Itai Keisuke

Quick Facts

Full Name	Itai Keisuke
Occupation	Sumo Wrestler
Date Of Birth	Mar 21, 1956(1956-03-21)
Age	68
Date Of Death	August 14, 2018
Birthplace	Usuki
Country	Japan
Birth City	Ōita Prefecture
Horoscope	Aries

Itai Keisuke Biography

Itai Keisuke is one of the most popular and richest Sumo Wrestler who was born on March 21, 1956 in Usuki, Ōita Prefecture, Japan.

He played baseball at elementary school but was converted to sumo at Oita Prefectural Ocean Science High School where his older brother was active in the school’s sumo team. Despite being scouted by ex-Yoshibayama of the Miyagino stable and solicitations from the Nihon University and Komazawa University sumo teams, he did not think he could make the grade as a pro. Instead, after graduating from high school he worked in the ceramics industry until he was 22. He was active in his company’s sumo division and won many national youth competitions as an amateur. He did not turn professional until September 1978 when he joined Onaruto stable, set up by the former sekiwake Kōtetsuyama Toyoya after he left Asahiyama stable. Itai rose up the rankings in record time, winning his first 26 matches, a record at that time for most consecutive victories from entry into sumo. He reached the second jūryō division just six tournaments after his professional debut, and was given the shikona of Kōtetsuyama, after his stablemaster. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division after winning the jūryō championship in July 1980. However he dropped out of his debut makuuchi tournament on the fifth day without even winning one match. He won promotion to the top division once again after winning another jūryō title in March 1981 but once again dropped out of the following tournament, this time after only three days. Struggling with a left knee injury, he fell all the way down to the unsalaried makushita division. In an effort to change his fortunes, he dropped the shikona and reverted to his real surname, which he was to use for the rest of his career.

Itai finally managed to win a top division bout on his third attempt in November 1982, and came through with his first kachi-koshi or winning score in March 1983. He remained in the top division for 50 consecutive tournaments. Although he was short for a sumo wrestler at just 1.76 m (5 ft 9 ⁄2 in), he was a powerful pusher-thruster, specialising in oshi techniques. He earned three gold stars for defeating yokozuna, all of which were bouts against Onokuni. He defeated Onokuni six times in a row from November 1985 until March 1988 (including when Onokuni was at ōzeki rank) and used fierce harite or slaps to the face (reinforced by strapping around his hands) which knocked Onokuni straight to the ground in one match. However by contrast he lost all 16 bouts against yokozuna Chiyonofuji. His best result in a tournament was 11-4 in March 1989, for which he was awarded two special prizes for outstanding performance and technique. At 33 he was the oldest first-time special prize winner since Shionishiki in May 1959. He earned promotion to komusubi for the following tournament, but only managed three wins in his sanyaku debut and never managed to return to the rank. In the July 1991 tournament, ranked at the bottom of the makuuchi division, he lost every one of his fifteen bouts and was demoted to jūryō. He announced his retirement from sumo three days into the following tournament at the age of 35. Unusually, his professional debut, jūryō debut, makuuchi debut and retirement all took place in the Aki basho held in September.

Itai Keisuke Net Worth

Itai Keisuke is one of the richest Sumo Wrestler from Japan. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Itai Keisuke 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Itai Keisuke (板井圭介 , Itai Keisuke, 21 March 1956 – 14 August 2018) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He held the record for most consecutive victories from entry into sumo for several years before it was broken by Jōkōryū in 2012. After his retirement, Itai caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were set by match-fixing.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Itai Keisuke height 1.78 m Jack weight 139 kg & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Itai Keisuke Dating?

According to our records, Itai Keisuke is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Itai Keisuke’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Itai Keisuke. You may help us to build the dating records for Itai Keisuke!

Facts & Trivia

Jack Ranked on the list of most popular Sumo Wrestler. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Japan. Itai Keisuke celebrates birthday on March 21 of every year.