25 Facts About Toyonoshima Daiki

Toyonoshima Daiki made his professional debut in January 2002, reaching the top makuuchi division in September 2004.

Toyonoshima Daiki was a runner-up in five tournaments, and earned ten special prizes.

Toyonoshima Daiki won four kinboshi or gold stars awarded for yokozuna upsets, three of them earned by defeating Harumafuji from 2013 to 2015.

Toyonoshima Daiki retired in 2020 and was an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Izutsu-oyakata until his departure from the association in January 2023.

In May 2006 Toyonoshima Daiki recorded only his second kachi-koshi or winning score in the top division, in his ninth tournament there.

In September 2007 Toyonoshima Daiki became the first maegashira to defeat Hakuho since his promotion to yokozuna, earning his first kinboshi.

Toyonoshima Daiki was one of seven wrestlers who NHK commentator Shuhei Nagao in 2008 called the "Seven Samurai" and identified as "holding the key" to a Japanese resurgence in sumo, which was dominated by foreigners in the top ranks.

Toyonoshima Daiki returned to the san'yaku ranks at komusubi for the July 2008 tournament, where he defeated Asashoryu for the first time on the opening day.

Toyonoshima Daiki finished with ten wins and another Outstanding Performance prize, and Kotoshogiku's losing record meant Toyonoshima was promoted to sekiwake for the September tournament, becoming the first wrestler from Tokitsukaze stable to reach the rank since Kurama in 1978.

Toyonoshima Daiki appeared to suffer a severely hyper-extended elbow during the throw.

NHK English-language announcers later reported that Toyonoshima Daiki said he heard the elbow snap.

Toyonoshima Daiki was suspended along with over a dozen other wrestlers from the July 2010 tournament after admitting involvement in illegal betting on baseball.

Toyonoshima Daiki lost to Hakuho in a playoff for the yusho on the final day, narrowly failing to become the first wrestler ever to win back-to-back juryo and makuuchi championships, but he received special prizes for Fighting Spirit and Technique.

Toyonoshima Daiki maintained his position in the upper maegashira ranks in 2015, earning a fourth kinboshi in March when he again defeated Harumafuji.

Toyonoshima Daiki's performance saw him being promoted to sekiwake for the fifth time, and for the first time since May 2012.

Toyonoshima Daiki is only the second wrestler to have fallen to makushita having previously taken part in a makuuchi division playoff, after Hokutoriki.

Toyonoshima Daiki considered retiring at this point, but was persuaded to carry on by his young daughter.

Toyonoshima Daiki managed only a bare majority of four wins against three losses on his comeback in November 2016 but recorded six wins in January 2017.

Toyonoshima Daiki strained his right calf in training shortly before the March 2017 tournament, and after missing his first match announced his withdrawal, although he returned from the fifth day.

Toyonoshima Daiki is the sixth oldest wrestler post-World War II to return to juryo at 35 years and four months.

Toyonoshima Daiki is the third former sekiwake to fall to makushita and make a return to makuuchi after Kotokaze and Hoo.

In 2020 Toyonoshima Daiki fell back to the makushita division after suffering an arm injury, and he announced his retirement on April 17.

Toyonoshima Daiki assumed the elder name of Izutsu, previously held by the late Sakahoko, and will work as a coach in the Japan Sumo Association.

Toyonoshima Daiki had reportedly been making payments towards the Nishikijima name previously intended for his former stablemate Shimotori before he was forced to quit sumo, but he was ultimately unable to acquire it, and the stock went to Asasekiryu instead.

Toyonoshima Daiki was married to pop singer Sunaho Takeuchi in February 2011 and the wedding reception was held that October in Tokyo's Metropolitan Hotel with around 600 guests attending.