Kaiketsu Masateru
Encyclopedia
Kaiketsu Masateru is a former sumo
wrestler, who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki on two separate occasions. He also won two top division tournament championships. He is now known as Hanaregoma-oyakata
and is the head coach of Hanaregoma stable
, and chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
.
he practiced judo
. He made his professional sumo debut in September 1966 at the age of 18. Initially fighting under his own surname of Nishimori, he reached the second juryo division in January 1970. He adopted the shikona
of Hananishiki before switching to Kaiketsu in November 1970. He reached the top makuuchi
division in September 1971. In March 1972 from the maegashira 7 ranking he was the tournament runner-up to Hasegawa, who defeated him in a playoff, and he was given special prizes
for Outstanding Performance and Technique. At the following tournament in May 1972 he made his sanyaku debut at komusubi rank. After scoring 11 wins there and finishing as runner-up to Wajima
he was promoted to sekiwake. He was also a runner-up in January 1973.
In September 1974 Kaiketsu turned in a losing score of 7-8 at sekiwake rank but then took his first top division yusho
or championship in November as a komusubi. He scored twelve wins against three losses, and defeated Kitanoumi
in a playoff. He followed this up with an 11-4 score in January 1975. His combined total of wins over the last three tournaments was 31, below the normal standard for ozeki promotion of 33, but there was only one ozeki at the time, Takanohana
, so the Sumo Association decided to promote Kaiketsu.
After suffering from hepatitus and lower back pain, Kaiketsu was demoted from ozeki less than a year after reaching the rank following two consecutive make-koshi or losing scores. However, in September 1976 ranked at maegashira 4, he took his second tournament championship with a 14-1 record, followed by consecutive 11-4 scores at sekiwake in November 1976 and January 1977. He was promoted to ozeki once again, alongside Wakamisugi
, to whom he had a superior three tournament record. However, he held the rank for only four more tournaments, and soon fell back to the maegashira ranks. He retired in January 1979, having not missed a single bout in his 12 year career. He once said, "Being absent from a tournament means deliberately abandoning a bout." In addition to his two yusho he had accumulated ten special prizes (including seven for Fighting Spirit) and three kinboshi
.
, in 1981 after breaking away from Hanakago. Joining him was future yokozuna Onokuni
. In 1985, when Hanakago stable was wound up, all its wrestlers transferred to Hanaregoma. Other top division wrestlers he trained included Hananokuni, Hananoumi and Shunketsu. He also became a Director of the Japan Sumo Association
, responsible for managing the shimpan
or judges, and supervising the examination of new recruits. In August 2010 he took over as head of the Association after the resignation of Musashigawa. Following a match-fixing scandal which broke in February 2011 he announced an independent investigation and the cancellation of the March 2011 Osaka
honbasho
. He insisted that there was no match-fixing in the past, a claim that drew criticism from sumo commentator and former wrestler Mainoumi.
or techniques were tsuppari (a series of rapid thrusts to the chest), hidari yotsu (a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on the mawashi
), yori kiri (force out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler, who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki on two separate occasions. He also won two top division tournament championships. He is now known as Hanaregoma-oyakata
Hanaregoma (toshiyori)
Hanaregoma is a toshiyori . The name is currently held by former ōzeki Kaiketsu Masateru, the 17th Hanaregoma-oyakata. The origin of the name is unknown, as are the ring names of the first two holders....
and is the head coach of Hanaregoma stable
Hanaregoma stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. As of September 2010 it had eight active wrestlers.The stable was established in 1981 by former ōzeki Kaiketsu Masateru, as a breakaway from Hanakago stable. Among the wrestlers who went with him was Onokuni, who...
, and chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
Japan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
.
Career
While at Nihon UniversityNihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
he practiced judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. He made his professional sumo debut in September 1966 at the age of 18. Initially fighting under his own surname of Nishimori, he reached the second juryo division in January 1970. He adopted the shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
of Hananishiki before switching to Kaiketsu in November 1970. He reached the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division in September 1971. In March 1972 from the maegashira 7 ranking he was the tournament runner-up to Hasegawa, who defeated him in a playoff, and he was given special prizes
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
for Outstanding Performance and Technique. At the following tournament in May 1972 he made his sanyaku debut at komusubi rank. After scoring 11 wins there and finishing as runner-up to Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....
he was promoted to sekiwake. He was also a runner-up in January 1973.
In September 1974 Kaiketsu turned in a losing score of 7-8 at sekiwake rank but then took his first top division yusho
Yusho
A Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...
or championship in November as a komusubi. He scored twelve wins against three losses, and defeated Kitanoumi
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu is a former sumo wrestler and former Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the dominant yokozuna in sumo during the 1970s. Toshimitsu was promoted to yokozuna at age 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank, and he remained a yokozuna for a record 63...
in a playoff. He followed this up with an 11-4 score in January 1975. His combined total of wins over the last three tournaments was 31, below the normal standard for ozeki promotion of 33, but there was only one ozeki at the time, Takanohana
Takanohana Kenshi
Takanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active rikishi he was extremely popular and was nicknamed the "prince of sumo" due to his good looks and relatively slim build...
, so the Sumo Association decided to promote Kaiketsu.
After suffering from hepatitus and lower back pain, Kaiketsu was demoted from ozeki less than a year after reaching the rank following two consecutive make-koshi or losing scores. However, in September 1976 ranked at maegashira 4, he took his second tournament championship with a 14-1 record, followed by consecutive 11-4 scores at sekiwake in November 1976 and January 1977. He was promoted to ozeki once again, alongside Wakamisugi
Wakanohana Kanji II
Wakanohana Kanji II is a former sumo wrestler from Ōwani, Aomori, Japan. He was the sport's 56th Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Magaki stable.-Early career:...
, to whom he had a superior three tournament record. However, he held the rank for only four more tournaments, and soon fell back to the maegashira ranks. He retired in January 1979, having not missed a single bout in his 12 year career. He once said, "Being absent from a tournament means deliberately abandoning a bout." In addition to his two yusho he had accumulated ten special prizes (including seven for Fighting Spirit) and three kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
.
After retirement
Kaiketsu set up his own training stable, Hanaregoma stableHanaregoma stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. As of September 2010 it had eight active wrestlers.The stable was established in 1981 by former ōzeki Kaiketsu Masateru, as a breakaway from Hanakago stable. Among the wrestlers who went with him was Onokuni, who...
, in 1981 after breaking away from Hanakago. Joining him was future yokozuna Onokuni
Onokuni Yasushi
Ōnokuni Yasushi is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. Making his professional debut in 1978, he reached the top division in 1983. In 1987 he won his first yusho or tournament championship with a perfect score and became the sport's 62nd yokozuna...
. In 1985, when Hanakago stable was wound up, all its wrestlers transferred to Hanaregoma. Other top division wrestlers he trained included Hananokuni, Hananoumi and Shunketsu. He also became a Director of the Japan Sumo Association
Japan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
, responsible for managing the shimpan
Shimpan
are the judges of a professional sumo bout. In a sumo honbasho tournament five shimpan sit around the ring to observe which wrestler wins the matchup. When judging tournament bouts they wear formal Japanese dress of otokomono, haori with mon, and hakama...
or judges, and supervising the examination of new recruits. In August 2010 he took over as head of the Association after the resignation of Musashigawa. Following a match-fixing scandal which broke in February 2011 he announced an independent investigation and the cancellation of the March 2011 Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
honbasho
Honbasho
A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
. He insisted that there was no match-fixing in the past, a claim that drew criticism from sumo commentator and former wrestler Mainoumi.
Fighting style
Kaiketsu's favourite kimariteKimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
or techniques were tsuppari (a series of rapid thrusts to the chest), hidari yotsu (a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on the mawashi
Mawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
), yori kiri (force out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).
Top division record
See also
- Glossary of sumo termsGlossary of sumo termsThe following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. azukari : Hold. A kind of draw. After a mono-ii, the gyōji or the shimpan "holds" the result if it was too close to call...
- List of sumo tournament winners
- List of past sumo wrestlers