Hoshiiwato Yūji (born 25 July 1955 as Yūji Noguchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Kaimon, Kagoshima, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1970 and reached the top division in July 1989, 115 tournaments later. This was the slowest ever rise to the top division. His highest rank was maegashira 14. Upon retirement from active competition after the January 1991 tournament, where he faced demotion to the makushita division, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association and took over as head coach at Michinoku stable. He oversaw the promotion to the jūryō division of two wrestlers from Argentina, Hoshitango and Hoshiandesu[ja]. He left the Sumo Association in December 1997 and was succeeded as head coach by former ōzeki Kirishima. He ran a restaurant in Kagoshima city after leaving sumo.

Throughout his long career, Hoshiiwato changed his shikona or fighting name eight times, making his debut under his family name of Noguchi and then being variously known as Kaimondake, Hoshikabuto, Satsumafuji, Hoshisatsuma, Oiwato, Hoshiiwato, Hoshikabuto (again) and finally Hoshiiwato again. This is believed to be a record.

Career record

Hoshiiwato Yūji
YearJanuary Hatsu basho, TokyoMarch Haru basho, OsakaMay Natsu basho, TokyoJuly Nagoya basho, NagoyaSeptember Aki basho, TokyoNovember Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1970xx(Maezumo)East Jonokuchi #8 5–2West Jonidan #61 1–6East Jonidan #82 5–2
1971West Jonidan #39 2–5West Jonidan #55 5–2West Jonidan #18 0–5–2West Jonidan #59 5–2West Jonidan #22 3–4East Jonidan #37 3–4
1972West Jonidan #48 4–3West Jonidan #28 4–3West Jonidan #16 3–4East Jonidan #23 4–3West Jonidan #12 3–4West Jonidan #20 5–2
1973East Sandanme #58 2–5West Jonidan #2 4–3East Sandanme #69 4–3East Sandanme #58 2–5West Jonidan #2 4–3West Sandanme #65 4–3
1974East Sandanme #50 4–3East Sandanme #40 3–4East Sandanme #54 2–5East Sandanme #74 4–3West Sandanme #61 4–3West Sandanme #48 6–1
1975West Sandanme #14 4–3East Sandanme #2 1–6West Sandanme #32 2–5East Sandanme #55 2–5West Sandanme #78 3–4East Jonidan #14 5–2
1976East Sandanme #68 6–1West Sandanme #25 6–1East Makushita #48 5–2East Makushita #32 3–4East Makushita #40 1–6West Sandanme #5 4–3
1977West Makushita #50 5–2West Makushita #29 3–4East Makushita #40 4–3West Makushita #27 5–2East Makushita #17 2–5East Makushita #36 2–5
1978West Makushita #57 4–3East Makushita #44 1–6West Sandanme #9 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7West Sandanme #9 2–5East Sandanme #36 5–2East Sandanme #5 6–1
1979West Makushita #30 3–4East Makushita #39 3–4East Makushita #51 4–3East Makushita #42 2–5East Sandanme #5 3–4West Sandanme #18 2–5
1980West Sandanme #44 6–1East Makushita #60 4–3East Makushita #50 4–3West Makushita #41 3–4West Makushita #50 4–3East Makushita #38 4–3
1981West Makushita #31 3–4West Makushita #41 6–1West Makushita #15 5–2West Makushita #5 4–3East Makushita #3 6–1West Jūryō #11 4–11
1982West Makushita #6 3–4West Makushita #11 5–2East Makushita #4 3–4East Makushita #8 6–1East Makushita #2 1–6West Makushita #24 3–4
1983East Makushita #33 4–3East Makushita #30 5–2East Makushita #14 5–2East Makushita #6 4–3East Makushita #3 5–2West Jūryō #11 7–8
1984West Jūryō #12 8–7West Jūryō #8 6–9East Jūryō #12 7–8East Makushita #1 3–4West Makushita #5 4–3East Makushita #3 3–4
1985West Makushita #8 3–4West Makushita #15 5–2West Makushita #7 5–2East Makushita #2 3–4West Makushita #7 4–3East Makushita #4 2–5
1986East Makushita #17 4–3West Makushita #11 2–5West Makushita #28 5–2East Makushita #18 4–3East Makushita #12 7–0 ChampionEast Jūryō #11 8–7
1987West Jūryō #7 6–9West Jūryō #11 8–7East Jūryō #8 7–8East Jūryō #10 9–6East Jūryō #7 6–9East Jūryō #10 8–7
1988East Jūryō #7 8–7East Jūryō #5 7–8East Jūryō #7 8–7West Jūryō #3 7–8West Jūryō #4 4–11East Jūryō #13 8–7
1989East Jūryō #9 8–7West Jūryō #6 8–7West Jūryō #2 9–6East Maegashira #14 4–11West Jūryō #5 6–9East Jūryō #10 8–7
1990West Jūryō #5 5–10West Jūryō #10 10–5–PWest Jūryō #2 5–10West Jūryō #7 8–7West Jūryō #4 6–9East Jūryō #8 7–8
1991West Jūryō #9 Retired 2–13xxxxx
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) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also