Wakanohana Kanji II
Encyclopedia
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
.
of Wakamisugi in 1973. It took him five years to reach the status of a salaried sekitori
wrestler, when he broke into the jūryō division in May 1973. He was promoted to the top makuuchi
division in November 1973. From September 1974 to January 1975 he won three consecutive technique prizes
and was promoted to sekiwake. Over the next two years he had some up and down results, but from September 1976 to January 1977 at sekiwake rank he put together three 11-4 marks, won three more special prizes and was promoted to ozeki. In May 1977 he won his first yusho, or tournament championship, with a 13-2 record.
, was producing inconsistent results. Wakamisugi finished runner-up to Kitanoumi in January 1978 and then fought two playoffs with him for the yusho 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, which was the shikona of his stablemaster at Futagoyama, the former Wakanohana Kanji I
.
Wakanohana had reached sumo's top rank at the age of just 25, and fans were naturally hoping for a long rivalry with Kitanoumi. But it was not to be. He did win three further tournaments, in November 1978 (with a perfect 15-0 score), May 1979 and September 1980. However he seemed burdened by the Wakanohana name, and in 1981 he was also pressured into marrying the daughter of his stable master. During this brief and unhappy marriage he won no tournament championships and was frequently absent from the dohyo
due to injury and illness. The couple divorced shortly before Wakanohana announced his retirement from sumo in January 1983 at the relatively early age of 29. Around the same time, he married his mistress, who was pregnant with their only child—a daughter.
, Magaki
, and is now known as Magaki Oyakata. He was a senior member of the Japan Sumo Association
, serving as a Director, where he was responsible for the running of the honbasho
held in Osaka
each year. He suffered a minor stroke
in March 2007 and since then has used a wheelchair and is unable to take much of an active role in running the stable.
In May 2008 it emerged that he had beaten one of his wrestlers with a bamboo stick. Although such rough treatment of juniors was not uncommon at sumo stables in the past, since the death of trainee Takashi Saito
at the Tokitsukaze stable
in 2007 coaches have been instructed to cut out the practice. The Sumo Association reprimanded him by giving him a 30% pay cut for three months. Kokonoe-oyakata the former Chiyonofuji and head of the Sumo Association's public relations division, criticised Magaki for initially attempting to justify his actions, saying "In addition to his excessive punishment of the wrestler, he invited misunderstanding that such actions are common in all stables."
In August 2008 he resigned from the board of directors after the top ranking wrestler at Magaki stable, maegashira Wakanoho
, was expelled from sumo after being arrested for possession of cannabis
. He was, however, repromoted in February 2009.
Along with five other oyakata (Otake, Onomatsu
, Otowayama, Tokiwayama and Futagoyama), he was forced to leave the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables in January 2010 after declaring his support for Takanohana's unsanctioned bid to be elected to the board of directors of the Sumo Association.
or techniques were yori-kiri, with a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside and left hand inside) grip on his opponent's mawashi
, uwatenage (overarm throw), and sotogake (outside leg trip).
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 from Ōwani
Owani, Aomori
is a town located in the Minamitsugaru District of east-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 11,131 and a density of 68.1 persons per km². Its total area was 163.41 km².-Geography:...
, Aomori
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was the sport's 56th Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Magaki stable
Magaki Stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. Wakanohana Kanji II, the 56th Yokozuna in sumo history, re-established the stable in 1983 and is its current oyakata. Its first wrestler to reach the top division was the Hawaiian born Yamato in 1997...
.
Early career
Born as Katsunori Shimoyama, he began his sumo career as a 15 year old in July 1968. He joined Futagoyama stable at the same time as another future yokozuna, Takanosato, who came from the same area of Japan. Initially fighting under his own surname of Shimoyama, he changed to the sumo nameShikona
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 Wakamisugi in 1973. It took him five years to reach the status of a salaried sekitori
Sekitori
A sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
wrestler, when he broke into the jūryō division in May 1973. He was promoted to 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 November 1973. From September 1974 to January 1975 he won three consecutive technique 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:...
and was promoted to sekiwake. Over the next two years he had some up and down results, but from September 1976 to January 1977 at sekiwake rank he put together three 11-4 marks, won three more special prizes and was promoted to ozeki. In May 1977 he won his first yusho, or tournament championship, with a 13-2 record.
Yokozuna
In 1978 Wakamisugi emerged as the chief rival to Yokozuna Kitanoumi, as the other grand champion at the time, WajimaWajima 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....
, was producing inconsistent results. Wakamisugi finished runner-up to Kitanoumi in January 1978 and then fought two playoffs with him for the yusho 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, which was the shikona of his stablemaster at Futagoyama, the former Wakanohana Kanji I
Wakanohana Kanji I
was a sumo wrestler, the sport's 45th Yokozuna .Wakanohana's younger brother was the late former ozeki Takanohana Kenshi and he was the uncle of Takanohana Koji and Wakanohana Masaru...
.
Wakanohana had reached sumo's top rank at the age of just 25, and fans were naturally hoping for a long rivalry with Kitanoumi. But it was not to be. He did win three further tournaments, in November 1978 (with a perfect 15-0 score), May 1979 and September 1980. However he seemed burdened by the Wakanohana name, and in 1981 he was also pressured into marrying the daughter of his stable master. During this brief and unhappy marriage he won no tournament championships and was frequently absent from the dohyo
Dohyo
thumb|A dohyōThe dohyō is the ring in which sumo wrestling bouts are held. A modern dohyo is a circle of rice-straw bales 4.55 meters in diameter, mounted on a square platform of clay 6.7m on a side, and 34 to 60 cm high. The surface is covered by sand.A new dohyō is built prior to each...
due to injury and illness. The couple divorced shortly before Wakanohana announced his retirement from sumo in January 1983 at the relatively early age of 29. Around the same time, he married his mistress, who was pregnant with their only child—a daughter.
Retirement from the ring
No longer able to take over Futagoyama stable due to his divorce, in 1984 Wakanohana instead established his own stableHeya
In sumo wrestling, a heya , usually translated into English as stable, is an organization of sumo wrestlers where they train and live. All wrestlers in professional sumo must belong to one. There are currently 49 heya , all but four of which belong to one of five ichimon...
, Magaki
Magaki Stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. Wakanohana Kanji II, the 56th Yokozuna in sumo history, re-established the stable in 1983 and is its current oyakata. Its first wrestler to reach the top division was the Hawaiian born Yamato in 1997...
, and is now known as Magaki Oyakata. He was a senior member 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...
, serving as a Director, where he was responsible for the running of the 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 ....
held in 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...
each year. He suffered a minor stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in March 2007 and since then has used a wheelchair and is unable to take much of an active role in running the stable.
In May 2008 it emerged that he had beaten one of his wrestlers with a bamboo stick. Although such rough treatment of juniors was not uncommon at sumo stables in the past, since the death of trainee Takashi Saito
Takashi Saito (sumo wrestler)
The Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal occurred on June 26, 2007, when a seventeen-year old junior sumo wrestler who fought under the shikona of Tokitaizan, collapsed and died after a training session at the Tokitsukaze stable. It subsequently emerged that he was beaten with a beer bottle and a...
at the Tokitsukaze stable
Tokitsukaze stable
The is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Tokitsukaze group of stables. It was originally founded in 1769 and was dominant during the Taishō period. In its modern form it dates from 1941 when it was established by Futabayama, who was still an active wrestler at the time. Initially known as...
in 2007 coaches have been instructed to cut out the practice. The Sumo Association reprimanded him by giving him a 30% pay cut for three months. Kokonoe-oyakata the former Chiyonofuji and head of the Sumo Association's public relations division, criticised Magaki for initially attempting to justify his actions, saying "In addition to his excessive punishment of the wrestler, he invited misunderstanding that such actions are common in all stables."
In August 2008 he resigned from the board of directors after the top ranking wrestler at Magaki stable, maegashira Wakanoho
Wakanoho Toshinori
Wakanohō Toshinori is a former sumo wrestler. His highest rank was maegashira 1...
, was expelled from sumo after being arrested for possession of cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. He was, however, repromoted in February 2009.
Along with five other oyakata (Otake, Onomatsu
Masurao Hiroo
is a Japanese former sumo wrestler, born in Itoda, Fukuoka Prefecture. Making his professional debut in 1979, he reached the top division in 1985. His highest rank was sekiwake and he won five special prizes in his top division career. He was one of the lightest wrestlers in the top division, and...
, Otowayama, Tokiwayama and Futagoyama), he was forced to leave the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables in January 2010 after declaring his support for Takanohana's unsanctioned bid to be elected to the board of directors of the Sumo Association.
Fighting style
Wakanohana's favoured 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 yori-kiri, with a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside and left hand inside) grip on his opponent's 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:...
, uwatenage (overarm throw), and sotogake (outside leg trip).
Top division record
External links
- "P" designates a win or loss of additional playoff bout(s) for the championship because two or more wrestlers finished with identical records