Chiyotaikai Ryūji Chiyotaikai Ryūji Chiyotaikai Ryūji (born April 29, 1976 as Ryūji Hiroshima in Chitose, Hokkaidō), is a Japanese former sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1992 and reached the top "makuuchi" division in 1997. He held the second highest rank of "ōzeki" or champion for 65 consecutive tournaments from 1999 until 2009, making him the longest serving "ōzeki" in the modern era. He won three top division "yūshō" or tournament championships, and was a runner-up on seven other occasions. However, he also held the dubious record of being in danger of demotion from "ōzeki" fourteen times. He wrestled for
Chiyotaikai Ryūji and sat out the regional tour in April due to a fractured rib. In September 2009 Chiyotaikai withdrew from the tournament after suffering eight defeats in the first ten days. He had an injury to his left knee in addition to his elbow problem, and commented, "I have no power to fight once I get in the ring." "Kadoban" for the fourteenth time in the Kyushu tournament in November, he won his first two bouts but then lost eight in a row, his demotion from "ōzeki" being confirmed on Day 10 when he was lifted out by Asashōryū. He withdrew