Wajima Hiroshi

was a Japanese sumo and professional wrestler. Born in Nanao, Ishikawa, he was the sport's 54th yokozuna and is the first wrestler with a collegiate background to reach its highest rank. Entering professional sumo in January 1970, he won a total of 14 tournament championships or yūshō during his career before retiring in March 1981. He was nicknamed in reference to his trademark gold mawashi and his preferred technique of a left-handed underarm throw. He was later head coach of Hanakago stable, but after several controversies, Wajima was forced to leave the sumo world and turned to professional wrestling, retiring in 1988.

Sumo career After graduating from Nihon University where he was twice the amateur sumo champion in 1968 and 1969, At the time, this marked the fastest rise to the second division in sumo history. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in January 1971.

After finishing as runner-up in the November 1971 and January 1972 tournaments he was promoted to sekiwake and took his first top division yūshō or championship in May 1972. He was promoted to ōzeki shortly afterwards and after winning his second championship with a perfect 15–0 score in May 1973 he was promoted to yokozuna.

Wajima won three championships in 1974 but then went into a slump, and did not take another title until March 1976.

Wajima was an unconventional wrestler in many ways, and was looked on as a contrast to the strong and silent Kitanoumi. He was nicknamed the "Sumo Genius" because of his college background. His other departures from sumo norms included having his hair permed before growing a topknot, staying in luxury hotels and driving a Lincoln Continental whilst on regional sumo tours (jungyō), and associating himself with outsiders such as the yakuza and going out on late-night drinking sessions.

Retirement from sumo Following his retirement Wajima took over as oyakata, or head coach, of Hanakago stable in 1981, having married the eldest daughter of the previous stablemaster (former maegashira Onoumi) who had reached the mandatory retirement age for elders of 65. However, his time there as oyakata was controversial. He lacked leadership qualities and most unusually did not even live in the stable, preferring to commute. Hanakago declined to the point when it did not have any top-division wrestlers left. In 1982 his wife attempted suicide and he was demoted from his position as a judge as a result. The marriage eventually ended in divorce. He debuted in 1986. Because of his status as a former yokozuna (the first since Kinichi Azumafuji to turn to pro wrestling), Wajima was pushed as a superstar, feuding with Stan Hansen over the PWF Heavyweight Championship. He also wrestled in North America for American Wrestling Association in Minnesota and Jim Crockett Promotions in the Mid-Atlantic. In the long run, however, accumulated injuries from his sumo years limited his potential as a professional wrestler, and he ended up retiring from the game altogether in 1988.

Later career After retiring as a wrestler, Wajima coached the X-League American football team Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull and also worked with the Cuban national sumo team. The previous year, Wajima played the father in the short film , which Demon wrote and directed.

Wajima died at his home in Tokyo on 8 October 2018. He was 70 years old.

Career record Sumo record box start|Wajima Hiroshi