Wajima Hiroshi

Wajima Hiroshi
輪島大士
Personal information
BornHiroshi Wajima (輪島博)
(1948-01-11)11 January 1948
Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan
Died8 October 2018(2018-10-08) (aged 70)
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight130 kg (287 lb)
Career
StableHanakago
UniversityNihon University
Record673–234–85
DebutJanuary 1970
Highest rankYokozuna (May 1973)
RetiredMarch 1981
Elder nameHanakago
Championships14 (Makuuchi)
1 (Jūryō)
2 (Makushita)
Special PrizesOutstanding Performance (3)
Fighting Spirit (2)

Last updated: June 2020

Wajima Hiroshi (Japanese: 輪島大士, Hepburn: Wajima Hiroshi; 11 January 1948 – 8 October 2018) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa. He was the sport's 54th yokozuna and is the first wrestler with a collegiate background to reach its highest rank. Entering professional sumo in January 1970, he won a total of 14 tournament championships or yūshō during his career before retiring in March 1981. He was nicknamed "Golden Left" (黄金の左, Ōgon no Hidari) in reference to his trademark gold mawashi and his preferred technique of a left-handed underarm throw. He was later head coach of Hanakago stable, but after several controversies, Wajima was forced to leave the sumo world and turned to professional wrestling.