Hidenoyama Raigorō

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 秀ノ山 雷五郎 Hidenoyama Raigorō


realname = Tatsugoro Kikuta
dateofbirth = 1808
placeofbirth = Miyagi, Japan
dateofdeath = death date and age|1862|6|16|1808|1|1
height = convert|1.64|m|ftin|abbr=on|lk=on
weight = convert|135|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Hidenoyama
rank =
record = 112-21-96
33draws-2holds(Makuuchi)
debut = March, 1828
highestrank = Yokozuna (September 1847)
retireddate = March, 1850
yushos = 6 (Makuuchi, unofficial)
goldstars =
update = October 2007

Hidenoyama Raigorō (秀ノ山 雷五郎, 1808 - June 16 1862) was a sumo wrestler from Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 9th Yokozuna. He was also known as "Amatsukaze Kumoemon" (天津風　雲右衞門), "Tatsugami Kumoemon" (立神　雲右衞門) and "Iwamigata Joemon" (岩見潟　丈右衞門).

Career

In 1823, he attempted to make his debut, but he was completely ignored at first due to his short height of only height|meters=1.51. He joined Hidenoyama stable in 1827 and made his debut in March 1828. He was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division in January 1837. He recorded 30 consecutive wins and won six championships before the modern "yūshō" system was established. In the top "makuuchi" division, he won 112 bouts and lost 21 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 84.2.

Hidenoyama was awarded a "yokozuna" licence in November 1847. His height of height|meters=1.64 is lowest among "yokozunas". He was not one of the greatest wrestlers of his time, but received the licence because he had influential backers.cite book|author=Newton, Clyde|title=Dynamic Sumo|publisher=Kodansha|year=1994|pages=51|id=ISBN 4-7700-1802-9] "Ōzeki" Tsurugizan Taniemon reportedly handed over the yokozuna licence to Hidenoyama. [cite web|url=http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/ozumo_joho_kyoku/yomu/003/054.html|title=「得意手のないのが名人！」（大関・剣山谷右衛門）|language=Japanese|publisher=Japan Sumo Association|accessdate=2008-06-21]

Retirement from sumo

After his retirement, he was an elder known as Hidenoyama and produced later "yokozuna" Jinmaku. He served as a judge ("naka-aratame", modern "shimpan") but this gave him many opportunities to give favourable decisions to his own pupils. At that time, there were many low division wrestlers and they were sometimes forced to be absent from sumo bouts. They attempted to have many sumo bouts. He had the right of deciding their attendances and rejected this excluding his own pupils. They were angry, accusing him of bias, and went on strike because of him in 1851. [cite web|url=http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/18370103.htm|title=秀の山 雷五郎|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-05-24] It was the first walkout in sumo history. He eventually apologized to them.

Top division record

"*2 tournaments were held yearly in this period, though the actual time they were held was often erratic"
"*Championships from this period were unofficial "*Yokozuna were not listed as such on the ranking sheets until 1890
"*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 yokozuna