Takanofuji Sanzo

Takanofuji Sanzō (born 13 May 1997 as Tsuyoshi Kamiyama, also known as Tsuyoshi Sudario) is a former professional sumo wrestler and current mixed martial artist from Sakai, Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 2013 and his highest rank was jūryō 5. He is the twin brother of former makuuchi division wrestler Takagenji, and they are the first twins to both reach the second highest jūryō division. He won one makushita division championship. He was suspended from the September 2019 tournament after an investigation found he had struck an attendant, and was asked to retire by the Japan Sumo Association. After initially refusing to comply, he retired on 11 October 2019.

Background He was born as Tsuyoshi Kamiyama in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture. He has a Japanese father and Filipino mother. He is the older of two twins, and is distinguished from his brother by the fact that he has a mole near his upper lip. They also have an older sister. They grew up in Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Their sister played soccer in national competitions at high school and the twins both played basketball, representing Ibaraki Prefecture in national competition and coming in third place.

Tsuyoshi got married in November 2019.

Sumo career The brothers had no amateur sumo experience but were encouraged by their father to give professional sumo a try. They joined Takanohana stable in March 2013. Tsuyoshi initially wrestled under the shikona of Takayoshitoshi and made his jūryō debut in March 2018. With his brother Takagenji already in the division it was the first time in sumo history that twins had both achieved sekitori status. However he withdrew partway through that tournament and was suspended from the next for assaulting his personal attendant or tsukebito after a match. He was reportedly angry that the attendant was late in telling him the time of his match, making him late entering the stadium. His absence resulted in him falling back to the makushita division. His stablemaster, former yokozuna Takanohana, was demoted in the Sumo Association's hierarchy for failing to report the incident to them and subsequently decided to leave the Sumo Association altogether. Upon the resignation of his stablemaster Takayoshitoshi moved along with his stablemates to Chiganoura stable in October 2018.

He returned to jūryō in March 2019 under his new name of Takanofuji, although he lasted only one tournament before being demoted. In May he won the makushita championship or yūshō with a perfect 7–0 score, ensuring his return to jūryō. In July 2019 he was ranked at jūryō 12, his highest rank to date, with his brother Takagenji making his top makuuchi division debut in the same tournament. Takanofuji had his best result in the division, an 11–4 record, which ensured a new highest rank of jūryō 5 for the following tournament. However, this was to be his final tournament appearance.

Retirement from sumo He was withdrawn by his new stablemaster Chiganoura from the September 2019 tournament after it emerged that he had once again assaulted an attendant after a practice session on 31 August. The incident was investigated by Japan Sumo Association's compliance committee which on September 26 recommended that he retire. He had been found to have hit his attendant in the forehead with his fist, and also used derogatory language toward him and two other attendants. He moved out of the stable to an apartment and refused to deal directly with his stablemaster, asking his lawyer to be the intermediary.

On 11 October 2019 his retirement was announced by the Japan Sumo Association. Through his attorney Takanofuji said, "I still wanted to continue, but my interactions with the Sumo Association left me exhausted." His decision to retire before harsher penalties were imposed meant he was entitled to severance pay.

Fighting style Takanofuji was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, who sought a grip on the mawashi rather than pushing or thrusting. His preferred grip was migi-yotsu, a right hand inside and left hand outside position. His most common winning kimarite was a straightforward yori-kiri or force out.

Career record

Mixed martial arts career Mixed martial arts record Win

Ryo Sakai TKO (soccer kick and punches) Rizin 54

Tokyo, Japan Loss

José Augusto Azevedo Decision (unanimous) Rizin: Otoko Matsuri

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hisaki Kato TKO (doctor stoppage) Rizin Landmark 10

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Mikio Ueda TKO (knee and punches) Rizin 45

Saitama, Japan Win

Lim Dong-hwan TKO (punches) Rizin Landmark 6

Nagoya, Japan Win

Roque Martinez Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark 5

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Junior Tafa TKO (punches) Rizin 40

Saitama, Japan Win

Janos Csukas TKO (punches and knee) Rizin 39

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Hideki Sekine KO (punch) Rizin 37

Saitama, Japan Win

Lawdlain Saint-Ilme KO (punch) Rizin 31

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Shoma Shibisai Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin 28

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kazushi Miyamoto KO (punch) Rizin 27

Nagoya, Japan Win

Ikuhisa Minowa TKO (leg kick and punch) Rizin 26

Saitama, Japan Win

Dylan James TKO (doctor stoppage) Rizin 24

Saitama, Japan