Hoshitango Imachi


Hoshitango Imachi is an Argentine-born Japanese former professional sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler. His highest rank was Jūryō 3.

Life and career

A former swimming instructor, Salomon was spotted by a visiting Japanese coach at a gym in Buenos Aires who encouraged him to try sumo. After studying at Chuo University, he joined Michinoku stable in May 1987 at the age of 21 to support his family. He was the first, and to date only, Jew in professional sumo. He was given the shikona of Hoshitango, with "Hoshi" a common prefix in Michinoku stable, and "tango" a reference to the popular dance. He reached the second highest jūryō division for the first time in September 1992, but lasted only one tournament there before being demoted back to the unsalaried third makushita division. He managed another three tournaments in the second division in 1994 but once again fell back. In September 1998, at the age of 33, he demonstrated his fighting spirit by once again returning to jūryō, this time remaining for 12 straight tournaments. He was not able to break into the top makuuchi division, peaking at jūryō 3 in January 2000. In July 2000 he lost every one of his fifteen bouts and fell, once more, to the third division where he remained until his retirement in January 2004. His retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki was attended by around 150 people including stablemates Jumonji and Toyozakura as well as the former Terao and Kirishima, who as his stablemaster made the final cut of his topknot.
Hoshitango was joined at Michinoku stable in 1988 by another Buenos Aires native, Hoshiandesu, who reached a highest rank of jūryō 2 before retiring in 2000.
Hoshitango became a Japanese citizen in October 2000. His Japanese name was registered as Tango Hoshi.

Retirement from sumo

After retiring he opened a sports bar and restaurant called Tan & Go Dining which specialized in Japanese and South American fusion cuisine.

Fighting style

Hoshitango was an oshi-sumo specialist who preferred pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common winning kimarite were hataki-komi, hiki-otoshi and okuri dashi.

Professional wrestling career

Imachi is currently a professional wrestler for the Japanese company DDT and has also wrestled for HUSTLE, Ice Ribbon and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Hoshitango has recently become part of the Monster Army stable with members Antonio Honda, Daisuke Sasaki and Yuji Hino, since joining the team in August 2011. Hoshitango has had multiple title matches for the KO-D Tag Team Championship and is a former DDT Extreme Division Champion. On June 23, 2013, Hoshitango, Honda and Hino won the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship.

Sumo career record

Professional wrestling championships and accomplishments