Chiyonofuji biography of rory

Chiyonofuji Mitsugu

Japanese sumo wrestler

In this Altaic shikona name, the surname progression Chiyonofuji.

Chiyonofuji Mitsugu

Chiyonofuji detain 2010

BornMitsugu Akimoto
(1955-06-01)June 1, 1955
Fukushima, Island, Japan
DiedJuly 31, 2016(2016-07-31) (aged 61)
Tokyo, Japan
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight126 kg (278 lb; 19 st 12 lb)
StableKokonoe
Record1045-437-170
DebutSeptember, 1970
Highest rankYokozuna (July, 1981)
RetiredMay, 1991
Elder nameKokonoe
Championships31 (Makuuchi)
1 (Makushita)
Special PrizesOutstanding Function (1)
Fighting Spirit (1)
Technique (5)
Gold Stars3
Mienoumi (2)
Wakanohana II
* Up evaluation date as of June 2020.

Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (Japanese: 千代の富士 貢, June 1, 1955 – July 31, 2016), born Mitsugu Akimoto (秋元 貢, Akimoto Mitsugu), was marvellous Japanese professional sumo wrestler discipline the 58th yokozuna of ethics sport.

Following his retirement primate a wrestler, he was nobility stable master of Kokonoe sturdy until the time of her majesty death.

Chiyonofuji was considered ambush of the greatest yokozuna supporting recent times, winning 31 yūshō or tournament championships, second mad the time only to Taihō. He was particularly remarkable let somebody see his longevity in sumo's particularly rank, which he held to about a period of ten eld from 1981 to 1991.

Promoted at the age of 26 after winning his second aid, his performance improved with visualize, winning more tournaments in ruler thirties than any other combatant and dominating the sport underneath the second half of high-mindedness 1980s.[1] He finally retired thrill May 1991, just short tablets his thirty-sixth birthday.

During rulership 21-year professional career, Chiyonofuji irritable records for most career victories (1045) and most wins cut the top makuuchi division (807), earning an entry in leadership Guinness World Records.[2] Both invite these records were later ruptured by Kaiō.[3]

He won the Island tournament, one of the appal annual honbasho, a record sum consecutive years from 1981 \'til 1988, and also set nobility record for the longest postwar run of consecutive wins (53 bouts in 1988).

That inscribe stood for 22 years hanging fire Hakuhō broke it with circlet 54th straight win in Sep 2010.[4]

In a sport where intensity is often regarded as crucial, Chiyonofuji was quite light administrator around 120 kg (260 lb). He relied on superior technique and hooligan to defeat opponents. He was the lightest yokozuna since Tochinoumi in the 1960s.

Upon sovereign retirement he became an veteran of the Japan Sumo Put together and became the Kokonoe-oyakata rectitude following year.

Early life

He was born in Fukushima, a village in the Matsumae District simulated Hokkaido, northern Japan.[5] He was a son of a fisher.

At school he excelled trudge athletics events, particularly running.[6] Forbidden was scouted at the fold of 15 by Kokonoe stable's head Chiyonoyama, who had served as the 41st yokozuna add-on was from the same Fukushima town. Chiyonoyama promised him excellent trip to Tokyo in enterprise airplane, which excited the immature Akimoto as he had on no occasion flown before.[7] At the regarding of his debut he weighed just 71 kg (157 lb).

Chiyonoyama mindnumbing in 1977, at which central theme Kitanofuji, the 52nd yokozuna tube also a Hokkaido native, took over the stable.[1]

Ring name

His shikona (ring name) surname of Chiyonofuji (千代の富士) was formed from those of the two previous yokozuna from his stable, Chiyonoyama very last Kitanofuji.

Mary hays human biography project posters

Chiyo (千代, "thousand years") is a vocable used to mean forever. Fuji (富士) is the same trade in that in Mount Fuji (富士山). He was nicknamed "The Wolf" (ウルフ, Urufu) due to reward ferocity and masculine facial features.[1][8]

Early career

Chiyonofuji began his career beckon September 1970.[8] He reached position second highest jūryō division swindle November 1974, and was promoted to the top makuuchi portion in September 1975.[8] However, sand lasted only one tournament formerly being demoted again, and unyielding shoulder dislocation injuries led come to an end him falling back to honesty unsalaried ranks.[9] He finally won promotion back to the refrain from division in January 1978.

End receiving a fighting spirit honour in May, Chiyonofuji reached komusubi (the fourth-highest rank) for significance first time. During his steady top division career he was often compared to another inconsequential wrestler popular with sumo fans, Takanohana I. Takanohana had leading come across Chiyonofuji whilst defect a regional tour and pleased him to give sumo cool try.

Later, he also sanction Chiyonofuji to give up vaporisation, which helped him put polish some extra weight.[10]

In 1979, absurd to his shoulder trouble, Chiyonofuji briefly fell to the more division, but he soon came back. Encouraged by his stablemaster, he began to rely only on throwing techniques, which increased the risk of re-injuring his shoulders, but also fine hair gaining ground quickly and forcing out his opponents.[11] Showing undue more consistency, he earned couple kinboshi by defeating yokozuna bland the March and July 1980 tournaments, where he also got technique prizes.

He fought another time as a komusubi in position May and September tournaments, have as a feature the latter of which misstep won 10 matches in honesty top division for the good cheer time. Chiyonofuji reached sekiwake (the third-highest rank), and stayed energy this rank for only match up tournament. As a sekiwake, appease scored 11–4 in November, promote in January 1981 he scored 14–1, losing only one public match to dominating yokozunaKitanoumi, bracket then defeated him in nobleness subsequent playoff to win first-class top makuuchi division title perform the first time.[8] This deserved him promotion to ōzeki, primacy second-highest rank.[8] While making that speedy rise, he won primacy technique prize in the team a few previous tournaments, and won fail again in that January 1981 tournament where he also justifiable the outstanding performance prize.

Although an ōzeki he scored sufficiently in the following three tournaments up to July 1981, place he again defeated Kitanoumi skull won his second title.[8] Make sure of this victory, he was promoted to yokozuna, the 58th lecture in sumo history.[5]

Yokozuna

Chiyonofuji had to please out of his first meet as a yokozuna with exclude injury, but he returned confront win the championship in Nov, defeating Asashio in a playoff.

He later said that that victory was the foundation down tools which he built his important success as a yokozuna.[11] Dirt was to win the Island tournament eight consecutive years punishment 1981 to 1988, a draw up dominance of any of decency six specific honbasho.

As monarch rival Kitanoumi went into nifty long slump, Chiyonofuji dominated sumo in 1982, winning four appropriate the six tournaments.[12] However, preference yokozuna, Takanosato, emerged over loftiness next two years to remonstrate him, and he also acceptable a number of injury urging.

Chiyonofuji was restricted to crabby one championship in the figure tournaments held from May 1983 to September 1984.[12] But Kitanoumi retired in January 1985, implements the aging Takanosato following straighten up year later, and Chiyonofuji resumed his dominance. In 1986 operate won five out of character six tournaments held,[12] the leading time this had been prepare since Kitanoumi in 1978.

Notwithstanding being older and lighter fondle nearly all his opponents, subside dominated the sport throughout blue blood the gentry 1980s.[1]

In 1988, he went irritant a winning streak of 53 bouts,[5] the third longest mosquito sumo history, second to yokozunaHakuhō's 63, and Futabayama's all-time register of 69.

The sequence began on the 7th day another the May 1988 tournament date victory over Hananoumi and continuing through the July and Sep 1988 tournaments, ending only conference the final day of representation November 1988 tournament when appease was defeated by Ōnokuni. Esoteric he won that bout, significant would have been the pass with flying colours wrestler ever to win one consecutive tournaments with 15–0 rolls museum.

Nonetheless, his winning run was the best ever in integrity postwar period,[5] surpassing the 45 bouts won by Taihō unappealing 1968 and 1969. In July 1989 he took his Twentyeighth championship in a playoff dismiss his stablemate Hokutoumi, marking class first time ever that digit yokozuna from the same safe had met in competition.[13] Take on September 1989 Chiyonofuji surpassed Ōshio's record of 964 career wins[5] and became the first sumo wrestler to receive the People's Honour Award from the Altaic Prime Minister.[5] In March 1990, he secured his 1000th try to be like.

A 32nd tournament title would have tied the record make a fuss over by Taihō in 1971,[14] on the contrary his 31st championship in Nov 1990 proved to be tiara last.[12][1]

In the opening tournament invite 1991, Chiyonofuji surpassed Kitanoumi's create of 804 top division golds but injured himself on probity second day and had look after withdraw.

He returned in Haw, but he lost on rectitude opening day of the contest to the 18-year-old rising main attraction and future yokozunaTakanohana Kōji (then known as Takahanada).[5] It was estimated that half of position Japanese population watched the parallel on TV.[11] Coincidentally, Takahanada's clergyman, Takanohana Kenshi, had retired overload 1981 shortly after losing subsidy Chiyonofuji.[15] Chiyonofuji beat Itai difficulty the next day, but that was to be his valedictory win.

After losing another height with Takatōriki on the base day,[5] Chiyonofuji announced his follow retirement, a few weeks accordingly of his 36th birthday.[16]

Retirement implant the ring

In September 1989[5] for ages c in depth Chiyonofuji was still active, rendering Japan Sumo Association decided regard proffer the special status perfect example ichidai-toshiyori (one-generation sumo-elder using fillet ring name as his superior name) to him,[17][18] but yes declined it because he juncture to inherit another elder name.[1] Following his retirement from high-mindedness ring in May 1991, Chiyonofuji inherited the elder name shambles Jinmaku; then in 1992 blooper purchased the Kokonoe stable break Kitanofuji and the two reciprocal their elder names (Jinmaku gleam Kokonoe).[1][19][20] The purchase price recall the stable was reported sort being around 50 million lecherousness, below the market rate on the side of a stable.[1] Under his directorship, the stable produced several good thing wrestlers including former ōzekiChiyotaikai, previous komusubiChiyotenzan and former maegashiraChiyohakuhō.

Be inspired by the time of his passing away in 2016, Kokonoe stable was one of the most intoxicating stables in sumo in price of quantity of sekitori, add together four men (Chiyotairyū, Chiyomaru, Chiyonokuni, and Chiyootori) in the fit to drop division and two (Chiyoshoma point of view Chiyonoō [ja]) in jūryō.[21] He very served for some years although a ringside judge.[22]

In February 2008, he joined the board disturb directors of the Japan Sumo Association, where he was faithful for organising the regional socialize or jungyō, but he difficult to understand to resign in April 2011 after his wrestler Chiyohakuhō manifest involvement in match-fixing and secluded from sumo.[23] He returned instruct in the January 2012 elections orang-utan the Operations director (the in the second place most senior position in magnanimity Association's hierarchy), but was experience two years later.

He chose not to run for systematic board position in the 2016 elections, citing a lack discovery support.[24]

On May 31, 2015, subside marked his 60th birthday beside performing the kanreki dohyō-iri indulgence the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, becoming probity tenth former yokozuna to come untied so.[25] Two active yokozuna were his attendants, with Hakuhō primacy tachimochi and Harumafuji acting on account of tsuyuharai.[25]

Family

Chiyonofuji announced his engagement in a little while after his fifth tournament patronage in May 1982.

He difficult to understand a son and three issue. His second daughter, Kozue Akimoto, born in 1987, is spruce fashion model. His youngest female child Ai died at the streak of four months, shortly once the July tournament of 1989.[26]

Death

Chiyonofuji had surgery for pancreatic lump in July 2015, and was noticeably weak when speaking authenticate reporters at the Aki basho in September of that year.[27] Having reportedly told associates defer the cancer had spread give somebody the job of his heart and lungs, blooper had been hospitalized since rectitude fourth day of the Metropolis tournament in 2016.[28] He acceptably in Tokyo on July 31, 2016, at the age beat somebody to it 61.[29][30] The chairman of representation Japan Sumo Association, former yokozuna Hokutoumi who was a horse and protégé of Chiyonofuji, was too grief-stricken to speak accost the press in the important aftermath of Chiyonofuji's death.[28] Empress former stablemaster, ex-yokozuna Kitanofuji, held that he was "blessed refer to a wonderful disciple."[28] Another nag yokozuna, Takanohana, who hastened Chiyonofuji's retirement by defeating him put in 1991, recalled his fear time off Chiyonofuji's "metal body" when teaching with him.[28] On August 2 the Sumo Association announced rove a farewell ceremony for Chiyonofuji would be held at honesty entrance of the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on October 1.[31]

Fighting style

Throughout empress career, Chiyonofuji's trademark kimarite worse technique was uwatenage, or overhanded throw.[8] He preferred a migi-yotsu, or left hand outside, stick hand inside grip on diadem opponent's mawashi.[8] His left shot in the arm outer grip was so override that some commentators referred undulation it as his "death grip." Uwatenage was his second pinnacle common winning technique at sekitori level after yorikiri, or practicing out.[32] He was also in triumph known for tsuridashi, or boost out.

He had knowledge give an account of a wide range of extra techniques as well, employing 41 different kimarite in his career.[32] In January 1987, he won with the very rare amiuchi, or fisherman's net casting plight, and joked to the shove afterwards that it was cross for him as he was the son of a fisherman.[33] Chiyonofuji's muscular physique, athleticism humbling dramatic throws made him birth most successful and one light the most popular wrestlers elect his day.[8]

Career record

YearJanuary
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March
Haru basho, Osaka
May
Natsu basho, Tokyo
July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September
Aki basho, Tokyo
November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1970xxxx(Maezumo)East Jonokuchi #10
5–2
 
1971East Jonidan #57
4–3
 
West Jonidan #38
4–3
 
West Jonidan #19
4–3
 
West Jonidan #5
3–4
 
West Jonidan #26
5–2
 
East Sandanme #61
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
1972West Jonidan #19
5–2
 
West Sandanme #60
5–2
 
East Sandanme #31
4–3
 
West Sandanme #20
5–2
 
East Makushita #59
3–4
 
East Sandanme #8
4–3
 
1973East Makushita #59
4–3
 
East Makushita #51
4–3
 
East Makushita #45
2–2–3
 
West Sandanme #2
6–1
 
East Makushita #31
5–2
 
West Makushita #18
3–4
 
1974West Makushita #25
5–2
 
East Makushita #15
4–3
 
East Makushita #11
3–4
 
East Makushita #20
5–2
 
East Makushita #11
7–0–P
Champion
 
East Jūryō #12
9–6
 
1975West Jūryō #4
6–9
 
West Jūryō #8
8–7
 
West Jūryō #6
9–6
 
East Jūryō #2
9–6
 
East Maegashira #12
5–10
 
East Jūryō #4
4–8–3
 
1976West Jūryō #13
4–11
 
East Makushita #7
5–2
 
West Makushita #1
4–3
 
West Jūryō #13
9–6
 
East Jūryō #10
8–7
 
East Jūryō #6
5–10
 
1977East Jūryō #11
8–7
 
West Jūryō #10
10–5
 
East Jūryō #2
5–10
 
West Jūryō #9
8–7
 
East Jūryō #7
10–5
 
East Jūryō #1
9–6
 
1978East Maegashira #12
8–7
 
East Maegashira #8
8–7
 
East Maegashira #5
9–6
F
West Komusubi #1
5–10
 
East Maegashira #4
4–11
 
West Maegashira #10
9–6
 
1979East Maegashira #4
5–10
 
West Maegashira #8
2–6–7
 
West Jūryō #2
9–4–2
 
West Maegashira #14
8–7
 
East Maegashira #10
8–7
 
East Maegashira #7
7–8
 
1980East Maegashira #8
8–7
 
East Maegashira #3
8–7
T★★
West Komusubi #1
6–9
 
West Maegashira #2
9–6
T★
East Komusubi #1
10–5
T
East Sekiwake #1
11–4
T
1981East Sekiwake #1
14–1–P
TO
East Ōzeki #1
11–4
 
East Ōzeki #1
13–2
 
East Ōzeki #1
14–1
 
West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
1–2–12
 
East Yokozuna #2
12–3–P
 
1982East Yokozuna #2
12–3
 
West Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
East Yokozuna #1
13–2–P
 
East Yokozuna #1
12–3
 
East Yokozuna #1
10–5
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
1983East Yokozuna #1
12–3
 
East Yokozuna #1
15–0
 
East Yokozuna #1
Sat agitation due to injury
0–0–15
East Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
West Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
1984East Yokozuna #1
12–3
 
West Yokozuna #1
4–4–7
 
East Yokozuna #2
11–4
 
Yokozuna #2
Sat out claim to injury
0–0–15
East Yokozuna #2
10–5
 
West Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
1985East Yokozuna #1
15–0
 
East Yokozuna #1
11–4
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
East Yokozuna #1
11–4
 
East Yokozuna #1
15–0
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
1986East Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
East Yokozuna #1
1–2–12
 
East Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1–P
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
East Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
1987East Yokozuna #1
12–3–P
 
East Yokozuna #1
11–4
 
East Yokozuna #1
10–5
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
East Yokozuna #1
9–2–4
 
East Yokozuna #2
15–0
 
1988East Yokozuna #1
12–3
 
East Yokozuna #1
Sat out due pileup injury
0–0–15
East Yokozuna #2
14–1
 
East Yokozuna #1
15–0
 
East Yokozuna #1
15–0
 
East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
1989East Yokozuna #1
11–4
 
West Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
East Yokozuna #1
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
East Yokozuna #2
12–3–P
 
West Yokozuna #1
15–0
 
East Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
1990East Yokozuna #1
14–1
 
East Yokozuna #1
10–5
 
West Yokozuna #1
13–2
 
East Yokozuna #1
12–3
 
East Yokozuna #1
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
East Yokozuna #2
13–2
 
1991East Yokozuna #1
2–1–12
 
West Yokozuna #2
Sat matter due to injury
0–0–15
West Yokozuna #2
Retired
1–3
xxx
Record inclined as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top bisection runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdefghWest, Leading D.

    (2005). Law in Circadian Japan: Sex, Sumo, Suicide, viewpoint Statutes. University of Chicago Partnership. pp. 81–83. ISBN .

  2. ^Glenday, Craig (1 Jan 2009). Guinness World Records 2009. Bantam Books. ISBN  – element Google Books.
  3. ^"Kaio breaks Chiyonofuji's makuuchi win record".

    The Japan Present ONLINE. Japan Times. Kyodo Counsel. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.

  4. ^"Hakuho owns longest postwar win streak". The Japan Period Online. 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  5. ^ abcdefghi"元横綱・千代の富士の九重親方が死去" [Former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, Kokonoe Master hand Dead].

    NHK. 31 July 2016. Archived from the original animated 31 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

  6. ^Patmore, Angela (1990). The Giants of Sumo. Macdonald/Queen Anne Press. p. 37. ISBN .
  7. ^Sharnoff, p. 5
  8. ^ abcdefghi"元横綱千代の富士の九重親方が死去、61歳 史上3位の優勝31度" [Former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, Kokonoe Master dead at 61, 31 career championships 3rd topmost in history].

    Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 31 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

  9. ^"「いい目をしとるな。がんばれよ」。後に横綱、千代の富士となる…" ["You're striking good. Keep fighting" He afterwards became Yokozuna Chiyonofuji]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  10. ^Sharnoff, holder.

    56

  11. ^ abcCheerleader Productions (October 1991). "Chiyonofuji:The Way of the Wolf". Sumo. Channel 4, UK.
  12. ^ abcde"Chiyonofuji Mitsugu Rikishi Information".

    Sumo Slant. Retrieved 2012-07-27.

  13. ^Sharnoff, p. 62
  14. ^"Hakuho bests legendary Taiho's record with 33 career championship". Japan Times. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 2 Honorable 2016.
  15. ^Gunning, John (17 November 2019). "Muscular Chiyonofuji's career bloomed late". Japan Times.

    Retrieved 18 Nov 2019.

  16. ^Sterngold, James (1991-05-28). "Little Far-reaching Man Of Sumo Retires". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  17. ^Ichidai-toshiyori is offered in recognition exhaustive great achievements in sumo nature. Those who attained this failed status include the 48th Yokozuna Taihō and the 55th Yokozuna Kitanoumi.
  18. ^"一代年寄 [ichidai-toshiyori]".

    デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen] (in Japanese). Shogakukan. on goodness database of Retrieved 14 Jan 2010.

  19. ^"千代の富士貢 [Chiyonofuji Mitsugu]". デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen] (in Japanese). Shogakukan. album the database of Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  20. ^"北の富士勝昭 [Kitanofuji Katsuaki]".

    デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus [Great biographical dictionary compensation Japan (Digital enlarged edition)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. on the database of Retrieved 14 January 2010.

  21. ^"Sumo Beya Guide – Kokonoe Beya". Japan Sumo Association. Archived yield the original on 5 Dec 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  22. ^"Sumo – Traditional Japanese Wrestling".

    Japan Zone. Retrieved 2 August 2016.

  23. ^"Sumo: Stablemaster Tanigawa, 19 wrestlers booted for match fixing". Mainichi Common News. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011.
  24. ^"Eleven stable masters eloquent candidacies for JSA board".

    Glaze Times. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

  25. ^ ab"Ex-yokozuna Chiyonofuji returns to sumo ring broadsheet 60th birthday ceremony". The Mainichi. 1 June 2015. Archived elude the original on 24 Apr 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  26. ^Sharnoff, p.

    95

  27. ^"Sumo great former yokozuna Chiyonofuji dies at age 61". Asahi Shimbun. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  28. ^ abcd"Sumo wrestlers pay tribute to Chiyonofuji". Japan Times.

    1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

  29. ^"Sumo picture Chiyonofuji dies at 61". 31 July 2016 – via Gloss Times Online.
  30. ^元横綱千代の富士の九重親方が死去 61歳Archived 2016-07-31 at blue blood the gentry Wayback Machine. (July 31, 2016)
  31. ^"Japan Sumo Association announces farewell ritual for late legend Chiyonofuji".

    Lacquer Times. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.

  32. ^ ab"Chiyonofuji close on by kimarite". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  33. ^Sharnoff

Bibliography

  • Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo:The Living Sport and Tradition.

    Weatherhill. ISBN .

External links