Wakasegawa Taiji

Wakasegawa Taiji (若瀬川泰二」を編集中, real name Tadao Hattori, 20 February 1920 – 3 September 1993) was a sumo wrestler from Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1935, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1942. His highest rank was komusubi. He was twice runner-up in a tournament and earned seven gold stars for defeating yokozuna and four special prizes. He retired in 1959 at the age of 38 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, working as a coach at Isegahama stable until his mandatory retirement in 1985.

Career He was a member of the Isegahama stable, a strong stable run by former sekiwake Kiyosegawa that also had yokozuna Terukuni and sekiwake Bishūyama at the time. He fought in the top division for 54 tournaments, which at the time of his retirement was the most ever, winning 352 matches and losing 395, with 19 absences. He also worked as a sumo commentator for NHK. He died in 1993 at the age of 73 of pancreatic cancer.

Fighting style Wakasegawa was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, preferring grappling techniques which involved grabbing the opponent's mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri, a straightforward force out. However he was also fond of sotogake, the outer leg trip, winning almost 15 percent of his top division matches this way.

Career record