Yutakayama Hiromitsu

Who is Yutakayama Hiromitsu?

Yutakayama Hiromitsu is a former sumo wrestler from Shibata, Niigata, Japan. A former amateur champion at Tonodai University, he joined the professional sport in March 1970, debuting in the third highest makushita division. His head coach at Tokitsukaze stable was ex-ozeki Yutakayama Katsuo, also from Tonodai University, and he adopted his boss's old shikona in 1972, having made the top makuuchi division under his own surname of Nagahama. He fought in the top division for 51 tournaments, earning three special prizes and earning eight gold stars for defeating yokozuna, including four from Wajima. His highest rank was komusubi, which he first reached in September 1972. He retired in May 1981 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Minato Oyakata. He founded Minato stable in 1982 and remained head coach there until 2010, when he passed control of the stable over to former maegashira Minatofuji, and took the name Tatsutagawa. He was also a Deputy Director of the Sumo Association. He reached the mandatory retirement age for elders of 65 in October 2012.