Tamawashi, Nearly 42, Marks a Record 1,500th Makuuchi Appearance by Blasting Out Daiseizan
East Maegashira 15 Tamawashi (Kataonami), 41, pushed out 26-year-old Maegashira 17 Daiseizan (Arashio) on Day 3 to go 2-1, Nikkan Sports and Sports Hochi report. He hit hard with his head and drove Daiseizan straight out with thrusts. It was his 1,500th makuuchi appearance, extending the all-time record he already holds. 'A reporter told me just now, so that's how it is,' he said. 'I don't think about numbers deeply or heavily. I'm active now; I just keep moving forward.'
On Day 2 he reached 715 makuuchi wins, passing Kisenosato for sole seventh. Nikkan says two more makuuchi wins would tie Kotoshogiku (now Hidenoyama oyakata) at 718, and nine more career wins would tie Kyokutenho (now Oshima oyakata) for sixth with 927. He turns 42 on Nov 16, Day 9. 'Many oyakata might say that at 40 you can do it yourself, but my stablemaster [Kataonami] always talks to me, so there is still a lot to learn,' he said. Fans on social media wrote 'Fearsome 41-year-old!!' and 'He can go five more years.'
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Jiji Press photo) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Jiji Press photo)