1. Dejima Takeharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
19 Facts About Dejima Takeharu
1. 2.
Dejima Takeharu lost the rank in 2001 and, for the most part, remained a maegashira until his retirement in 2009.
3.
Dejima Takeharu won ten special prizes and six gold stars over his long career.
4.
Dejima Takeharu is an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onaruto Oyakata.
5.
Dejima Takeharu joined professional sumo in March 1996 at the age of 22, recruited by Musashigawa stable, home to then ozeki Musashimaru.
6.
Dejima Takeharu did not adopt a traditional shikona, and he only ever used his real name as an active wrestler.
7.
Dejima Takeharu's rise was so rapid that his hair had not yet grown long enough to be fashioned into the traditional oichonmage topknot.
8.
Dejima Takeharu scored an impressive 11 wins in his top division debut, and was awarded two special prizes, for technique and fighting spirit.
9.
Dejima Takeharu made a full recovery and after reappearing in May 1998 he quickly returned to the san'yaku ranks at komusubi in September 1998, a rank he held for four straight tournaments.
10.
Dejima Takeharu chose to henka the yokozuna in this bout, for which he received some criticism.
11.
Dejima Takeharu was only the second wrestler after Takahanada to achieve this feat.
12.
Dejima Takeharu was the fourth former amateur champion, after Yutakayama, Wajima and Asashio, to reach sumo's second highest rank.
13.
Persistent injuries, particularly to his knees and ankles, prevented Dejima Takeharu from making any sustained attempt to regain ozeki status.
14.
Dejima Takeharu was however able to win only three bouts there.
15.
Dejima Takeharu has stayed in the sumo world as a coach at Musashigawa stable under the elder name Onaruto Oyakata.
16.
Dejima Takeharu was an oshi-sumo specialist, favouring pushing and thrusting techniques over fighting on the mawashi or belt.
17.
Dejima Takeharu rarely employed throwing moves, his most common being the beltless sukuinage or scoop throw which he used for only 3 percent of his victories.
18.
Dejima Takeharu was famed for his explosive start at the tachi-ai and so was often prone to being sidestepped at the initial charge.
19.
Dejima Takeharu suffered from knee and ankle problems in his latter years and had lost much of his speed and mobility.