Okinoumi Ayumi (Japanese: 隠岐の海 歩, Hepburn: Okinoumi Ayumi, born 29 July 1985 as Ayumi Fukuoka (福岡 歩, Fukuoka Ayumi)) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Okinoshima, Shimane. He joined professional sumo in 2005, reaching the top division in 2010. He was runner-up in makuuchi three times in the January 2011, March 2013, and November 2017 tournaments, all with an 11–4 record. His highest rank was sekiwake, which he held for one tournament in March 2015 and then held again in November 2016. He has won four Fighting Spirit prizes, one prize for Outstanding Performance, and four gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He wrestled for Hakkaku stable. Upon his retirement, Okinoumi became a sumo coach under the name of Kimigahama.
| Okinoumi Ayumi | |
|---|---|
 Okinoumi in 2009 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Ayumi Fukuoka 29 July 1985 Okinoshima, Shimane, Japan |
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 158 kg (348 lb; 24.9 st) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Hakkaku |
| Record | 674-675-33 |
| Debut | January, 2005 |
| Highest rank | Sekiwake (Mar, 2015) |
| Retired | 14 January 2023 |
| Elder name | Kimigahama |
| Championships | 1 (Makushita) |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (4) Outstanding Performance (1) |
| Gold Stars | 4 Harumafuji (3) Kakuryū (1) |
| * Up to date as of 14 January 2023. | |
Early life and sumo background
editAt school he attended local sumo clubs and took part in national competitions, but had no desire to take up sumo as a profession, instead wanting to go to sea and taking examinations to become a licensed mariner. However, he ended up dropping out of high school and was introduced by an acquaintance to Hakkaku-oyakata, the 61st yokozuna Hokutoumi, who persuaded him to join his Hakkaku stable.
Okinoumi is known for his good looks.[1] His stablemaster joked at a press conference after Okinoumi's promotion to jūryō that this made him envious.[2]
Career
editHe began his professional career in January 2005, fighting under his family name of Fukuoka. He was promoted to the second highest jūryō division after taking the yūshō or tournament championship in the makushita division in January 2009 with a perfect 7–0 record. He changed his shikona to Okinoumi, a reference to his birthplace of Okinoshima (a tiny and remote island in Western Japan) which had been suggested by his father.[2] He became the first sekitori from the Oki Islands since 1960. Troubled by a shoulder injury, he was demoted from jūryō after two losing records, but after reverting to the name Fukuoka he won immediate promotion back to jūryō in July 2009. Fighting as Okinoumi once again, in January 2010 he won promotion to the top makuuchi division, becoming the first wrestler from Shimane Prefecture to do so in 88 years. He came through with a kachi-koshi or winning record in his debut makuuchi tournament in March, winning his last three bouts to score 8–7. This saw him promoted to maegashira 10 for May.
He was suspended from the July 2010 tournament, along with several other wrestlers, after admitting involvement in illegal gambling on baseball. As a result, he dropped back to jūryō for September. Ranked at jūryō 8, a 10–5 record was enough to return him to the top division for the November tournament, where he secured his majority of wins on the final day. His best performance to date came in the January 2011 tournament where he finished runner-up to yokozuna Hakuhō and received his first sanshō award, for Fighting Spirit. This saw him promoted to a new highest rank of maegashira 4 for the May 2011 "technical examination tournament." There he fought all the top-ranked men for the first time and defeated three ōzeki: Kaiō, Harumafuji and Kotoōshū. He lost his last two bouts, to komusubi Kakuryū and Toyonoshima, to fall to a make-koshi 7–8 but remained at the same rank for the next tournament. Securing his majority of wins on the final day of the July tournament, he reached a new highest rank of maegashira 1 in September. He achieved his first gold star win against Harumafuji in November 2012, and his second Fighting Spirit award and second runner-up performance at maegashira 7 in March 2013. He managed two non-consecutive komusubi appearances in 2013, but he slid down the rankings after four consecutive losing tournaments in 2014.
Following the January tournament in 2015 he was promoted to sekiwake from the relatively low rank of maegashira 6, benefiting from the failure of most of those ranked directly above him to get winning records. He was the first sekiwake from Shimane Prefecture in 121 years.[3] He was injured in his sekiwake debut and had to withdraw from the tournament. Nine wins in May and eleven in July 2015 saw him promoted to the san'yaku ranks for the fourth time (three at komusubi, and one at sekiwake). He was unable to hold the rank, scoring 6–9, and he also had a losing record in his fourth attempt at komusubi in May 2016. He picked up a kinboshi from maegashira 2 in July 2016, and had a very successful start to the September tournament, defeating ōzeki Kisenosato on opening day, Kakuryū on Day 2 and Harumafuji on Day 3. By the sixth day he had defeated two yokozuna and three ozeki and was the undefeated tournament co-leader.[4] However he began losing in the second week of the tournament and finished on 9–6. He was rewarded for this efforts with his first Outstanding Performance Prize,[5] and promotion back to sekiwake.
The November 2016 tournament did not go well for Okinoumi who had a lingering injury that had caused him to miss the autumn tour. He ended the tournament with only a 5–10 record and fell back to the maegashira ranks. In the November 2017 tournament Okinoumi was a runner-up to Hakuhō with an 11–4 record, and was awarded his third Fighting Spirit prize, shared with Aminishiki.[6] In September 2019 Okinoumi won his first eight matches to lead the tournament outright.[7] He finished on 11–4 and received his fourth (and final) Fighting Spirit Award.[8] In July 2020 Okinoumi returned to the komusubi rank for the first time since 2016, and secured his first winning record in san'yaku with a 9–6 score.
Retirement
editOkinoumi withdrew from the January 2023 tournament after he was defeated in his first five matches.[9] On the day of his withdrawal the Sanin Chūō Shimpō newspaper reported that Okinoumi had decided to retire.[10] His retirement was confirmed by the Japan Sumo Association the next day, on 14 January 2023.[11][12] At the time of his retirement he was the second-oldest active wrestler in the top two divisions behind Tamawashi.[13] At his retirement press conference, Okinoumi said that for several years he had to rely on mental strength to overcome his inability to perform his style of sumo and that it had recently become too exhausting.[3]
Okinoumi finished his career with a total of 75 tournaments ranked in the top division, eight of them in san'yaku.[3] He had acquired toshiyori kabu, or elder stock, in the Sumo Association prior to his retirement. He is now a coach under the name of Kimigahama-oyakata.[3] He opened his own Twitter account on the day of his retirement, as he was no longer subject to the Sumo Association's SNS ban.
On 30 September 2023 Okinoumi's danpatsu-shiki (retirement ceremony) was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. About 300 people took turns in the ceremonial snipping of Okinoumi's ōichōmage before the final cut was made by his stablemaster and Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku.[14] During the ceremony, Okinoumi's final match was held against his sandanme-ranked stablemate Okinofuji, who is also from Okinoumi's home town of Okinoshima. The matches were held in a traditional sumo style unique to Okinoshima called okikoten-zumō, which involved ringside spectators throwing generous amounts of salt toward the competitors as a method of encouragement.[15]
Fighting style
editOkinoumi was a yotsu-sumo fighter, preferring grappling techniques to pushing or thrusting. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri or force out, and he favoured a migi-yotsu grip on the mawashi, with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent's arms. He also regularly used uwatenage, or overarm throw.
Career record
edit| Year | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | (Maezumo) | West Jonokuchi #33 4–3 |
East Jonidan #112 6–1 |
East Jonidan #30 5–2 |
East Sandanme #95 4–3 |
West Sandanme #77 6–1 |
| 2006 | West Sandanme #21 5–2 |
East Makushita #58 4–3 |
West Makushita #48 5–2 |
East Makushita #29 2–5 |
West Makushita #48 5–2 |
West Makushita #33 5–2 |
| 2007 | East Makushita #21 4–3 |
East Makushita #16 3–4 |
East Makushita #24 3–4 |
West Makushita #32 2–5 |
West Makushita #47 5–2 |
West Makushita #31 5–2 |
| 2008 | East Makushita #19 2–5 |
West Makushita #33 5–2 |
East Makushita #18 5–2 |
West Makushita #9 4–3 |
West Makushita #7 5–2 |
West Makushita #1 5–2 |
| 2009 | East Makushita #1 7–0 Champion |
East Jūryō #7 4–11 |
East Jūryō #13 5–10 |
East Makushita #4 4–3 |
West Jūryō #14 10–5 |
West Jūryō #5 8–7 |
| 2010 | East Jūryō #2 10–5 |
East Maegashira #12 8–7 |
West Maegashira #10 5–10 |
West Maegashira #14 Suspended 0–0–15 |
East Jūryō #8 10–5 |
West Maegashira #16 8–7 |
| 2011 | East Maegashira #13 11–4 F |
Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 |
East Maegashira #4 7–8 |
East Maegashira #4 8–7 |
West Maegashira #1 8–7 |
East Maegashira #1 7–8 |
| 2012 | East Maegashira #2 4–11 |
East Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #5 10–5 |
West Maegashira #2 4–11 |
West Maegashira #8 11–4 |
East Maegashira #1 2–8–5 ★ |
| 2013 | West Maegashira #10 8–7 |
East Maegashira #7 11–4 F |
West Komusubi #1 4–11 |
West Maegashira #6 9–6 |
East Maegashira #2 8–7 |
West Komusubi #1 7–8 |
| 2014 | West Maegashira #1 7–8 |
East Maegashira #2 4–11 |
West Maegashira #9 6–9 |
East Maegashira #13 6–8–1 |
West Maegashira #15 10–5 |
East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
| 2015 | East Maegashira #6 9–6 |
West Sekiwake #1 0–4–11 |
West Maegashira #10 9–6 |
East Maegashira #5 11–4 |
West Komusubi #1 6–9 |
West Maegashira #2 5–10 |
| 2016 | West Maegashira #6 10–5 |
East Maegashira #2 8–7 |
West Komusubi #1 6–9 |
East Maegashira #2 8–7 ★ |
East Maegashira #1 9–6 O★★ |
West Sekiwake #1 5–10 |
| 2017 | East Maegashira #3 4–11 |
West Maegashira #8 10–5 |
East Maegashira #2 3–12 |
West Maegashira #9 5–10 |
West Maegashira #14 8–7 |
East Maegashira #12 11–4 F |
| 2018 | East Maegashira #5 5–10 |
East Maegashira #9 7–8 |
East Maegashira #10 5–10 |
West Maegashira #14 8–7 |
East Maegashira #12 8–7 |
West Maegashira #11 11–4 |
| 2019 | West Maegashira #4 7–8 |
East Maegashira #6 8–7 |
East Maegashira #4 5–10 |
West Maegashira #8 8–7 |
East Maegashira #8 11–4 F |
West Maegashira #1 6–9 |
| 2020 | East Maegashira #4 8–7 |
East Maegashira #2 8–7 |
West Komusubi #1 Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 |
West Komusubi #1 9–6 |
East Komusubi #1 4–11 |
West Maegashira #3 6–9 |
| 2021 | West Maegashira #5 7–8 |
West Maegashira #5 3–12 |
West Maegashira #12 9–6 |
East Maegashira #5 5–10 |
East Maegashira #8 10–5 |
East Maegashira #3 7–8 |
| 2022 | East Maegashira #4 4–11 |
West Maegashira #7 5–10 |
East Maegashira #10 9–6 |
East Maegashira #7 4–10–1[17] |
East Maegashira #12 6–9 |
East Maegashira #13 8–7 |
| 2023 | West Maegashira #12 Retired 0–6–1 |
x | x | x | x | x |
| Record given as wins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) |
||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Female fans bring sumo back from the brink". Nikkeo Asian Review. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ a b Willacy, Mark (14 February 2009). "Japan's new sumo hope looks good". ABC. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Sumo: Okinoumi announces retirement after exiting New Year meet". Kyodo News. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Sumo: Okinoumi pulls off another upset to stay tied for Autumn lead". The Mainichi. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "Sumo: Newly crowned champion Goeido ends autumn meet at 15–0". Kyodo News. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "Sumo: Aminishiki brings the house down on final day in Fukuoka". The Mainichi. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Sumo: Okinoumi retains lead with 8th straight win at Autumn meet". Kyodo News. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Fall sumo tourney: a September to remember". NHK World. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "関脇高安と隠岐の海が休場 隠岐の海は再出場なければ13年ぶりの十両陥落へ" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "【速報】隠岐の海、引退へ 元関脇 隠岐の島町出身" (in Japanese). Sanin Chūō Shimpō. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ @sumokyokai (14 January 2023). "＜隠岐の海引退＞元関脇 隠岐の海（本名 福岡 歩、八角部屋）は引退し、年寄 君ヶ濱を襲名しました。本日、引退会見を実施します。隠岐の海のプロフィールはこちらから。" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 January 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "元関脇の幕内・隠岐の海が引退 年寄・君ケ浜を襲名 島根出身力士で１２１年ぶりに新三役に". news.yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "隠岐の海が引退、年寄「君ケ浜」襲名 最高位は関脇、現役関取衆では玉鷲に次ぐ２番目の年長" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "隠岐の海が断髪式 最後の取組は全身塩まみれに 出身の隠岐の島の古典相撲形式で" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "隠岐の海が引退相撲、観衆は「塩シャワー」で激励…地元の「隠岐古典相撲」披露" (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Okinoumi Ayumi Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ^ Withdrew on Day 15 due to COVID protocols
External links
edit- Okinoumi Ayumi's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage