Masayuki Okamoto(岡本 将之, Okamoto Masayuki; born 18 September 1983) is a former sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler from Chōyō, Kumamoto, Japan. In sumo, he used the shikona Kirinowaka Tarō(霧の若 太郎, Kirinowaka Tarō), while in professional wrestling he is known by the ring name Shogun Okamoto(将軍岡本, Shōgun Okamoto).

Career

As a professional wrestler

His parents ran a yakiniku restaurant. In junior high school Okamoto did judo and participated in prefectural competitions in the third grade. Amongst his opponents was the future top division sumo wrestler Chiyohakuho. Although he had no experience in sumo, he was spotted by scouts from the Michinoku stable and recommended to its stablemaster, ex ōzeki Kirishima. Okamoto was not aware of Kirishima's sumo career but was convinced by his passion for sumo to join Michinoku stable. He made his professional debut in March 1999. He scored six wins against just one loss in his first official tournament. He came close to promotion to the sekitori level in May 2006 with a 4–3 record at makushita #3 but missed out and had to wait until November 2007 when a 5–2 at makushita #4 earned him promotion to the jūryō division. He was the first member of Michinoku stable to do so since ex-Kirishima took over the stable in 1997. In his jūryō debut in January 2008 he lost eight bouts in the first ten days but then recovered to win his last five matches in a row. However, after losing scores in three tournaments from January to May 2010 he was demoted back to makushita. He never reached the top division, and the highest rank he achieved was jūryō 4. His career record over 72 tournaments was 310 wins against 291 losses.

Retirement from sumo

He was forced to retire by the Japan Sumo Association in April 2011, after an investigation showed his name had appeared in text messages along with several other wrestlers who were prepared to throw bouts. In January 2012 he became a professional wrestler with a ring name of Shogun Okamoto and joined the Inoki Genome Federation. In February 2012 he won his first match, defeating Bob Sapp. In October 2013 he formed a tag team with another former sumo wrestler, Wakakirin. He left IGF in March 2016 and went freelance. In July he joined Akebono and Ryota Hama's tag team "SMOP", as part of which he won his first title, the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship, in February 2017.

His parents' home was destroyed in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, although no one was injured.

Fighting style

Wakakirin's favourite techniques were tsuppari (a series of rapid thrusts to the opponent's chest) and yori (force out). When fighting on the mawashi or belt he preferred a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) grip.

Career record

Kirinowaka Tarō
YearJanuary Hatsu basho, TokyoMarch Haru basho, OsakaMay Natsu basho, TokyoJuly Nagoya basho, NagoyaSeptember Aki basho, TokyoNovember Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1999x(Maezumo)West Jonokuchi #32 6–1East Jonidan #95 2–5West Jonidan #119 3–4East Jonidan #135 6–1
2000East Jonidan #54 2–5West Jonidan #79 5–2West Jonidan #34 3–4East Jonidan #53 4–3East Jonidan #33 3–4East Jonidan #52 5–2
2001East Jonidan #12 5–2East Sandanme #77 6–1East Sandanme #21 3–4East Sandanme #35 4–3West Sandanme #20 4–3East Sandanme #9 3–4
2002East Sandanme #22 4–3East Sandanme #11 3–4West Sandanme #28 4–3East Sandanme #13 5–2West Makushita #51 2–5East Sandanme #12 5–2
2003East Makushita #50 2–5East Sandanme #13 3–4East Sandanme #26 5–2West Sandanme #2 4–3West Makushita #51 3–4West Sandanme #4 4–3
2004West Makushita #50 3–4West Makushita #57 6–1West Makushita #26 4–3West Makushita #22 4–3East Makushita #18 2–5West Makushita #31 4–3
2005West Makushita #25 4–3West Makushita #20 4–3West Makushita #14 2–5West Makushita #25 3–4West Makushita #32 4–3West Makushita #25 5–2
2006East Makushita #15 5–2West Makushita #6 5–2East Makushita #3 4–3East Makushita #2 3–4West Makushita #5 2–5East Makushita #17 3–4
2007East Makushita #23 4–3East Makushita #18 5–2West Makushita #11 6–1East Makushita #4 3–4West Makushita #7 4–3West Makushita #4 5–2
2008East Jūryō #13 7–8West Jūryō #13 8–7East Jūryō #12 8–7West Jūryō #8 6–9East Jūryō #13 3–12East Makushita #6 5–2
2009East Makushita #2 5–2West Jūryō #14 8–7East Jūryō #12 9–6West Jūryō #8 8–7West Jūryō #4 5–10East Jūryō #10 8–7
2010West Jūryō #8 6–9East Jūryō #12 7–8East Jūryō #13 2–13East Makushita #14 2–5West Makushita #27 4–3East Makushita #23 4–3
2011East Makushita #19 3–4Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0East Makushita #28 Retired –xxx
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

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling

See also

External links

  • at the Grand Sumo Homepage
  • Kirinowaka Tarō's profile at ,