18 Facts About Kaiki Nobuhide

Kaiki Nobuhide made his professional debut in 1965, and was promoted to the top makuuchi division in 1975.

Kaiki Nobuhide earned three gold stars for defeating yokozuna and one special prize.

Kaiki Nobuhide retired in 1987 and was the head coach of the Tomozuna stable from 1989 until 2017, training ozeki Kaio among others.

Kaiki Nobuhide was a Director of the Japan Sumo Association.

Kaiki Nobuhide initially fought under his own surname of Nishino, becoming Nishinishiki in 1973.

Kaiki Nobuhide eventually reached the top makuuchi division in November 1975, ten years after his debut but still aged only 23.

Kaiki Nobuhide fought in the top makuuchi division for 66 tournaments in total and earned three gold stars for defeating yokozuna.

Kaiki Nobuhide earned one sansho or special prize, which came in his debut tournament at the rank of komusubi in May 1979 when he shared the Fighting Spirit Award with Ozutsu.

Kaiki Nobuhide was promoted to sekiwake for the following tournament in July 1979.

Kaiki Nobuhide made the san'yaku ranks twice more, in July 1980 and January 1981, but on both occasions had a make-koshi or losing record at komusubi.

Kaiki Nobuhide fought in the maegashira ranks until November 1986 when he was demoted to the juryo division.

Kaiki Nobuhide retired two tournaments later after the March 1987 honbasho.

Kaiki Nobuhide recruited Kaio in March 1988, whom he had been aware of when he was still an active wrestler.

Kaiki Nobuhide became head of the Tomozuna stable in May 1989 upon the mandatory retirement of the previous head, former juryo Ichinishiki.

Kaiki Nobuhide continued to produce top level wrestlers, with Kaisei reaching the top division in 2011.

Kaiki Nobuhide went back to the Tomozuna name in February 2022 when Tomozuna stable was renamed Oshima stable.

Kaiki Nobuhide's son, Kuniaki, was born in 1979 and in 1995 entered sumo himself.

Kaiki Nobuhide was known as Kaishoryu and retired in 2010, having never achieved sekitori status.