Kimikaze Toshiji
# Kimikaze Toshiji

Kimikaze Toshiji (皇風 俊司) (born 23 September 1986 as Toshiji Naoe) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Tokyo, Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 13. He won the jūryō championship in March 2012.

## Career

He was the first professional sumo wrestler from Waseda University in 78 years. He joined Oguruma stable in January 2009, recruited by former ozeki Kotokaze. He was promoted to the juryo division in July 2011 after winning the makushita division championship or yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. At this point he changed his shikona from his family name of Naoe to Kimikaze. After winning the juryo championship in March 2012 with a 12-3 record, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division. He had to withdraw from his debut tournament in the top division on the 13th day and never managed to return to makuuchi. He is the first wrestler since Sakaizawa to have to withdraw from his only top division tournament.

## Retirement from sumo

Due to persistent injuries, including a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, he announced his retirement in May 2014. His danpatsu-shiki or official retirement ceremony took place on June 22, 2014 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Hotel with around 230 guests taking part in the hair-cutting. His marriage was announced at the event. After leaving sumo he returned to his hometown of Chofu to open a sumo-themed restaurant.

## Fighting style

Kimikaze was an oshi-sumo specialist, preferring pushing techniques to fighting on the mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite was oshi-dashi (push out) but he was also very reliant on slap downs (hataki-komi).

## Career record

Kimikaze Toshiji :

| Year in sumo | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo | March Haru basho, Osaka | May Natsu basho, Tokyo | July Nagoya basho, Nagoya | September Aki basho, Tokyo | November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2009 | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #25 5–2 | West Jonidan #90 6–1 | East Jonidan #15 6–1 | East Sandanme #54 6–1 | West Sandanme #3 4–3 |
| 2010 | East Makushita #57 5–2 | West Makushita #43 3–4 | West Makushita #51 4–3 | West Makushita #43 4–3 | East Makushita #34 5–2 | East Makushita #21 6–1–PP |
| 2011 | West Makushita #7 3–4 | West Makushita #15 Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 | West Makushita #15 4–3 | West Makushita #5 7–0 Champion | West Jūryō #8 8–7 | West Jūryō #6 6–7–2 |
| 2012 | East Jūryō #9 8–7 | West Jūryō #7 12–3 Champion | West Maegashira #13 5–8–2 | West Jūryō #2 2–7–6 | West Jūryō #13 3–12 | East Makushita #7 3–4 |
| 2013 | West Makushita #11 2–5 | East Makushita #21 3–4 | West Makushita #32 6–1 | West Makushita #13 5–2 | East Makushita #9 3–4 | West Makushita #13 4–3 |
| 2014 | West Makushita #9 2–2–3 | East Makushita #22 1–6 | West Makushita #51 Retired 0–0–7 | x | x | x |
| Record given as win-loss-absent Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira |||||||
