Yukio Kawabe, Date of Birth, Place of Birth

Yukio Kawabe

Japanese rikishi

Date of Birth: 16-Jul-1966

Place of Birth: Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Profession: rikishi, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler

Nationality: Japan

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Yukio Kawabe (born July 16, 1966 in Tokyo, Japan), also known as Tamakairiki Tsuyoshi, is a Japanese former sumo wrestler and mixed martial artist who fought in Pride Fighting Championships and Pancrase.
He was a wrestler in the top makuuchi division during his 14 years as a professional from 1982 until 1996, reaching a highest rank of maegashira 8 in 1992.
He suffered a fracture of his right thumb in May 1993 which led to his eventual retirement in March 1996.
Upon retirement he opened a chankonabe restaurant in his neighborhood of Shibuya, which now has branches in Musashi Koyama, Akasaka and Shandong.
In 2009 he helped found the Japan Beach Sumo Federation, which aims to promote beach sumo as a healthy after-school activity for children.
He is a father of two.