25 Facts About Takanoiwa Yoshimori

Takanoiwa Yoshimori has both a sandanme and a juryo division championship.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori reached the juryo division in July 2012 and the top makuuchi division for the first time in January 2014.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was the only wrestler recruited by former yokozuna Takanohana to reach the elite sekitori ranks.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was runner-up in one top division tournament and earned two special prizes, one for Fighting Spirit and one for Outstanding Performance.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was then the assailant in an incident against a junior member of his own stable the following year, which led to his retirement from the sport.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was then invited to come to Japan as an exchange student on a sumo program at the age of sixteen.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori had already lost his mother to heart disease when he was eight years old.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori's debut was delayed one tournament while his visa was procured, and he debuted in maezumo in the January 2009 tournament along with fellow recruits Takageppo and Takatoshi.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori's fortunes continued to improve and after four winning tournaments at makushita he was promoted to the salaried ranks of juryo for the first time for the July 2012 tournament.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori again lasted only two tournaments before being relegated but was promoted for the fourth time after a kachi-koshi or winning record in November 2015.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was awarded his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit, and won promotion to his highest rank to date of maegashira 3 for the September 2016 tournament.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori withdrew from the May 2017 tournament on the 12th day due to a thigh injury.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was injured during the Tottori stage of the regional tour in October 2017, and was hospitalized from November 5 to November 9 in Fukuoka, reportedly with concussion and a fractured skull among other ailments.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori withdrew from the November 2017 tournament as a result.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was questioned by Tottori prefectural police as part of their enquiry into the incident, which is alleged to have been sparked off by Takanoiwa Yoshimori disrespecting yokozuna Hakuho by telling him that "your era is over" and playing with his cell phone while he was being reprimanded for his bad attitude.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori said that he was embarrassed about being hit in front of officials from Tottori Johoku High School, which Takanoiwa attended and whose graduates were being celebrated when the incident occurred.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori added that he had not wanted Harumafuji to retire.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori fell to the juryo division for the January 2018 tournament, but Hakkaku Oyakata, chairman of the Sumo Association, said Takanoiwa would not be demoted further if he provided a medical certificate and would still be ranked in juryo for March 2018 even were he to be absent from the January tournament.

On October 4,2018 Takanoiwa Yoshimori filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court seeking 24 million yen in damages from Harumafuji, after negotiations over an informal settlement broke down.

On 5 December 2018 the Japan Sumo Association announced that Takanoiwa Yoshimori had assaulted one of his personal attendants, or tsukebito, during a regional tour, giving him a swollen face.

At a press conference, Takanoiwa Yoshimori said that he caused "anguish" and that he would take responsibility for the incident by retiring.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori had a danpatsu-shiki or retirement ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on February 2,2019, although it was not an official Sumo Association event.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who preferred grappling techniques to pushing and thrusting.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori's favoured grip on his opponent's mawashi or belt was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position.

Takanoiwa Yoshimori regularly used his left hand outer grip to win by uwatenage, or overarm throw, but his most common winning kimarite was a straightforward yori-kiri, or force out.