Sakahoko Nobushige

Sakahoko Nobushige (born Yoshiaki Fukuzono; 18 June 1961 – 16 September 2019) In March 1982 he won out in a rare nine-way playoff to secure the third-division championship. Sakahoko made his debut in the top makuuchi division in November 1982. (His elder brother, meanwhile, never got higher than jūryō 2 and slid down the rankings). He reached what was to be his highest rank of sekiwake for the first time in July 1984.

In September 1987 he defeated two yokozuna, Chiyonofuji and Futahaguro, and was awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. In July 1989, troubled by a shoulder injury, he turned in a 2–13 record and was demoted to the maegashira ranks. Izutsu also worked as a judge of tournament bouts and was a deputy Director of the Sumo Association.

Fighting style Unlike his brother Terao, who liked pushing and thrusting techniques, Sakahoko took after his father in specialising in yotsu-sumo or grappling techniques.

Personal life He chose the occasion of taking over as Izutsu Oyakata in 1994 to publicly reveal for the first time that he was married with a seven-year-old daughter. His daughter is now a member of the Takarazuka Revue. . She is married to fellow sumo Shimanoumi Kōyō.

Sakahoko died in Kobe of pancreatic cancer on 16 September 2019. As of 1 October 2019, all personnel belong to Michinoku stable.

In March 2020, his elder brother Kakureizan died, and in December 2023 his younger brother Terao died.

Career record