Sumo obituaries

[Kintamayama]

Ex-Makuuchi Youtsukasa has died at the age of 51on the 11th at a hospital in Saitama Prefecture. He was  originally from Mie Prefecture. A graduate of Nihon University, he joined former sekiwake Tochitsukasa's Irumagawa beya and made his debut in Hatsu 1996. Using his thrusting and pushing techniques, he was promoted to Juryo in May1998. At the same time, he changed his shikona from his real name, Suzuki, to Youtsukasa. He made his debut in Makuuchi in May of 1999. His highest rank was East Maegashira 11. He retired after Aki  of 2005.and served as an Oyakata at Irumagawa beya, where he trained the next generation of rikishi, but retired from the Kyokai in January 2012. He had reportedly been battling illness in recent years.

Edited August 13, 2025 by Kintamayama

[Jakusotsu]

Very sad to hear that. He played the belly drum most impressively before his bouts.

I also (perhaps wrongly) remember him to have a tattoo removed before being allowed to join.

[Akinomaki]

On 12/08/2025 at 14:54, Kintamayama said:

Ex-Makuuchi Youtsukasa has died at the age of 51on the 11th

Yotsukasa pics from the papers

oo

o o o

oo

o  o

[Akinomaki]

On 10/08/2025 at 07:17, Kintamayama said:

Ex-Sekiwakei Kotofuji has passed away at the age of 60 of a cerebral infarction.

Kotofuji pics from the papers - nearly all from the yusho Nagoya 1991

o oo

o o o o o

oo

o

Hatsu 1994

o

[Akinomaki]

NSK Hyogiin-kai top (still listed on the NSK page), former head of the YDC and former NSK external riji Ebizawa Katsuji (ex-NHK top) has passed away on the 19th at age 91 due to pneumonia

As YDC top in 2008

o

the Hyogiin-kai top at Hoshoryu's ozeki promotion party Feb. 2024

o

Edit: not one of the articles mentions his actual post in the NSK now, only the former ones, NikkanSP only in the capture from the 2024 photo

Edited October 20, 2025 by Akinomaki

[Kaitetsu]

Former maegashira Komafudo passed away on the 15th due to heart failure, he was 60 years old. (via Nikkan Sports)

Recruited by yokozuna Wajima into Hanakago stable, Komafudo reached his highest career rank of maegashira 13 in September 1989 and won a juryo yusho in November 1992. 
 

After retirement he ran a restaurant in Tokyo for a time, according to the article.

 

[Asashosakari]

On 18/12/2025 at 04:32, Kaitetsu said:

Former maegashira Komafudo passed away on the 15th due to heart failure, he was 60 years old. (via Nikkan Sports)

Hmm.

[sumojoann]

12 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Hmm.

Hmm I agree.  Sumo Reference shows he was born September 15, 1967, which would make him 58 at the time of death.  

Edited December 20, 2025 by sumojoann

[Gaijingai]

On 17/12/2025 at 22:32, Kaitetsu said:

Former maegashira Komafudo passed away on the 15th due to heart failure, he was 60 years old. (via Nikkan Sports)

Recruited by yokozuna Wajima into Hanakago stable, Komafudo reached his highest career rank of maegashira 13 in September 1989 and won a juryo yusho in November 1992. 
 

After retirement he ran a restaurant in Tokyo for a time, according to the article.

 

Here is the article in English. 
https://www.yardbarker.com/general_sports/articles/beloved_pro_wrestling_champion_passes_away_at_60/s1_17616_43226492

[rokudenashi]

Beloved pro wrestling champion? Come on now

[Akinomaki]

Writer Uchidate Makiko died on the 17th in a hospital in Tokyo of acute left-sided heart failure, at age 77, her office announced it today. As the first female YDC member she was a promoter of hinkaku and harsh critic of Asashoryu. She wrote the script for the 1992 NHK serial morning drama Hirari, about a young woman as manager of a sumo-beya  - one rikishi is named Kanpuzan, the present one has never met Uchidate o.

YDC member 2000-2010

o oo

2004

o  o

2009

oo

2010

oo

oo o ooo    o o

Asashoryu commented: she was the strongest person

Edited December 26, 2025 by Akinomaki

[dingo]

Rest in peace Uchidate-san. I fondly remember her sometimes outrageous, sometimes even loony comments as a YDC member. 

[Gaijingai]

1 hour ago, dingo said:

Rest in peace Uchidate-san. I fondly remember her sometimes outrageous, sometimes even loony comments as a YDC member. 

True indeed. Even up till this day, I used to spoof her in my Bench Sumo comments.