得る|date=19 March 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=19 March 2024|language=ja}}</ref> He took his ''shikona'' as his legal name.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/04/11/0017531511.shtml|title=玉鷲の本名が変更「バドジャルガル・ムンフオリギル」から「玉鷲一朗」に ３月に日本国籍取得|date=11 April 2024|publisher=Daily Sports|access-date=20 July 2024|language=ja}}</ref>
==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Tamawashi Ichirō<ref>{{cite web|title=Tamawashi Ichiro Rikishi Information|publisher=Sumo Reference|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=5944|access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|2004}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|28|w|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|105|e|6|1}} {{Basho|jo|25|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|87|e|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|10|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2005}} {{Basho|sa|74|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|47|e|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|34|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|51|e|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|8|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|46|e|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2006}} {{Basho|ma|36|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|45|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|35|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|28|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|37|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2007}} {{Basho|ma|31|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|43|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|31|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|32|w|7|0<br />Champion}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2008}} {{Basho|j|13|w|10|5}} {{Basho|j|7|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|15|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|4|w|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2009}} {{Basho|m|13|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|13|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|8|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|11|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|1|e|11|4<br />Champion}} {{Basho|m|11|e|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2010}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|7|e|3|12}} {{Basho|m|14|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|14|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|8|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2011}} {{Basho|m|3|w|5|10}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|absent=0|<BR> <small>Match fixing investigation</small>|rank=m|r-no=6|tozai=e}} {{Basho|m|6|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|6|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|10|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|13|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2012}} {{Basho|j|1|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|15|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|15|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|11|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|2|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|16|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2013}} {{Basho|m|12|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|10|w|4|11}} {{Basho|j|1|e|11|4}} {{Basho|m|13|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|16|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|11|w|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2014}} {{Basho|m|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|1|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|6|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|e|3|12}} {{Basho|m|9|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|10|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2015}} {{Basho|m|9|e|10|5}} {{Basho|k|1|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|5|w|6|9|||*}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|5|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|9|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2016}} {{Basho|m|7|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|10|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|6|w|4|11}} {{Basho|m|12|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|6|w|10|5}} {{Basho|k|1|w|10|5|||t}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2017}} {{Basho|s|1|e|9|6}} {{Basho|s|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|s|1|e|10|5}} {{Basho|s|1|e|7|8}} {{Basho|k|1|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|1|e|11|4||j|*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2018}} {{Basho|s|1|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|k|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|k|1|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|2|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2019}} {{Basho|s|1|w|13|2||y|f|o}} {{Basho|s|1|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|3|e|10|5|||*}} {{Basho|s|1|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|4|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|4|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2020}} {{Basho|m|3|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|7|w|6|9}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|rank=m|r-no=9|tozai=e|absent=0|<BR> <SMALL>State of Emergency </SMALL>}} {{Basho|m|9|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|6|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2021}} {{Basho|m|4|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|6|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|10|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|10|e|11|4}} {{Basho|m|4|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|6|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2022}} {{Basho|m|3|e|8|7|||*}} {{Basho|m|2|w|7|8|||*}} {{Basho|m|3|w|9|6|||*}} {{Basho|m|3|e|5|8|2<ref>Withdrew on Day 13 due to COVID protocols</ref>}} {{Basho|m|3|e|13|2||y|o|*}} {{Basho|k|1|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2023}} {{Basho|m|2|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|1|e|3|12}} {{Basho|m|7|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|w|2|13}} {{Basho|m|12|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2024}} {{Basho|m|10|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|7|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|9|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|9|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|10|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|11|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2025}} {{Basho|m|10|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|7|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|3|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|4|w|11|4||j|o|*}} {{Basho|m|1|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|4|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2026}} {{Basho|m|5|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|9|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|13|w|2|13}} {{Basho|||||}} {{Basho|||||}} {{Basho|||||}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}
==See also== *Glossary of sumo terms *List of active sumo wrestlers *List of Mongolian sumo wrestlers *List of non-Japanese sumo wrestlers *List of active gold star earners *List of active special prize winners *List of sumo record holders *List of sumo top division champions *List of sumo top division runners-up *List of sumo second division champions *List of {{tlit|ja|sekiwake}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Tamawashi Ichirō}} *{{Goo Sumo|2629}} {{Makuuchi rikishi banzuke}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamawashi, Ichiro}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Mongolian sumo wrestlers Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Naturalized citizens of Japan Category:Sumo people from Ulaanbaatar Category:Sekiwake Category:Kataonami stable sumo wrestlers Category:Sportspeople of Mongolian descent