Toyozakura Toshiaki

{{Short description|Sumo wrestler from Hiroshima, Japan}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = Toyozakura 08 Sep.jpg | native_name = 豊桜俊昭 | name = Toyozakura Toshiaki | birth_name = Toshiaki Mukō | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|3|12}} | birth_place = Hiroshima, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.82}} | weight = {{convert|137|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} | heya = Tatsutagawa → Michinoku, formerly Tatsutagawa | rank = | record = 683-671-20 | debut = March, 1989 | highestrank = Maegashira 5 (September, 2004) | retireddate = April 2011 | yushos = 1 (Jūryō) 2 (Makushita) 1 (Sandanme) | prizes = Fighting Spirit (1) | goldstars = | update = Jan 2011 }}

'''Toyozakura Toshiaki''' (born March 12, 1974, as '''Toshiaki Mukō''') is a former sumo wrestler from Hiroshima, Japan. He made his debut in 1989, and after many years in the lower ranks he reached the top division for the first time in 2003. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 5. He was a runner-up in one tournament and earned one special prize for Fighting Spirit. He is the younger brother of Kitazakura. He was forced to retire in April 2011 after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association found him guilty of match-fixing.

==Career== Toyozakura's father was also a sumo wrestler, who fought under the same ''shikona'' or sumo name, but he never climbed higher than the fourth ''sandanme'' division. He encouraged his son to join a different stable than Kitakazura, so Toyozakura joined Tatsutagawa stable. This stable folded in 2000 upon the stablemaster's retirement and Toyozakura moved to Michinoku stable. He made his professional debut in March 1989. He first reached elite ''sekitori'' status in September 1998 upon promotion to the second ''jūryō'' division but he could not maintain that rank. It took him another five years to reach the top division, which he finally achieved in November 2003 after re-entering the second division in September 2002. The 88 tournaments it took him to get there is the sixth-slowest ever—even longer than Kitazakura, who took 86 tournaments to reach ''makuuchi'' (in 2001).

Though Toyozakura is lesser known than his brother Kitazakura, he spent 17 tournaments in the top ''makuuchi'' division, which was five more than his brother, and he also reached a higher rank, ''maegashira'' 5. He achieved this after a strong 12–3 record in July 2004, where he finished runner-up to ''yokozuna'' Asashōryū, winning the Fighting Spirit prize. He peaked with this performance, however, as he only managed a majority of wins against losses on two further occasions in ''makuuchi'', and spent more time back in ''jūryō'' than in the top division.

In May 2006 he won his only second-division championship, having to fight four times in a three-way playoff ({{tlit|ja|tomoesen}}), winning initially but losing the middle bout before winning twice in a row.

In May 2008 it emerged that the previous January, Toyozakura had beaten a junior wrestler in his stable up to ten times with a ladle, so badly that he required eight stitches.<ref name="afp">{{cite web|title=Japan's ancient sport of Sumo hit by fresh scandal|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h9NGOTOVbR3jU9xCJlKRLBuFpa_Q|publisher=AFP|date=2008-05-18|access-date=2008-05-29}}</ref> Coming in the wake of the death of trainee Takeshi Saito, he was severely criticised for such actions and issued an apology. Both he and his stablemaster Michinoku-''oyakata'' were docked 30 percent of their salary by the Japan Sumo Association for three months.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spoon fury earns attacker salary cut|publisher=Reuters|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUKT22800220080529|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722221451/http://uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUKT22800220080529|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 22, 2012|date=2008-05-29|access-date=2008-05-29 | first=Alastair | last=Himmer}}</ref>

His 10-5 performance at the rank of ''jūryō'' 4 in January 2009 was enough for a surprise return to the top division for the first time in over two years at ''maegashira'' 16. However, he could win only five bouts in the March 2009 tournament. Following the suspension and subsequent demotion of six wrestlers to the ''jūryō'' division in September 2010, he returned to ''makuuchi'' once again at the age of 36 despite only barely making his majority of wins at the rank of ''jūryō'' 11 in the July tournament. His tenth promotion to the top division for the January 2011 tournament put him in fourth place on the all-time list behind Ōshio, Ōnishiki and Ōtsukasa for most promotions to ''makuuchi''.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 January Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|url=http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/hon_basho/topics/banzuke_topics.html|publisher=Japan Sumo Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526195410/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/hon_basho/topics/banzuke_topics.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2011}}</ref>

==Retirement from sumo==

Toyozakura was one of 23 wrestlers found guilty of fixing the result of bouts after an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association, and he was forced to retire in April 2011.<ref name=casts>{{cite web|title=Sumo world casts out 23 / Match-fixing scandal brings careers of wrestlers, elders to end|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110402002835.htm|publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun|access-date=3 April 2011|date=3 April 2011}}</ref>

==Fighting style==

Toyozakura's favourite techniques were open-handed thrusts known as ''tsuppari'', and simple pushes to the opponent's chest, ''oshi-dashi''. When he chose to fight on the ''mawashi'' his preferred grip was ''migi-yotsu'', a left-hand outside, right-hand inside position. He also frequently employed ''hiki-otoshi'', the pull down, and the similar ''hataki-komi'', or slap down.

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Toyozakura Toshiaki<ref>{{cite web | title=Toyozakura Toshiaki Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=78 | access-date=2013-05-24}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|1989}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|11|w|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|129|e|3|4}} {{Basho|jo|146|e|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|98|w|2|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1990}} {{Basho|jo|138|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|88|e|3|4}} {{Basho|jo|115|e|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|63|e|3|4}} {{Basho|jo|82|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|33|w|2|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1991}} {{Basho|jo|65|w|6|1}} {{Basho|sa|100|e|1|6}} {{Basho|jo|43|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|2|e|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|33|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|94|e|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1992}} {{Basho|sa|77|e|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|58|w|2|5}} {{Basho|sa|91|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|53|w|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|68|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|37|w|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1993}} {{Basho|sa|11|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|56|w|2|5}} {{Basho|sa|15|w|7|0 Champion}} {{Basho|ma|12|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|7|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|20|e|1|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1994}} {{Basho|ma|49|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|29|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|24|e|1|6}} {{Basho|ma|51|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|41|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|27|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1995}} {{Basho|ma|37|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|48|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|28|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|18|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|12|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|6|w|1|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1996}} {{Basho|ma|27|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|17|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|10|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|4|w|1|6}} {{Basho|ma|25|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|33|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1997}} {{Basho|ma|44|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|55|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|40|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|48|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|39|w|7|0 Champion}} {{Basho|ma|3|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1998}} {{Basho|ma|7|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|14|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|6|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|6|1}} {{Basho|j|12|e|7|8}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|2|3|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1999}} {{Basho|ma|11|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|18|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|7|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|12|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|7|e|6|1|P}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2000}} {{Basho|ma|5|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|5|2}} {{Basho|j|11|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|8|w|4|11}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|5|2}} {{Basho|j|9|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2001}} {{Basho|j|7|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|11|w|1|3|11}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=ma|r-no=9|tozai=w}} {{Basho|ma|9|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|4|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2002}} {{Basho|ma|6|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|12|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|7|0 Champion}} {{Basho|j|8|e|5|10}} {{Basho|j|12|e|11|4|P}} {{Basho|j|6|w|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2003}} {{Basho|j|8|w|4|11}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|5|2}} {{Basho|j|12|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|5|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|2|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|14|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2004}} {{Basho|j|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|15|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|14|e|12|3||j|f}} {{Basho|m|5|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|8|e|3|12}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2005}} {{Basho|j|2|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|14|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|10|w|4|11}} {{Basho|m|16|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|11|w|4|11}} {{Basho|j|1|w|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2006}} {{Basho|m|12|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|14|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|3|w|10|5|PPPP Champion}} {{Basho|m|14|W|5|10}} {{Basho|j|3|e|11|4|P}} {{Basho|m|8|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2007}} {{Basho|m|12|e|3|12}} {{Basho|j|5|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|7|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|8|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2008}} {{Basho|j|6|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|4|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|w|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2009}} {{Basho|j|4|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|16|e|5|10}} {{Basho|j|5|e|5|10}} {{Basho|j|12|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|13|e|10|5}} {{Basho|j|3|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2010}} {{Basho|j|8|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|9|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|11|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|17|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|2|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2011}} {{Basho|m|17|e|5|10}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|absent=0}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=j|r-no=3|tozai=w|win=|loss=}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Goo Sumo|A=|144}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toyozakura Toshiaki}} Category:1974 births Category:Hidetoshi brothers Category:Living people Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Match-fixing in professional sumo Category:Sumo wrestlers from Hiroshima Prefecture Category:Sportspeople banned for life Category:Tatsutagawa stable sumo wrestlers