12 Facts About Takanosato Toshihide

Takanosato Toshihide, real name Toshihide Takaya, was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Namioka, Aomori.

Takanosato Toshihide was the sport's 59th yokozuna from 1983 to 1986 and won four top division tournament championships.

Takanosato Toshihide was from the same area of Japan as Wakanohana Kanji II and the two entered professional sumo together in July 1968, joining Futagoyama stable.

Takanosato Toshihide was runner-up in the March and May 1983 tournaments, and then took his second championship in July.

Takanosato Toshihide was almost thirty one years old when he reached sumo's highest rank, and the 91 tournaments it took him to reach yokozuna from his professional debut is the second slowest in sumo history, behind only Mienoumi.

Takanosato Toshihide studied Chiyonofuji's fighting style through watching videotapes of his bouts over and over, and was often able to keep his rival from getting his favoured left hand grip on his mawashi.

Takanosato Toshihide defeated Chiyonofuji eight times in a row from July 1981 to September 1982 and overall emerged victorious from 18 of their 31 encounters.

Takanosato Toshihide missed most of 1985 due to injury, only managing to complete one tournament, but did take part in the three day exhibition tournament held in the United States at Madison Square Garden in June.

Takanosato Toshihide announced his retirement in January 1986 at the age of 33.

Takanosato Toshihide took the name Naruto upon joining the Sumo Association as an oyakata, or elder, and in 1989 opened his own Naruto stable in Matsudo, Chiba, which has produced several top division wrestlers.

Takanosato Toshihide preferred a migi-yotsu grip, with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent's arms.

Takanosato Toshihide regularly won by uwatenage and tsuridashi, the latter a technique seldom seen today due to the increasing weight of wrestlers.