Chiyotairyū Hidemasa

is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan. A former amateur champion at university, he made his professional debut in May 2011, as a makushita tsukedashi recruit and reached the top division in May 2012. He earned his first gold star or kinboshi by defeating yokozuna Harumafuji in the March 2013 tournament. His highest rank was komusubi. He earned one special prize, for Technique. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable.

Early life and sumo background Meigetsuin went to junior high school and high school in Adachi, Tokyo. He attended the martial arts department of Nippon Sport Science University. He became a university yokozuna upon winning the 2010 national college individual sumo championship, and admitted that he got "really big-headed" after this triumph. Meigetsuin was also not a diligent trainer at university, avoiding traditional sumo training exercises and just doing muscular training instead. He has remained a rank-and-file maegashira since then. In the September 2018 tournament he defeated yokozuna Kisenosato to earn his third kinboshi. In September 2020 he withdrew from the tournament on Day 13 with a left side inflammation and right ankle problem. He held on to top division status by returning with nine wins in November. In January 2021 he was forced to sit out the tournament along with everyone else from his stable due to a number of positive tests for COVID-19.

Retirement Chiyotairyū entered the November 2022 basho in Fukuoka at the rank of maegashira 12, having secured just two winning records in his last ten tournaments. After losing five of his first seven matches, he announced his retirement from professional sumo. His stablemaster Kokonoe said that he had lost his motivation to fight since the previous tournament in September, and that "it's not good for him to go to the raised ring with a wish to quit." The day after his retirement, Chiyotairyū said that he felt refreshed and had no regrets. He indicated that he will not remain with the Sumo Association, instead leaving to focus on opening his own restaurant specializing in yakiniku. He opened his first restaurant in the Roppongi district of Tokyo in January 2023. Chiyotairyū announced he would be making his MMA debut on February 18, 2024. On May 24, 2026, he participated in Dogfight Wild Tournament, organized by Jordi Wild, where he defeated professional boxer Jorge Junior Menasalvas, a fight that quickly became viral.

Fighting style Chiyotairyū relied almost exclusively on pushing and thrusting techniques (tsuki/oshi), showing little interest in fighting on the mawashi or belt. His three most common winning kimarite in his career were oshidashi, hikiotoshi and hatakikomi.

Chiyotairyū had been criticized by even his stablemaster for an overuse of slap-downs and pull-downs at the initial charge, which is considered unfair sumo technique by most. This was especially apparent in his jūryō championship run, where six out of his first eight consecutive wins were won by slap-downs or pull-downs.

Career record