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. He left the Sumo Association in December 1997 and was succeeded as head coach by former ōzeki Kirishima.[1][2] He ran a restaurant in Kagoshima city after leaving sumo.

Hoshiiwato Yūji
星岩涛 祐二
Personal information
BornYūji Noguchi
(1955-07-25) 25 July 1955 (age 69)
Kaimon, Kagoshima, Japan
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Weight138 kg (304 lb; 21.7 st)
Career
StableIzutsuMichinoku
Record552-549-15
DebutMay, 1970
Highest rankMaegashira 14 (July, 1989)
RetiredJanuary, 1991
Elder nameMichinoku
Championships1 (Makushita)
* Up to date as of June 2020.

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

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Hoshiiwato Yūji[3]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March
Haru basho, Osaka
May
Natsu basho, Tokyo
July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September
Aki basho, Tokyo
November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1970 x x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #8
5–2
 
West Jonidan #61
1–6
 
East Jonidan #82
5–2
 
1971 West Jonidan #39
2–5
 
West Jonidan #55
5–2
 
West Jonidan #18
0–5–2
 
West Jonidan #59
5–2
 
West Jonidan #22
3–4
 
East Jonidan #37
3–4
 
1972 West Jonidan #48
4–3
 
West Jonidan #28
4–3
 
West Jonidan #16
3–4
 
East Jonidan #23
4–3
 
West Jonidan #12
3–4
 
West Jonidan #20
5–2
 
1973 East Sandanme #58
2–5
 
West Jonidan #2
4–3
 
East Sandanme #69
4–3
 
East Sandanme #58
2–5
 
West Jonidan #2
4–3
 
West Sandanme #65
4–3
 
1974 East Sandanme #50
4–3
 
East Sandanme #40
3–4
 
East Sandanme #54
2–5
 
East Sandanme #74
4–3
 
West Sandanme #61
4–3
 
West Sandanme #48
6–1
 
1975 West Sandanme #14
4–3
 
East Sandanme #2
1–6
 
West Sandanme #32
2–5
 
East Sandanme #55
2–5
 
West Sandanme #78
3–4
 
East Jonidan #14
5–2
 
1976 East Sandanme #68
6–1
 
West Sandanme #25
6–1
 
East Makushita #48
5–2
 
East Makushita #32
3–4
 
East Makushita #40
1–6
 
West Sandanme #5
4–3
 
1977 West Makushita #50
5–2
 
West Makushita #29
3–4
 
East Makushita #40
4–3
 
West Makushita #27
5–2
 
East Makushita #17
2–5
 
East Makushita #36
2–5
 
1978 West Makushita #57
4–3
 
East Makushita #44
1–6
 
West Sandanme #9
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
West Sandanme #9
2–5
 
East Sandanme #36
5–2
 
East Sandanme #5
6–1
 
1979 West Makushita #30
3–4
 
East Makushita #39
3–4
 
East Makushita #51
4–3
 
East Makushita #42
2–5
 
East Sandanme #5
3–4
 
West Sandanme #18
2–5
 
1980 West Sandanme #44
6–1
 
East Makushita #60
4–3
 
East Makushita #50
4–3
 
West Makushita #41
3–4
 
West Makushita #50
4–3
 
East Makushita #38
4–3
 
1981 West Makushita #31
3–4
 
West Makushita #41
6–1
 
West Makushita #15
5–2
 
West Makushita #5
4–3
 
East Makushita #3
6–1
 
West Jūryō #11
4–11
 
1982 West Makushita #6
3–4
 
West Makushita #11
5–2
 
East Makushita #4
3–4
 
East Makushita #8
6–1
 
East Makushita #2
1–6
 
West Makushita #24
3–4
 
1983 East Makushita #33
4–3
 
East Makushita #30
5–2
 
East Makushita #14
5–2
 
East Makushita #6
4–3
 
East Makushita #3
5–2
 
West Jūryō #11
7–8
 
1984 West Jūryō #12
8–7
 
West Jūryō #8
6–9
 
East Jūryō #12
7–8
 
East Makushita #1
3–4
 
West Makushita #5
4–3
 
East Makushita #3
3–4
 
1985 West Makushita #8
3–4
 
West Makushita #15
5–2
 
West Makushita #7
5–2
 
East Makushita #2
3–4
 
West Makushita #7
4–3
 
East Makushita #4
2–5
 
1986 East Makushita #17
4–3
 
West Makushita #11
2–5
 
West Makushita #28
5–2
 
East Makushita #18
4–3
 
East Makushita #12
7–0
Champion

 
East Jūryō #11
8–7
 
1987 West Jūryō #7
6–9
 
West Jūryō #11
8–7
 
East Jūryō #8
7–8
 
East Jūryō #10
9–6
 
East Jūryō #7
6–9
 
East Jūryō #10
8–7
 
1988 East Jūryō #7
8–7
 
East Jūryō #5
7–8
 
East Jūryō #7
8–7
 
West Jūryō #3
7–8
 
West Jūryō #4
4–11
 
East Jūryō #13
8–7
 
1989 East Jūryō #9
8–7
 
West Jūryō #6
8–7
 
West Jūryō #2
9–6
 
East Maegashira #14
4–11
 
West Jūryō #5
6–9
 
East Jūryō #10
8–7
 
1990 West Jūryō #5
5–10
 
West Jūryō #10
10–5–P
 
West Jūryō #2
5–10
 
West Jūryō #7
8–7
 
West Jūryō #4
6–9
 
East Jūryō #8
7–8
 
1991 West Jūryō #9
Retired
2–13
x x x x x
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: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hoshiiwato Yuji Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Michinoku Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Hoshiiwato Yuji Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 6 March 2013.