Shōtenrō Taishi
Encyclopedia
Shōtenrō Taishi is a sumo
wrestler from Khovd Province, Mongolia
. He joined professional sumo in 2001 and was known as Musashiryu Taishi until 2007. He made the top makuuchi
division for the first time in 2009 and his highest rank has been maegashira 2. He wrestles for Fujishima stable (formerly Musashigawa stable
).
. He was given the shikona
of Musashiryu, the prefix being a common one at Musashigawa stable.
division, the third slowest at the time amongst foreign born wrestlers. In July 2009 he was awarded the Fighting Spirit Prize
for his record of eleven wins and four losses. In the September tournament he won his first kinboshi
, becoming the first maegashira in a year to defeat Hakuhō, but could win only one other match. A 9-6 score in the following tournament in November seemed to steady him, but he suffered a surprising slump in January 2010 and a poor 3-12 record saw him demoted to jūryō. He returned to the top division for the July 2010 tournament, and after slipping back to jūryō in September won promotion again for November 2010.
In 2011 he was one of several wrestlers investigated by the Sumo Association after his name was mentioned in a text message about match-fixing. The text, dating from May 2010, was sent by low ranker Enatsukasa, an alleged go-between, to juryo wrestler Chiyohakuho and said, "the match with Shotenro is for real", implying that bouts with other wrestlers were being fixed. Shotenro vehemently denied any involvement in bout-rigging, and in April 2011 was found not guilty by the investigative panel.
He missed the start of the November 2011 tournament after undergoing surgery for appendicitis
, and was unable to return, meaning he will drop to the juryo division in January.
. He is however also capable of fighting on the mawashi
or belt, where he prefers a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) grip. His most common winning move is oshi dashi (push out), followed by yori kiri (force out).
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler from Khovd Province, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. He joined professional sumo in 2001 and was known as Musashiryu Taishi until 2007. He made the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division for the first time in 2009 and his highest rank has been maegashira 2. He wrestles for Fujishima stable (formerly Musashigawa stable
Musashigawa stable
Fujishima stable is a heya or stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was set up on 29 August 1981 by Musashigawa Oyakata, the former yokozuna Mienoumi, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable...
).
Early life and entry into sumo
It has been reported that in his childhood in Ulan Bator he lived in the same apartment complex as future sumo contemporary Mōkonami, though they never met in person. As an amateur, Dagdandorj took third place in the open weight division in the Junior World Sumo Championships in 2000. He began his professional career in March 2001, at the same time as HakuhōHakuho Sho
is a professional sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. On May 30, 2007 at the age of 22 he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo,...
. He was given the shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
of Musashiryu, the prefix being a common one at Musashigawa stable.
Career
His rise through the ranks was relatively smooth until he reached the third highest makushita division in January 2003, where an early injury put him out of action and dropped him back to the sandanme division. He continued to struggle with his own sumo and injuries in the these two divisions for the next five years, changing his shikona to Shotenro in 2007 in a bid to improve his fortunes. When he finally found his stride again, his steady rise to the top division was a stark contrast to his previous struggles; he reached makuuchi after winning two consecutive jūryō division championships, only the third post-war wrestler after Kushimaumi and Miyabiyama to achieve this feat. All in all, it had taken him 48 tournaments from his professional debut to reach the top makuuchiMakuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division, the third slowest at the time amongst foreign born wrestlers. In July 2009 he was awarded the Fighting Spirit Prize
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
for his record of eleven wins and four losses. In the September tournament he won his first kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
, becoming the first maegashira in a year to defeat Hakuhō, but could win only one other match. A 9-6 score in the following tournament in November seemed to steady him, but he suffered a surprising slump in January 2010 and a poor 3-12 record saw him demoted to jūryō. He returned to the top division for the July 2010 tournament, and after slipping back to jūryō in September won promotion again for November 2010.
In 2011 he was one of several wrestlers investigated by the Sumo Association after his name was mentioned in a text message about match-fixing. The text, dating from May 2010, was sent by low ranker Enatsukasa, an alleged go-between, to juryo wrestler Chiyohakuho and said, "the match with Shotenro is for real", implying that bouts with other wrestlers were being fixed. Shotenro vehemently denied any involvement in bout-rigging, and in April 2011 was found not guilty by the investigative panel.
He missed the start of the November 2011 tournament after undergoing surgery for appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
, and was unable to return, meaning he will drop to the juryo division in January.
Fighting style
He is an oshi-sumo specialist, preferring pushing and thrusting techniquesKimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
. He is however also capable of fighting on the mawashi
Mawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
or belt, where he prefers a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) grip. His most common winning move is oshi dashi (push out), followed by yori kiri (force out).