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Taiho KokiJapanese sumo wrestler
Date of Birth: 29.05.1943
Country:  Japan |
Content:
- Koiki Naya: The Legendary Yokozuna
- Breakthrough and Yokozuna Status
- Record-Breaking Career
- Popularity and Personal Life
- Retirement and Later Life
- Legacy and Death
Koiki Naya: The Legendary Yokozuna
Early Life and CareerKoiki Naya was born on the island of Sakhalin to a Japanese mother and a Ukrainian father. After his family moved to Hokkaido in 1945, he began training in sumo in 1956. Initially fighting under his own name, he was given the nickname "Taiho," meaning "Great Phoenix," in 1959 after joining the second division.
Breakthrough and Yokozuna Status
Taiho's impressive performances culminated in his first championship victory in November 1960, earning him the rank of "ozzeki." After securing two consecutive victories, he officially became a yokozuna in September 1961, making him the youngest wrestler to achieve this level in just two years in the top division.
Record-Breaking Career
Taiho established numerous extraordinary records throughout his career. He won six consecutive tournaments twice, a feat surpassed only by Asashoryu Akinori in 2005. Notably, he won eight championships with a perfect 15-0 record. In 1968, he returned to the ring after a severe injury and went on a historic 45-match winning streak, which ended controversially due to an incorrect refereeing decision that led to the use of video replays in tournaments.
Popularity and Personal Life
Taiho was one of the most popular wrestlers of his time, especially among women and children. He married in 1966 to the daughter of a traditional Japanese inn owner.
Retirement and Later Life
Taiho announced his retirement in May 1971 after a loss to a talented young wrestler. In December of the same year, he established his own sumo stable, but his involvement declined after suffering a heart attack in February 1977. Despite his management struggles, he trained several notable wrestlers.
Legacy and Death
Taiho was forced to retire at age 65 in May 2005 and became a curator at the sumo museum in Tokyo. The heart attack he suffered earlier in life affected his mobility, leading him to use a wheelchair in later years. Taiho passed away from heart failure in January 2013 at a Tokyo hospital, leaving behind an enduring legacy as one of the greatest sumo wrestlers of all time.
