Tomonohana Shinya

{{Short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | native_name = 智乃花伸哉 | name = Tomonohana Shinya | image = Tomonohana 2011.JPG | birth_name = Shinya Narimatsu | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|6|23}} | birth_place = Kumamoto, Japan | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|meters=1.75}} | weight = {{convert|113|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Tatsunami | rank = | record = 379-381-85 | debut = March, 1992 | retireddate = November, 2001 | highestrank = Komusubi (January, 1994) | eldername = Tamagaki | yushos = 1 (Makushita) | prizes = Technique (2) | goldstars = | blogurl = | weburl = | email = | update = July 2008 }} '''Tomonohana Shinya''' (born 23 June 1964 as '''Shinya Narimatsu''') is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi.'' He is now a sumo coach.

==Career== He had been an amateur sumo champion at Nihon University but worked as a high school physical education teacher after graduation. He did not join the professional sport until March 1992, when he was nearly 28, an extraordinarily late age. (The Sumo Association have since changed its rules and all former amateurs must now make their professional debuts before the age of 25).<ref>{{cite book|author=Schilling, Mark|title=Sumo: A Fan's Guide|work=The Japan Times|year=1994|pages=25|publisher=Japan Times |isbn=4-7890-0725-1}}</ref> He made his debut in the third highest ''makushita'' division, fighting out of Tatsunami stable. At just {{height|cm=174|abbr=on}} and {{convert|100|kg|abbr=on}}, he was not much bigger than Mainoumi, the lightest wrestler at the time. He began wrestling under his own surname of Narimatsu, but upon reaching ''sekitori'' status he adopted the formal ''shikona'' of Tomonohana, meaning "flower of wisdom."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2000/01/14/sumo/wrestling-with-a-national-tradition/#.WKH11mczWUk|title=Wrestling with a national tradition|last=Kaori|first=Shoji|date=14 January 2000|work=The Japan Times|accessdate=13 February 2017}}</ref>

Tomonohana had winning records or ''kachi-koshi'' in his first twelve tournaments, including winning an eight-way playoff for the third-division championship. He reached the second highest ''jūryō'' division in November 1992, taking just four tournaments, and the top ''makuuchi'' division in July 1993, following another four winning records. A popular wrestler, he was nicknamed "Sensei" because of his teaching background. He used a wide variety of techniques to counteract his light weight, and won the prestigious ''Ginō-shō'', or technique prize, in two consecutive tournaments in September and November 1993. In January 1994 he reached the ''sanyaku'' ranks at ''komusubi'', but turned in the first losing record of his career, 4–11, and never made the rank again. He was demoted back to ''jūryō'' in March 1996 and subsequent injuries prevented him from returning to the top division. Nevertheless, he carried on fighting until November 2001 when he announced his retirement at the age of 37.

==Fighting style== Tomonohana preferred a ''migi-yotsu'' or right hand inside, left hand outside grip on his opponent's ''mawashi'', and his speciality was ''shitatenage'', or underarm throw, which was his most common winning ''kimarite''. He used 34 different ''kimarite'' during his career, some of them extremely rare. In January 1993 he defeated Hananokuni with ''izori'', or backwards body drop,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P3-3603026751/a-sizable-impact-small-in-stature-ura-looks-to-ride|title=A SIZABLE IMPACT: Small in Stature, Ura Looks to Ride Rare Technique to New Heights|date=25 February 2015|publisher=Daily Yomiuri|accessdate=13 February 2017}}</ref> a technique that had not been seen at ''sekitori'' level since 1964.

==Retirement from sumo== Upon his retirement he temporarily used his old fighting name as an elder, under the ''jun-toshiyori'' system. In February 2003 he switched to the elder name of Asakayama owned by former ''ōzeki'' Kaiō, after it was vacated by ex-''maegashira'' {{ill|Ōwakamatsu Yoshihiro|lt=Ōwakamatsu|ja|大若松好弘}} who left the Sumo Association. He transferred from Tatsunami stable to coach at Tomozuna stable in April 2005. In March 2006 he obtained the Tamagaki stock upon the mandatory retirement of its previous owner, the former Wakanami.

Prior to the March 2024 tournament Tomonohana was named the acting master of Miyagino stable in the place of the former Hakuhō, following the latter's discipline over the behavior of former sumo competitor Hokuseihō.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202402260000598.html|title=宮城野部屋の師匠代行に同じ伊勢ケ浜一門の玉垣親方を任命へ元横綱白鵬の親方が師匠立場外れる|date=26 February 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=26 February 2024|lang=ja}}</ref> On March 27, he announced, as expected, that his position as acting master was to end immediately.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/03/27/kiji/20240327s00005000468000c.html|title=玉垣親方が宮城野部屋の師匠代行終了「とりあえず自分の役目は終わった」「思いを吐き出してもらった」|date=27 March 2024|publisher=Sports Nippon|access-date=28 March 2024|lang=ja}}</ref>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Tomonohana Shinya<ref>{{cite web | title=Tomonohana Shinya Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=52 | accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|1992}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|mt|60||6|1}} {{Basho|ma|32|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|13|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|8|e|6|1|PPP<br>Champion}} {{Basho|j|13|w|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1993}} {{Basho|j|7|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|2|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|16|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|10|e|9|6|||t}} {{Basho|m|2|w|8|7|||t}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1994}} {{Basho|k|1|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|5|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|8|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|4|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|11|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1995}} {{Basho|m|5|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|7|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|13|w|7|8}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=m|r-no=16|tozai=e}} {{Basho|m|15|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|11|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1996}} {{Basho|m|14|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|1|e|1|1|13}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=12|tozai=w}} {{Basho|j|12|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|5|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1997}} {{Basho|j|8|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|5|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|8|e|8|5|2}} {{Basho|j|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|e|5|7|3}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=7|tozai=e}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1998}} {{Basho|j|7|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|11|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|6|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|12|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|9|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|4|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1999}} {{Basho|j|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|6|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|5|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|8|w|10|5|PP}} {{Basho|j|3|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|6|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2000}} {{Basho|j|9|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|5|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|8|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|9|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|11|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|13|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2001}} {{Basho|j|9|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|10|e|6|9}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=12|tozai=w}} {{Basho|j|12|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|11|e|5|10}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=ma|r-no=3|tozai=w|win=|loss=}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Goo Sumo|A=|58}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomonohana, Shinya}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Yatsushiro Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Sumo wrestlers from Kumamoto Prefecture Category:Nihon University alumni Category:Komusubi