Ex-Youtsukasa passes away

[Moti Dichne]

Ex-Makuuchi Youtsukasa has died at the age of 51 on the 11th at a hospital in Saitama Prefecture. He was  originally from Mie Prefecture. A graduate of Nihon University, he joined former sekiwake Tochitsukasa's Irumagawa beya and made his debut in Hatsu 1996. Using his thrusting and pushing techniques, he was promoted to the Juryo in May1998. At the same time, he changed his shikona from his real name, Suzuki, to Youtsukasa. He made his debut in Makuuchi in May of 1999. His highest rank was East Maegashira 11. He retired after Aki  of 2005. He then served as an Oyakata at Irumagawa beya, where he trained the next generation of rikishi, but retired from the Kyokai in January 2012. He had reportedly been battling illness in recent years.