Hitachiyama Taniemon

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 常陸山 谷右衞門 Hitachiyama Taniemon


realname = Tani Ichige
dateofbirth = birth date|1874|1|19
placeofbirth = Mito, Ibaragi, Japan
dateofdeath =death date and age|1922|6|19|1874|1|19
height = height|meters=1.74
weight = convert|146|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Dewanoumi
rank =
record = 150-15-131
22draws-2holds(Makuuchi)
debut = June, 1892
highestrank = Yokozuna (June, 1903)
retireddate = May, 1914
yushos = 8 (Makuuchi)
prizes =
goldstars =
update = September 2007

Hitachiyama Taniemon (常陸山 谷右衞門, January 19 1874 - June 19 1922) was a sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaragi Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 19th Yokozuna from 1903 till 1914. His great rivalry with Umegatani Tōtarō II created the "Ume-Hitachi Era" and did much to popularise sumo. He is remembered as much for his exploits in promoting the sport as for his strength on the "dohyo." In his later years as head coach of Dewanoumi stable he trained hundreds of wrestlers, including three "yokozuna". Many consider him the most honorable "yokozuna" in sumo history, which earned him the nickname "Kakusei" (角聖), or "sumo saint".cite web | author= Kuroda, Joe| title=A Shot At the Impossible-Yokozuna Comparison Through The Ages | publisher=sumofanmag.com | url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_5/Yokozuna.htm| date=February 2006 | accessdate=2008-07-06]

Early career

On January 19, 1874, Hitachiyama was born in a samurai family which belonged to Mito Domain. His family was dismissed by Meiji restoration and was through financially. He moved to Tokyo depending on his uncle and he attempted to enter Waseda University in which his uncle worked. At that time, however, he was so strong that he raised a rock weighing 58 "kan", or convert|217.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on. His uncle advised him to become a sumo wrestler. At that time, sumo wasn't seen as a good sport, so his father opposed the idea.cite web|author=Kuroda, Joe|title=Hitachiyama Taniemon (1874-1922)|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_16/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|date=December 2007|accessdate=2008-04-29] Despite this he joined Dewanoumi stable in 1890.

He made his professional debut in June 1892. However, he loved his head coach's niece; and when he was refused permission to wed her, he ran away from Tokyo sumo in the summer of 1894. He moved to Nagoya sumo and then Osaka sumo. He returned to Tokyo sumo in the spring of 1896. He had become much stronger during his absence and won 32 consecutive bouts upon his return. In January 1899, he won a championship at his first tournament in the top "makuuchi" division. In January 1901 he was promoted to "ozeki." He fought against fellow "ozeki" Umegatani Tōtarō II on the final day of May 1903 tournament. He defeated Umegatani and his own promotion to "yokozuna" was confirmed, but Hitachiyama insisted that his rival be promoted as well. Hitachiyama got his wish and he and Umegatani were promoted to "yokozuna" together in June 1903. With Ōzutsu Man'emon also holding the rank, it was the first occasion that three "yokozuna" were active at the same time.cite web|author=Kuroda, Joe|title=Hitachiyama Taniemon (1874-1922) Part #2|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_17/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|date=February 2008|accessdate=2008-04-29]

Yokozuna

Hitachiyama once won 27 bouts in a row, lost one to Araiwa Kamenosuke in his first tournament as "yokozuna", then went on another winning streak of 32 bouts. However, he was determined to see sumo held in higher regard with Japanese society, a task he saw as more important than merely winning tournament titles. In August 1907, he went on a tour of the United States of America and Europe. He met President Theodore Roosevelt and performed the "Yokozuna Dohyo-iri" (the yokozuna ring entering ceremony) in the White House. Although he was absent from January 1908 tournament due to the journey, nobody criticized Hitachiyama as he was seen as a visionary and a pioneer for sumo. After his return from his long journey he was not quite as dominant as he had been before, although he still managed to win a title in the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan, which opened in 1909 and which he had helped to build.

In the top "makuuchi" division, he won 150 bouts and lost only 15 bouts, achieving a winning percentage of 90.9. He is the last "yokozuna" to have a winning percentage over .900 in the top division. [cite web|url=http://gans01.fc2web.com/ichiran/yokozuna.html|title=横綱一覧|publisher=Grand Sumo Tournament Records|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-08-01] He started his powerful techniques only after his opponents' attack. [cite web|url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/317.html|title=Hitachiyama Taniemon|publisher=National Diet Library|date=2004|accessdate=2008-07-06] His way of fighting is seen as a model of "yokozuna" now. He introduced Bushidō into sumo, and raised the status of sumo wrestlers. He also performed "Dohyo-iri" in an unique way. At first, he held out both arms after he made a clap. After he did sumo-style leg stomps, he raised only right arm.

Later years

After his retirement in May 1914, he became the stablemaster of Dewanoumi stable. It had been a minor "heya" when he had first joined it, but even while still an active wresler Hitachiyama had trained many wrestlers, such as later "yokozuna" Tachiyama Mineemon, even though they were not members of his stable. He was a masterful recruiter as well as a coach. [cite book|author=Schilling, Mark|title=Sumo: A Fan's Guide|publisher=Japan Times|year=1994|id=ISBN 4-7890-0725-1] He had such charisma and personality that he was able to tempt many wrestlers away from the less successful Osaka and Kyoko based sumo associations, which caused friction between the rival organisations. [cite book|author=Newton, Clyde|title=Dynamic Sumo|publisher=Kodansha|year=1994|pages=56|id=ISBN 4-7700-1802-9] As head coach he produced many top division wrestlers, including no fewer than three "yokozuna": Ōnishiki Uichirō, Tochigiyama Moriya and Tsunenohana Kan'ichi. At the stable's peak he was in charge of two hundred wrestlers. To feed them, he devised "chankonabe". [cite web|url=http://www.tomoegata.com/about_chanko/|title=巴潟のちゃんこ鍋|publisher=Chanko Tomoegata|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-05-29]

He died suddenly in 1922 at the age of 48. A much respected figure in the sumo world, he was the first "yokozuna" for whom the Japan Sumo Association organised a formal funeral. His cortege was reportedly 6 kilometres long.

Top division record

"*Seven championships before establishment of yusho system in 1909 are not admitted officially
"*There was no fusensho system until March 1927
"*All top division wrestlers were usually absent on the 10th day until 1909

References

reflist

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo tournament winners
*List of Yokozuna

External links

*