"or elder license in 2015, and began as a coach at Sadogatake stable. He opened his own stable of wrestlers, Naruto, in April 2017. The stable has three wrestlers, including a 20 year-old Bulgarian junior wrestling champion. Having studied training theory at Nippon Sport Science University following his retirement, he was keen to develop his own training methods based on his sumo experience and studies at both Bulgarian and Japanese universities. Kotoōshū was a tall and rather light ""rikishi"" at 203 cm (6 feet, 8 inches) and 152 kg (334 pounds). In comparison, former ""yokozuna"" (grand champion) Akebono, at the"
"or titleholder ranks, called the ""san'yaku"", which are not numbered. These are, in ascending order, ""komusubi"", ""sekiwake"", and ""ōzeki"". At the pinnacle of the ranking system is the rank of ""yokozuna"". ""Yokozuna"", or grand champions, are generally expected to compete for and to win the top division tournament title on a regular basis, hence the promotion criteria for ""yokozuna"" are very strict. In general, an ""ōzeki"" must win the championship for two consecutive tournaments or an ""equivalent performance"" to be considered for promotion to ""yokozuna"". More than one wrestler can hold the rank of ""yokozuna"" at the same time. In"
"great ""yokozuna"" of the 1950s, Tochinishiki Kiyotaka. He played baseball in junior high school and ambitions to be a professional, but switched to sumo in high school due to his size. He was an amateur champion at Meiji University, and finished runner-up in the national collegiate ""yokozuna"" competition. He made his professional debut in March 1985 in the ""makushita"" division, having been given ""makushita tsukedashi"" status because of his amateur achievements. The first graduate of Meiji University to have a major impact in professional sumo, he quickly moved up the ranks, progressing through ""jūryō"" in just two tournaments and reaching"
"""yokozuna"" licence by the house of ""Yoshida-tsukasa"", and thus has been accepted as an official ""yokozuna"". In the top ""makuuchi"" division, he won 130 bouts and lost only 13 bouts, achieving a winning percentage of 90.9. After his retirement, he moved to Matsue but he returned to Tokyo in the Meiji period. ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō."" Inazuma Raigorō Inazuma Raigorō (稲妻雷五郎, 1802 – March 29, 1877) was a sumo wrestler from Inashiki, Ibaraki"
"Akashi Shiganosuke Akashi Shiganosuke (明石 志賀之助) (c. 1600 – c. 1649) is purported to be a sumo wrestler in antiquity who is formally recognized as the first yokozuna. A legendary figure, his historical existence is disputed. He is said to have been active in the Kan'ei era (1624–1643). He was described as being of gigantic size, at tall and weighing . He is said to have been born in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture in central Japan, the son of Yamanouchi Shuzen, a samurai who served Sumaura Rinemon. According to sumo folklore, he took part in a sumo tournament in Yotsuya, Tokyo"
"of ""yokozuna"". He also introduced ""bushidō"" into sumo, and raised the status of sumo wrestlers in society. He also performed the ""yokozuna dohyō-iri"" in an innovative way. Unlike ""yokozuna"" before him, he would at first hold out both arms after he made a clap, and after he did the sumo-style leg stomps, he would raise only his right arm. In the course of his career, he would have the best record in 8 tournaments, but only his last one is counted as an actual championship after the system was established in 1909 After his retirement in May 1914, he became"
"from the Edo period, Ayagawa Goroji and Maruyama Gondazaemon. Despite this, Tanikaze was the first to receive a ""yokozuna"" licence and perform the ""yokozuna"" ""dohyo-iri"" and so is often regarded as the first ""real"" ""yokozuna"". Akashi Shiganosuke Akashi Shiganosuke (明石 志賀之助) (c. 1600 – c. 1649) is purported to be a sumo wrestler in antiquity who is formally recognized as the first yokozuna. A legendary figure, his historical existence is disputed. He is said to have been active in the Kan'ei era (1624–1643). He was described as being of gigantic size, at tall and weighing . He is said to"
"1987 he won his first tournament title with a perfect record of 15 wins and no losses, becoming the first man other than Chiyonofuji to win a top division ""yūshō"" in the new Ryōgoku Kokugikan. After two runner-up performances in the next two tournaments, in September of that year he was promoted to ""yokozuna"", sumo's highest rank. His three tournament record of 40 wins and just five losses tied with Wakanohana II as the best produced by a candidate for ""yokozuna"" promotion in the six tournaments per year era (post 1958). His first tournament as ""yokozuna"" finished with a disappointing"
"his great dignity. He fought in eight tournaments as ""yokozuna"", retiring after the January 1922 basho. After retirement he ran a tea house in Osaka. Some of his memorabilia is on display in a museum in Yatomi City. ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded in Osaka sumo before its merger with Tokyo sumo, and the unofficial championships above are historically conferred. For more information, see yūshō."" Ōnishiki Daigorō Ōnishiki Daigorō (大錦 大五郎, 1883 – May 18, 1943) was a sumo wrestler. He was the sport's 28th ""yokozuna"". Ōnishiki was born in Ama District,"
"1868. He was awarded a ""yokozuna"" license in February 1869. He became a yokozuna at the age of 43, the oldest ever. In the top ""makuuchi"" division, he won 143 bouts and lost 24 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 85.6. He retired as an active wrestler in November 1870, but died in the next year. His grave can be found in Sayama, Saitama. There is a monument to him in Yōrō, Gifu. ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For"
"was promoted to ""yokozuna"". After three more runner-up performances he won his first championship as a ""yokozuna"" in May 1944. Upon the retirement of his great rival Futabayama in November 1945 he became dominant, winning four consecutive tournaments. However, in November 1947 he severed his Achilles tendon and was out of action until May 1949. He won his final championship in January 1952 at age 37 with a perfect 15–0 record. It was his first tournament win in over four years. He retired in September 1953, when he was nearly 39. He was known for his hard training and his"
"to ""yokozuna"". Okuma Shigenobu presented a ""tachi"", or long sword, to him. However, his record at sumo's highest rank was very patchy and he did not manage to win any further championships. He was known for his wide variety of techniques, but at that time the most popular ""yokozuna"" was Hitachiyama and so his fighting style was regarded as unacceptable. His record as ""yokozuna"" was 35 wins against 24 defeats, compared with 36 wins and only four defeats at ""ōzeki"" rank. He retired in May 1920. In the top ""makuuchi"" division, he won 108 bouts and lost 49 bouts, recording"
"with a 9–1 record. In 1927, Osaka Sumo Association disbanded and its wrestlers merged with Tokyo sumo. At that time, Osaka sumo's level was very low and he was not considered to be strong enough. However, he felt he had to save the honor of Osaka sumo as ""yokozuna"". Although his strength had already declined, he fought tooth and nail and won 2 championships in Tokyo sumo as part of the Osaka contingent of wrestlers. The first of these, in January 1927, was the first tournament to be held under the auspices of the Dai Nihon Ozumo Kyokai (now the"
"in Tochigi. It was not until over 150 years after his death that he was recognised as the 2nd ""yokozuna"" by later ""yokozuna"" Jinmaku when he was compiling a formal list for a monument. His career predates ""banzuke"" and tournament records so no record of his rank and bouts exists. Ayagawa Gorōji Ayagawa Gorōji (綾川五郎次, c. 1703 – March 14, 1765) was a sumo wrestler. He is formally recognised as the second yokozuna"". Ayagawa came from Tochigi prefecture and was promoted to ""ōzeki"" in 1717. According to tradition, he was the strongest wrestler in the Genbun era. He was a"
"large wrestler but was remarkably strong. After his retirement he remained in the sumo world as a coach under the name Ikazuchi Oyakata. He helped to raise funds for the building of the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan stadium in 1909. It is said that when asked by a potential backer what he had in the way of collateral, simply showing his muscles was enough to clinch the deal. He lived until the age of eighty-three, making him the longest-lived ""yokozuna"" of all time. He outlived his son-in-law Umegatani II, and is one of very few ""yokozuna"" to have died of old"
"for someone in the sumo world, he does not drink alcohol. Akinoshima Katsumi Akinoshima Katsumi (born 16 March 1967 as Katsumi Yamanaka) is a former sumo wrestler from Akitsu, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1982, and after reaching the top division in 1988 he remained there for 15 years. His highest rank was ""sekiwake."" He was known as the ""giant killer"" having defeated more ""yokozuna"" than any other untitled wrestler (""maegashira"") in the history of sumo, earning himself 16 ""gold stars"" or ""kinboshi"" over his career, four more than his nearest ""kinboshi"" earning rivals, Takamiyama and"
"strongest wrestlers, expressed his wish that he be awarded a licence by the Yoshida family in February 1884, and Gojo licences are no longer recognized officially. In May 1890, the name ""yokozuna"" was written on the ""banzuke"" for the first time due to the 16th ""yokozuna"" Nishinoumi Kajirō I's insistence that his ""yokozuna"" status be recorded. In February 1909, during the reigns of the 19th ""yokozuna"", Hitachiyama Taniemon, and the 20th, Umegatani Tōtarō II, it was officially recognized as the highest rank. Since the establishment of the on 21 April 1950, wrestlers have been promoted to ""yokozuna"" by the Japan"
"Akinoshima Katsumi Akinoshima Katsumi (born 16 March 1967 as Katsumi Yamanaka) is a former sumo wrestler from Akitsu, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1982, and after reaching the top division in 1988 he remained there for 15 years. His highest rank was ""sekiwake."" He was known as the ""giant killer"" having defeated more ""yokozuna"" than any other untitled wrestler (""maegashira"") in the history of sumo, earning himself 16 ""gold stars"" or ""kinboshi"" over his career, four more than his nearest ""kinboshi"" earning rivals, Takamiyama and Tochinonada. He also has received 19 performance prizes (""sanshō""), another record"
"the first time, Akashi Shiganosuke, Ayagawa Gorōji and Maruyama Gondazaemon were recognised as the first three ""yokozuna"". ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō."" Jinmaku Kyūgorō Jinmaku Kyūgorō (陣幕 久五郎, June 4, 1829 – October 21, 1903) was a sumo wrestler from what is now Shimane, Japan. He was the sport's 12th ""yokozuna"". Jinmaku was born in Ou District, Izumo Province (modern Yatsuka District, Shimane). His real name may have been Shintaro Ishigura (石倉 槇太郎, ""Ishigura"
"dohyō-iri"", or '60th year ring entrance ceremony' to commemorate his years as ""yokozuna"". ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above championships that are labelled ""unofficial"" are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō."" Tachiyama Mineemon Tachiyama Mineemon was a sumo wrestler from Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 22nd ""yokozuna"". He was well known for his extreme strength and skill. He won 99 out of 100 matches from 1909 to 1916 (not counting draws), and also won eleven top division tournament championships (two"
"""yūshō"", or tournament championship, with a 13–2 record. In 1978 Wakamisugi emerged as the chief rival to Yokozuna Kitanoumi, as the other grand champion at the time, Wajima, was producing inconsistent results. Wakamisugi finished runner-up to Kitanoumi in January 1978 and then fought two playoffs with him for the ""yūshō"" in March and May. Although he was not able to win either, his record of 40 wins out of a possible 45 over the last three tournaments was enough for promotion to ""yokozuna"". Indeed, it was the best postwar total for any ""yokozuna"" candidate. Wakamisugi changed his name to Wakanohana,"
"was ""uwatenage"" (overarm throw). ""Through most of the 1940s, only two tournaments were held a year, and only one was held in 1946. The New Year tournament began and the Spring tournament returned to Osaka in 1953."" </table> Chiyonoyama Masanobu Chiyonoyama Masanobu (千代の山 雅信, June 2, 1926 – October 29, 1977) was a sumo wrestler from Fukushima, Hokkaidō, Japan. He was the sport's 41st ""yokozuna"" from 1951 until 1959. He is regarded as the first ""modern"" ""yokozuna"" in that he was promoted by the Japan Sumo Association itself and not the House of Yoshida Tsukasa. He was the first ""yokozuna"""
"recorded 51 draws. Ōzutsu (大砲) means ""cannon"" in Japanese but its reading is usually Taihō, and the name of ""yokozuna"" Taihō (大鵬) means ""big phoenix"". ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō."" Ōzutsu Man'emon Ōzutsu Man'emon (大砲 万右衛門, December 30, 1869 – May 27, 1918) was a sumo wrestler from Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 18th yokozuna. Ōzutsu was a taller sumo wrestler compared with other wrestlers at that time. Although he was"
"Yoshibayama Junnosuke Yoshibayama Junnosuke (吉葉山 潤之輔, April 3, 1920 – November 26, 1977), real name Junnosuke Ikeda, was a sumo wrestler from Atsuta, Hokkaidō, Japan. He was the sport's 43rd ""yokozuna"". He suffered a number of injuries and only won one tournament championship, but he was a popular wrestler. He was a runner-up five times, and earned three special prizes and two gold stars in his top division career. After his retirement in 1958 he revived and led the Miyagino stable until his death in 1977. He entered sumo in a curious way. He had travelled to Tokyo on a"
"Chiyonoyama Masanobu Chiyonoyama Masanobu (千代の山 雅信, June 2, 1926 – October 29, 1977) was a sumo wrestler from Fukushima, Hokkaidō, Japan. He was the sport's 41st ""yokozuna"" from 1951 until 1959. He is regarded as the first ""modern"" ""yokozuna"" in that he was promoted by the Japan Sumo Association itself and not the House of Yoshida Tsukasa. He was the first ""yokozuna"" from Hokkaidō, which was also the birthplace of the subsequent ""yokozuna"" Yoshibayama, Taihō, Kitanoumi and his own recruits Kitanofuji and Chiyonofuji. After his retirement he left the Dewanoumi group of stables and founded Kokonoe stable in 1967.He died"
"it is seen as reflecting on the image of sumo as a whole. As of January 2017, a total of 72 sumo wrestlers have earned the rank of ""yokozuna."" The birth of the rank of ""yokozuna"" is unclear, and there are two competing legends. According to one, a 9th-century wrestler named Hajikami tied a ""shimenawa"" around his waist as a handicap and dared any to touch it, creating sumo as it is now known in the process. According to the other, legendary wrestler Akashi Shiganosuke tied the ""shimenawa"" around his waist in 1630 as a sign of respect when visiting"
"and always getting at least eight wins. However, he was unable to gain the successive championships needed to become a ""yokozuna"". Musashimaru took his first top division championship (""yūshō"") in July 1994 with a perfect 15–0 record, but in the following tournament he could manage only 11 wins and Takanohana overtook him to become grand champion at the end of the year, joining Akebono who had become the first foreign born ""yokozuna"" in 1993. Musashimaru seemed content just to maintain his rank, not winning another title until November 1996. Takanohana was absent from this tournament and Musashimaru won it after"
"championships above are historically conferred. For more information, see yūshō."" Miyagiyama is briefly mentioned in Chapter 17 of ""Memoirs of a Geisha"", when many of the novel's main characters attend a sumo exhibition in Kyoto. He competes in his role as yokozuna, winning his bout by ""hataki komi"" (slap down). Miyagiyama Fukumatsu Miyagiyama Fukumatsu (宮城山 福松, February 27, 1895 – November 19, 1943) was a sumo wrestler from Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 29th ""yokozuna"". He was the last ""yokozuna"" in Osaka sumo. In the fall of 1909, he joined Dewanoumi stable. He made his professional debut"
"him the longest serving chairman to date. Under his direction the new Ryōgoku Kokugikan was built in 1985. Suffering from diabetes, he stood down voluntarily, allowing his old rival Wakanohana to ascend to the position. During his tenure as head of the Association, in 1985, he performed his ""kanreki dohyō-iri"" or '60th year ring entrance ceremony' to commemorate his years as ""yokozuna"". He died in January 1990, following a stroke. Tochinishiki Kiyotaka Tochinishiki Kiyotaka (栃錦 清隆, February 20, 1925 – January 10, 1990) was a sumo wrestler from Tokyo, Japan. He was the sport's 44th ""yokozuna"". He won ten top"
"Chiyonofuji Mitsugu Chiyonofuji was considered one of the greatest ""yokozuna"" of recent times, winning 31 ""yūshō"" or tournament championships, second at the time only to Taihō. He was particularly remarkable for his longevity in sumo's top rank, which he held for a period of ten years from 1981 to 1991. Promoted at the age of twenty-six after winning his second championship, his performance improved with age, winning more tournaments in his thirties than any other wrestler and dominating the sport in the second half of the 1980s. He finally retired in May 1991, just short of his thirty-sixth birthday. This"
"the January 1953 tournament, he announced his retirement. After the tournament, Kagamisato was promoted to ""yokozuna"", and a photograph was taken of Terukuni and Kagamisato alongside the other grand champions Chiyonoyama, Azumafuji and Haguroyama. As Terukuni had not yet had his official retirement ceremony, some regard January 1953 as being the only occasion on which there were five ""yokozuna"" at the same time. After his retirement, he became head coach of Isegahama stable and produced ""ōzeki"" Kiyokuni Katsuo. He had already made arrangements to pass control over the stable over to Kiyokuni at the time of his death in 1977"
"Tamanoshima lost the match, but after the tournament both Kitanofuji and Tamanoshima were promoted to the ""yokozuna"" rank. With Kashiwado already retired, and Taihō soon to follow, the two ushered in a new Kita-Tama era. Upon reaching ""yokozuna"" Tamanoshima changed his name to Tamanoumi, his coach's old ""shikona"". His first tournament championship as a ""yokozuna"" came in September 1970 and he followed it up with another victory in November, defeating Taihō in a playoff. In July 1971 Tamanoumi won his sixth and final championship, his first with a perfect 15–0 record. At and Tamanoumi was not particularly large, but he"
"stayed in sumo as an elder after his retirement, and was known as Minato Oyakata. The name of the Shiranui ""yokozuna dohyō-iri"" (the yokozuna ring entering ceremony) came from not him but from the 11th ""yokozuna"" Shiranui Kōemon, who he trained. ""*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō."" Shiranui Dakuemon Shiranui Dakuemon (不知火 諾右衛門, October 1801 – August 20, 1854; aka Shiranui Nagiemon) was a sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto, Japan. He was the sport's 8th"