Jingaku Takashi

Jingaku Takashi (born 24 December 1959 as Takashi Nakayama) is a former sumo wrestler from Shibushi, Kagoshima, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1977, and reached the top division in January 1983. His highest rank was komusubi and he earned two kinboshi. He retired in September 1991.

Career He came from the same area of Japan as future stable-mates Sakahoko and Terao. He was fond of kendo at school. He joined Izutsu stable in 1977, and first reached a sekitori rank in July 1982 when he was promoted to the jūryō division. He first made the top makuuchi division in January 1983 but posted a losing record of 4–11 and so was immediately demoted. He won promotion back to the top division in January 1984, and remained there for virtually all of the rest of his career. In September 1984 he defeated a yokozuna for the first time when he upset Kitanoumi in one of the latter's final tournaments. He made the san'yaku ranks for the first time in November 1987 when he reached komusubi, but he proved to be out of his depth and scored only two wins against thirteen losses. He made komusubi once more in September 1990 at the age of 30, but again struggled, winning only three bouts. He suffered from stage fright, losing weight during tournaments because of stomach upsets. He was also known for using tsuri (lifting) techniques, and utchari'', the ring edge pivot.