| Kirinowaka Tarō | |
|---|---|
| 霧の若 太郎 | |
 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Masayuki Okamoto (1983-09-18)18 September 1983 (age 42)[1] Chōyō, Kumamoto[1] |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft9+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 123 kg (271 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Michinoku |
| Record | 310-291-0 |
| Debut | March 1999 |
| Highest rank | Jūryō 4 (September 2009) |
| Retired | May 2011 |
Last updated: September 2012 | |
Masayuki Okamoto (岡本 将之,Okamoto Masayuki; born 18 September 1983) is a formersumo wrestler and currentprofessional wrestler fromChōyō,Kumamoto, Japan.[1] In sumo, he used theshikonaKirinowaka Tarō (霧の若 太郎,Kirinowaka Tarō), while in professional wrestling he is known by thering nameShogun Okamoto (将軍岡本,Shōgun Okamoto).
His parents ran ayakiniku restaurant. In junior high school Okamoto didjudo and participated in prefectural competitions in the third grade. Amongst his opponents was the future top division sumo wrestlerChiyohakuho. Although he had no experience in sumo, he was spotted by scouts from theMichinoku stable and recommended to its stablemaster, exōzekiKirishima. Okamoto was not aware of Kirishima's sumo career but was convinced by his passion for sumo to join Michinoku stable. He made his professional debut in March 1999. He scored six wins against just one loss in his first official tournament. He came close to promotion to thesekitori level in May 2006 with a 4–3 record atmakushita #3 but missed out and had to wait until November 2007 when a 5–2 atmakushita #4 earned him promotion to thejūryō division. He was the first member of Michinoku stable to do so since ex-Kirishima took over the stable in 1997. In hisjūryō debut in January 2008 he lost eight bouts in the first ten days but then recovered to win his last five matches in a row. However, after losing scores in three tournaments from January to May 2010 he was demoted back tomakushita. He never reached thetop division, and the highest rank he achieved wasjūryō 4. His career record over 72 tournaments was 310 wins against 291 losses.
He was forced to retire by theJapan Sumo Association in April 2011, afteran investigation showed his name had appeared in text messages along with several other wrestlers who were prepared to throw bouts.[2] In January 2012 he became aprofessional wrestler with a ring name ofShogun Okamoto and joined theInoki Genome Federation. In February 2012 he won his first match, defeatingBob Sapp. In October 2013 he formed atag team with another former sumo wrestler,Wakakirin. He left IGF in March 2016 and went freelance.[1] In July he joinedAkebono andRyota Hama's tag team "SMOP", as part of which he won his first title, theNWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship, in February 2017.[3]
His parents' home was destroyed in the2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, although no one was injured.
Wakakirin's favouritetechniques weretsuppari (a series of rapid thrusts to the opponent's chest) andyori (force out). When fighting on themawashi or belt he preferred ahidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) grip.
| Year | January Hatsu basho,Tokyo | March Haru basho,Osaka | May Natsu basho,Tokyo | July Nagoya basho,Nagoya | September Aki basho,Tokyo | November Kyūshū basho,Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | x | (Maezumo) | West Jonokuchi #32 6–1 | East Jonidan #95 2–5 | West Jonidan #119 3–4 | East Jonidan #135 6–1 |
| 2000 | East Jonidan #54 2–5 | West Jonidan #79 5–2 | West Jonidan #34 3–4 | East Jonidan #53 4–3 | East Jonidan #33 3–4 | East Jonidan #52 5–2 |
| 2001 | East Jonidan #12 5–2 | East Sandanme #77 6–1 | East Sandanme #21 3–4 | East Sandanme #35 4–3 | West Sandanme #20 4–3 | East Sandanme #9 3–4 |
| 2002 | East Sandanme #22 4–3 | East Sandanme #11 3–4 | West Sandanme #28 4–3 | East Sandanme #13 5–2 | West Makushita #51 2–5 | East Sandanme #12 5–2 |
| 2003 | East Makushita #50 2–5 | East Sandanme #13 3–4 | East Sandanme #26 5–2 | West Sandanme #2 4–3 | West Makushita #51 3–4 | West Sandanme #4 4–3 |
| 2004 | West Makushita #50 3–4 | West Makushita #57 6–1 | West Makushita #26 4–3 | West Makushita #22 4–3 | East Makushita #18 2–5 | West Makushita #31 4–3 |
| 2005 | West Makushita #25 4–3 | West Makushita #20 4–3 | West Makushita #14 2–5 | West Makushita #25 3–4 | West Makushita #32 4–3 | West Makushita #25 5–2 |
| 2006 | East Makushita #15 5–2 | West Makushita #6 5–2 | East Makushita #3 4–3 | East Makushita #2 3–4 | West Makushita #5 2–5 | East Makushita #17 3–4 |
| 2007 | East Makushita #23 4–3 | East Makushita #18 5–2 | West Makushita #11 6–1 | East Makushita #4 3–4 | West Makushita #7 4–3 | West Makushita #4 5–2 |
| 2008 | East Jūryō #13 7–8 | West Jūryō #13 8–7 | East Jūryō #12 8–7 | West Jūryō #8 6–9 | East Jūryō #13 3–12 | East Makushita #6 5–2 |
| 2009 | East Makushita #2 5–2 | West Jūryō #14 8–7 | East Jūryō #12 9–6 | West Jūryō #8 8–7 | West Jūryō #4 5–10 | East Jūryō #10 8–7 |
| 2010 | West Jūryō #8 6–9 | East Jūryō #12 7–8 | East Jūryō #13 2–13 | East Makushita #14 2–5 | West Makushita #27 4–3 | East Makushita #23 4–3 |
| 2011 | East Makushita #19 3–4 | Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 | East Makushita #28 Retired – | x | x | x |
| Record given aswins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key:F=Fighting spirit;O=Outstanding performance;T=Technique Also shown:★=Kinboshi;P=Playoff(s) | ||||||
