was a Japanese professional
sumo
is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...
wrestler from
Okayama
is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1889. , the city has an estimated population of 720,841 and a population density of 910 persons per km2. The total area is .
The city is ...
. He was the sport's 31st ''
yokozuna
, or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments.
This is the on ...
''.
Career
He was born . He made his professional debut in January 1910 and reached the top ''
makuuchi
, or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments.
This is the o ...
'' division in May 1917. He won his first top division championship in May 1921 from the rank of ''
ōzeki,'' with a perfect record of ten wins and no losses. After his second championship in May 1923 and a runner-up spot in January 1924, he was promoted to ''yokozuna''. He was to win eight more championships during his ''yokozuna'' career, including three in a row in 1927. He was much stronger than his competition and had no serious rivals. As a result, turnout at tournaments tended to be quite poor.
His last title came in March 1930. He fought his last bouts in May of that year and officially retired in October. His retirement came very suddenly, as he was at the height of his powers, and it left
Miyagiyama
was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture. He was the sport's 29th ''yokozuna'', and the last ''yokozuna'' in Osaka sumo.
Career
He was born . In the fall of 1909, he joined Dewanoumi stable. He made his pro ...
as the only ''yokozuna''.
Retirement
![Hwangab_Kanreki_Dohyo-iri_from_Tsunenohana_1956_Scan10058](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Hwangab_Kanreki_Dohyo-iri_from_Tsunenohana_1956_Scan10058.JPG)
After retiring from active competition in 1930 he became the head of the
Dewanoumi stable
is a heya (sumo), stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ''Glossary of sumo terms#ichimon, ichimon'' or group of stables. It has a long, prestigious history. Its current head coach is former ''maegashira'' Oginohana Akikazu, Oginohana. A ...
, initially on an acting basis only, and was known as Fukushima Oyakata. In 1949 he became the official head coach and the seventh Dewanoumi Oyakata. From 1944 to 1957 was also the chairman of the
Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling (called ''Ōzumō'', 大相撲) in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). '' Rikishi'' (activ ...
. During his tenure as chairman, in 1956, he performed his ''
kanreki dohyō-iri
In sumo wrestling, a ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' (Japanese: 還暦土俵入り) is a ring-entering ceremony ('' dohyō-iri'') performed by a former ''yokozuna'' in celebration of his 60th birthday (called ''kanreki'' in Japanese). If he is a ''toshiyor ...
'' or '60th year ring entrance ceremony' to commemorate his years as ''yokozuna''. Later on in his tenure, he began to be blamed for the Sumo Association's problems and attempted to commit suicide by
a sword and gas in May 1957. He was rescued, but retired as chairman.
He remained the head of Dewanoumi stable until his death in November 1960 at the age of 64.
Top Division Record
*''In 1927 Tokyo and Osaka sumo merged and four tournaments a year in Tokyo and other locations began to be held.''
See also
*
*
Kanreki dohyō-iri
In sumo wrestling, a ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' (Japanese: 還暦土俵入り) is a ring-entering ceremony ('' dohyō-iri'') performed by a former ''yokozuna'' in celebration of his 60th birthday (called ''kanreki'' in Japanese). If he is a ''toshiyor ...
*
List of past sumo wrestlers
This is a list of prominent past wrestlers (either retired or deceased) in the sport of professional sumo. They are listed in order of the year and tournament month that they made their professional debuts. The information listed below was gleaned ...
*
List of sumo tournament top division champions
This is a list of wrestlers who have won the top division (''makuuchi'') championship in professional sumo since 1909, when the current championship system was established. These official tournaments are held exclusively in Japan.
1958 to prese ...
*
List of yokozuna
This is a list of all sumo wrestlers who have reached the sport's highest rank of '' yokozuna''. It was not recorded on the ''banzuke'' until 1890 and was not officially recognised as sumo's highest rank until 1909. Until then, ''yokozuna'' was me ...
References
External links
Japan Sumo Association profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tsunenohana, Kanichi
1896 births
1960 deaths
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Yokozuna
Sumo people from Okayama Prefecture