Takanowaka
| Takanowaka Yūki | |
|---|---|
| 隆乃若 勇紀 | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Yūki Ozaki April 2, 1976 Nagasaki, Japan |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 149 kg (328 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Naruto |
| Record | 505-470-66 |
| Debut | March 1992 |
| Highest rank | Sekiwake (January 2003) |
| Retired | September, 2007 |
| Championships | 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita) |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (3) |
| Gold Stars | 1 (Musashimaru) |
| * Up to date as of September 2007. | |
Takanowaka Yūki (born 2 April 1976 as Yūki Ozaki) is a former sumo wrestler from Ikitsuki, Nagasaki, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake.
Takanowaka was born as Yūki Ozaki, the son of a professional baseball player. In his youth he played not only baseball but also basketball, for which he was offered several scholarships. He tried sumo at the suggestion of his school's sumo club manager, who had connections with Naruto stable. Takanowaka joined the stable in March 1992, making his debut alongside future sekiwake Wakanosato. As is common, he initially fought under his own surname, soon switching to "Takaozaki" before adopting the fighting name of Takanowaka in 1998. Initially weighing only 80 kg (180 lb), it took him several years to work his way through the lower ranks. He was promoted to the second highest jūryō division in May 1999 and reached the top makuuchi division just three tournaments later in November 1999.
Takanowaka was ranked in the top division for 34 tournaments in total, with a win-loss rate of 229-242, with 39 absences. He earned one kinboshi, or gold star, by defeating yokozuna Musashimaru in May 2001, and three special prizes. His best performance was probably in November 2002 when produced a strong 11-4 record at komusubi rank and won his third Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to sekiwake in January 2003 and held his rank with a good 9-6 score but missed the whole of the March 2003 tournament with an injury picked up on the last day of the previous basho. As a result, he was demoted to jūryō and although he quickly returned to the top division he never managed to reach the titled san'yaku ranks again. After suffering from torn cartilage in his knees his results took a downward turn. He was demoted to jūryō once again in January 2006 and the unsalaried makushita division in July 2007.
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