Dejima Takeharu

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Dejima is an only child. His interest in sumo began early, in the first grade of elementary school, when he was encouraged to participate in a local town sumo tournament. This initial foray sparked his journey into the sport. He attended Genmonji Kindergarten, Kanazawa Municipal Moriyamacho Elementary School, Kanazawa Municipal Naruwa Junior High School, and Kanazawa Municipal Technical High School, before graduating from the Chuo University Faculty of Law. While training was incredibly rigorous during his middle school years, leading him to constantly consider quitting, his fear of his teachers ultimately prevented him from doing so. Despite the intensity, he later reflected that this period was crucial for "laying the groundwork for blooming." In junior high, Dejima achieved second place in the individual competition at the National Junior High School Sumo Championship (where Nobuyuki Yanagawa took first place), and he was a childhood rival of fellow top-division wrestler Tochinonada Taiichi. Following his success in junior high, he received offers from several sumo stables, but at the time, he perceived professional sumo as a "scary world" and had no intention of joining.

1.2. Student Sumo Activities and Major Achievements

During his high school career, Dejima distinguished himself by winning seven titles, including the prestigious High School Yokozuna title and the individual competition at the National Sports Festival. After high school, he enrolled at Chuo University, having been recruited by the university's sumo coach and an elder university senior, Kurimoto (later Butetsuyama), who was a former amateur yokozuna. Although he trained rigorously during his first year, benefiting from sparring with seniors like Kurimoto and Matsumoto (later Tamawashi), his progress plateaued in later years due to a lack of challenging training partners. Unlike students from other universities located closer to central Tokyo, Dejima, residing in Hachioji, could not easily train at professional sumo stables. Consequently, he never won the major amateur titles of Student Yokozuna (All-Japan Student Sumo Championship) or Amateur Yokozuna (All-Japan Sumo Championship). Despite repeatedly being invited to join professional sumo by Butetsuyama, who had already entered Musashigawa stable, Dejima hesitated, still holding onto his childhood perception of the sport. It was only in November of his fourth year, driven by the regret of missing out on major amateur titles, that he finally decided to turn professional, joining Musashigawa stable. He later reflected that he would not have been able to make such a big decision if he had not encountered strong opponents as a high school student and had not experienced the frustration of failing to win titles as a university student.

2.1. Early Career and Makuuchi Promotion

Dejima made his professional sumo debut in March 1996 at the age of 22, joining Musashigawa stable, which was then home to the Ōzeki Musashimaru. His extensive amateur success granted him `makushita tsukedashi` status, allowing him to debut in the third `makushita` division. Notably, he used his real name, Dejima Takeharu, as his `shikona` (ring name) throughout his active career and never changed it. When asked about a potential name change upon his Ōzeki promotion, he stated, "I'll stick with this name. I think people are starting to associate my face with this name."
At Musashigawa stable, Dejima benefited from training with formidable partners like Musashimaru and Musoyama. He himself remarked that he grew more in his first six months as a professional than in his four years at university. His powerful initial charge (`tachi-ai`), for which he would become famous, was rigorously honed under Musashigawa's strict guidance, as he was initially known for a softer `tachi-ai` typical of student sumo wrestlers.
His rise through the ranks was remarkably swift and without a single `makekoshi` (losing record). In September 1996, just six months after his debut, he was promoted to the jūryō division. He spent only three tournaments in `jūryō`, securing the `jūryō` tournament championship (`yūshō`) in January 1997 with a 12-3 record. This led to his promotion to the top makuuchi division in March 1997. His advancement was so rapid that his hair had not yet grown long enough to be fashioned into the traditional `oichonmage` topknot.
In his `makuuchi` debut, Dejima achieved an impressive 11 wins against 4 losses, earning him two special prizes: the Technique Prize and the Fighting Spirit Prize. Although he had his first `makekoshi` in the following May tournament (7-8), he quickly rebounded. In September 1997, from the rank of `maegashira` 1, he delivered an outstanding performance, defeating both then-Yokozuna Takanohana and Akebono, and one Ōzeki, to achieve an 11-4 record. This earned him two more special prizes (Outstanding Performance and Technique) and his first two `kinboshi` (gold stars for defeating yokozuna). His exceptional results led to his debut in the `san'yaku` ranks, skipping `komusubi` to become `sekiwake` in November 1997. However, his strong momentum was interrupted when he sustained a severe left ankle injury (sprain, torn tibiofibular ligament, and medial malleolus fracture) on the seventh day of the November tournament in a bout against his university senior, Tamakasuga. This injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament and miss the subsequent two tournaments (January and March 1998), requiring over a month of hospitalization. After a full recovery, he returned in May 1998 as `maegashira` 11 and quickly climbed back to the `san'yaku` ranks, returning as `komusubi` in September 1998, a rank he maintained for four consecutive tournaments. In July 1998, he earned another two `kinboshi` by defeating two Yokozuna and one Ōzeki, contributing to a 10-5 record and another Outstanding Performance Prize.

2.2. Ōzeki Promotion and Makuuchi Championship

Dejima returned to the rank of `sekiwake` in May 1999, where he produced a strong 11-4 record. The subsequent July 1999 tournament in Nagoya, often considered a "quasi-hometown" `basho`, was initially not seen as his `Ōzeki` promotion bid tournament. However, Dejima launched a powerful charge from the outset. On the seventh day, he defeated Yokozuna Akebono with a `sukuinage` (scoop throw), and on the ninth day, he secured a dominant `oshitaoshi` (push down) victory against Yokozuna Takanohana with a forceful `hazushi` (thrusting attack), prompting Takanohana to comment that Dejima's initial charge was "Yokozuna-level." Despite losses to Kotonishiki on Day 4 and Kaio on Day 11, he entered the final day with a 13-2 record, only one win behind Akebono. With a large cheering section from Kanazawa, including his parents, he defeated `sekiwake` Tochiazuma on `senshuraku` (the final day) with a `yorikiri` (force out).
In the concluding bout, his stablemate Yokozuna Musashimaru defeated Akebono, leading to a `yūshō` playoff between Dejima and Akebono. In this decisive match, Dejima employed a controversial `henka` (sidestep) at the `tachi-ai` to defeat Akebono, securing his first top-division `yūshō`. While the `henka` drew some criticism, he was awarded all three special prizes available for that tournament: Technique, Outstanding Performance, and Fighting Spirit. He was only the second wrestler in sumo history, after Takahanada (later Yokozuna Takanohana), to achieve this triple prize feat.
Following the tournament, his promotion to `Ōzeki` was officially confirmed. At his `Ōzeki` promotion ceremony, Dejima delivered a memorable commitment speech, stating, "I will aim to be a forceful warrior (力の武士_{Chikara no Mononofu}^Japanese) and devote myself to further training and effort." He was the fourth former amateur champion, following Yutakayama, Wajima, and Asashio, to reach sumo's second-highest rank. His stablemates Musoyama and Miyabiyama also achieved `Ōzeki` rank shortly thereafter, in March and May 2000, respectively. With Musashimaru already a `Yokozuna`, Dejima enjoyed the significant advantage of having three stablemates in the top two ranks, as sumo wrestlers do not compete against members of their own stable except in playoffs. Dejima later reflected that he succeeded in that tournament because he had no "ulterior motives," only focusing on his sumo, and only began to consciously think about Ōzeki promotion in the last three days.

2.3. Ōzeki Tenure and Demotion

Dejima maintained his `Ōzeki` rank for two years, achieving his best record as an `Ōzeki` with an 11-4 score in March 2000. However, he never managed to contend for the `yūshō` title on the final day of a tournament during his `Ōzeki` tenure. In January 2001, he recorded his first `makekoshi` as an `Ōzeki` with 7 wins and 8 losses, consistently being slapped down at the edge of the ring. Facing his first `kadoban` (Ōzeki in danger of demotion) in March, he barely maintained his rank by defeating Asashōryū on `senshuraku` to secure an 8-7 record.
However, in the subsequent May 2001 tournament, he again fell into `makekoshi` with a 5-10 record. Entering his second `kadoban` in July 2001, Dejima started with three consecutive wins but then suffered two losses. He was forced to withdraw from the tournament on the sixth day due to a serious case of `cellulitis` (蜂窩織炎_{houka shien}^Japanese) that required emergency hospitalization for high fever. Doctors reportedly described his condition as severe, stating that "a normal person would have died," and he suffered from fevers as high as 107.6 °F ^{(42 °C)}, remaining above 100.4 °F ^{(38 °C)} even after discharge. This withdrawal, combined with his previous `makekoshi`, led to his demotion from `Ōzeki` to `sekiwake`. Dejima later attributed this serious illness to the immense mental pressure of being an `Ōzeki`, which he felt weakened his immune system.
Upon his return in September 2001 at the rank of `sekiwake`, he needed to secure ten wins to regain his `Ōzeki` status under the special rule for demoted Ōzeki. However, still in poor physical condition, he could only manage a 5-10 record, thus failing to achieve immediate re-promotion.

2.4. Activities After Ōzeki Demotion

After his demotion from `Ōzeki`, Dejima largely remained in the `maegashira` ranks for the remainder of his career. Chronic injuries, particularly to his knees and ankles, significantly hampered his ability to make a sustained bid for regaining his `Ōzeki` status. The `cellulitis` he suffered also left his legs noticeably weakened, affecting his tenacious sumo style. Despite these setbacks, he continued to display remarkable resilience and competitive spirit. He competed for 48 tournaments after dropping from the `Ōzeki` rank, which was, at the time, the longest tenure in the `makuuchi` division for any former `Ōzeki` in history, a record later surpassed by Miyabiyama.
Following his demotion, Dejima also experienced a decline in support from some of his fan club members, which he later described as a harsh lesson in "the coldness and heartlessness of people, how they turn their backs." However, he also found this experience valuable, as it allowed him to "re-recognize what is truly important" by identifying his genuine supporters. He frequently expressed his strong desire to compete against `yokozuna` and `ōzeki`, reflecting his enduring pride as a former `Ōzeki`.
Even in his later career, Dejima was capable of impressive performances when his condition allowed. In January 2003, he achieved an 11-4 record and secured a `kinboshi` against Takanohana, briefly returning to the `san'yaku` ranks as `komusubi` in March 2003, where he defeated Yokozuna Asashōryū to earn another `kinboshi`. He also showcased his strength by winning 11 bouts in November 2003, despite facing the threat of demotion to `jūryō`. In September 2004, he started with five consecutive wins, joining the `yūshō` race. However, his career was marked by a cyclical pattern of recovery and re-injury, including right knee ligament tears (July 2002), right meniscus injury (July 2003, causing him to miss the tournament), and a left calf muscle strain (November 2004, forcing withdrawal). Between 2004 and 2006, he frequently found himself with a 7-7 record on the final day of tournaments, similar to Takamisakari.
The year 2007 saw a notable resurgence for Dejima. In January, from `maegashira` 1, he started strongly, defeating Ōzeki Hakuho with an `oshidashi` on Day 2 and then spectacularly pushing down Yokozuna Asashōryū on Day 3, earning his second `kinboshi` since his `Ōzeki` demotion and his first against Asashōryū. Despite these impressive wins, he suffered two five-match losing streaks and finished with a 4-11 record. In May 2007, ranked at `maegashira` 10, he achieved a personal best starting an 8-0 record. He finished the tournament with an impressive 12-3 record, his second runner-up performance in `makuuchi` and his highest score since his championship win. This performance earned him his fourth Fighting Spirit Prize, marking his first `sanshō` in 47 tournaments, the third-longest gap in history. In November 2007, he secured 10 wins against 5 losses from `maegashira` 2, leading to his promotion back to `komusubi` for the January 2008 tournament. This return to `san'yaku` after 27 tournaments was the third slowest in the modern era. However, his return to `san'yaku` was short-lived, as he only managed 3 wins and 12 losses in that tournament. His explosive initial charge began to wane, and he increasingly relied on slapping and sidestepping techniques. After his `makekoshi` in September 2008, he never secured another winning record. In November 2008, he started with six consecutive wins but then suffered nine consecutive losses, finishing 6-9. In the March 2009 tournament, he injured his left arm and elbow during a `kakenage` (hooking throw) against Kokkai on the first day. Although he did not withdraw, this injury proved to be a critical blow to his career.

2.5. Retirement from Active Competition

In the July 2009 tournament, which coincided exactly ten years after his historic `yūshō` victory, Dejima found himself in a precarious position, ranked at `maegashira` 13. After suffering his tenth loss on the tenth day, he faced the strong possibility of demotion to the second-tier `jūryō` division. On the eleventh day, after another loss to Toyonoshima, bringing his record to 2 wins and 9 losses, Dejima announced his retirement from active competition. This decision allowed him to avoid demotion and preserve his dignity. At his retirement press conference, he reflected, "I have been battling with injuries and old wounds for some years now."

6.1. Career Statistics

Dejima's overall career record stands at 595 wins, 495 losses, and 98 absences, yielding a win percentage of 54.6%.

• Total Career Record: 595 wins, 495 losses, 98 absences (Win Rate: 54.6%)
• Makuuchi Division Record: 546 wins, 478 losses, 98 absences (Win Rate: 53.3%)
• Ōzeki Rank Record: 100 wins, 71 losses, 9 absences (Win Rate: 58.5%)
• Makuuchi Tenure: 74 tournaments
• Ōzeki Tenure: 12 tournaments
• San'yaku Tenure: 12 tournaments (5 as `sekiwake`, 7 as `komusubi`)
• Longest Consecutive Winning Records (Makuuchi): 16 tournaments (May 1998 - November 2000)
• Longest Consecutive Double-Digit Wins (Makuuchi): 4 tournaments (May 1999 - November 1999)
• Longest Makuuchi Tenure by a Former Ōzeki in `San'yaku` or lower: 48 tournaments (a record until surpassed by Miyabiyama)

6.2. Tournament Wins and Special Prizes

Dejima achieved championship victories in three different divisions and earned numerous special prizes and `kinboshi`.

• Makuuchi Division Championship (Yūshō): 1 time (July 1999)
• Jūryō Division Championship: 1 time (January 1997)
• Makushita Division Championship: 1 time (May 1996)

• Sanshō (Special Prizes): 10 total
  • Outstanding Performance Prize: 3 times (September 1997, July 1998, July 1999)
  • Fighting Spirit Prize: 4 times (March 1997, May 1998, July 1999, May 2007)
  • Technique Prize: 3 times (March 1997, September 1997, July 1999)
  • Kinboshi (Gold Stars): 6 total
    • Against Akebono: 2
    • Against Takanohana: 2
    • Against Wakanohana: 1
    • Against Asashōryū: 1

6.3. Head-to-Head Records

Dejima's performance against various notable opponents, including `yokozuna` and `ōzeki`, is summarized below. A `*` indicates an additional win in a `yūshō` playoff.

• In addition to the records above, Dejima holds one playoff win against Akebono.