Unryū Kyūkichi

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 雲龍 久吉 Unryū Kyūkichi


realname = Kyūkichi Shiozuka
dateofbirth = 1822
placeofbirth = Yanagawa, Fukuoka, Japan
dateofdeath = death date and age|1890|6|15|1822|1|1
height = convert|1.78|m|ftin|abbr=on|lk=on
weight = convert|135|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Oitekaze
rank =
record = 127-32-55
15draws-5holds(Makuuchi)
debut = November, 1847
highestrank = Yokozuna (September 1861)
retireddate = February, 1865
yushos = 7 (Makuuchi, unofficial)
goldstars =
update = October 2007

Unryū Kyūkichi (雲龍 久吉, 1822 - June 15 1890; aka Unryū Hisakichi) was a sumo wrestler from Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 10th Yokozuna.

Career

He was born in Yanagawa, Fukuoka. He lost his parents and grandmother in 1833.cite web|url=http://kyushu.yomiuri.co.jp/magazine/katari/0712/kt_712_071215.htm|title=雲龍久吉…土俵入りに名残す横綱（福岡県柳川市）|language=Japanese|publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun|accessdate=2008-07-04] He made a Osaka sumo debut in May 1846. He moved to Edo in 1847. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in February 1852.

Unryu was a strong wrestler at the beginning of his career. He won four consecutive championships upon entering the top "makuuchi" division. He presented his power before the military of Matthew C. Perry. He was promoted to Ozeki in January 1958.

He was awarded a yokozuna licence in September 1861, but by that time he had already passed his peak and was unable to win many more bouts. In the top makuuchi division, he won 127 bouts and lost 32 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 79.9.

Retirement from sumo

After his retirement in February 1865, he remained in the sumo world as an elder. He was the chairman ("fudegashira") of Tokyo sumo in the early Meiji period, but he also acquired credit for his honesty. [cite web|url=http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/18520202.htm|title=雲龍 久吉|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-07-04]

The name of one style of "Yokozuna Dohyo-iri" (the yokozuna ring entering ceremony) came from him. His ritual dance was said to be beautiful but it isn't proved that he performed the ritual dance in the Unryū style. His style is said to have been imitated by Tachiyama Mineemon, [cite web | author= | title=The 11th Yokozuna Shiranui Koemon| publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine | language= English | url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_12/Rikishi_of_Old.htm| date=| accessdate=2007-10-10] but Tachiyama's style is called "shiranui" style now. This was due to sumo scholar Kozo Hikoyama, who without researching properly, labelled Tachiyama's style as being that of Shiranui Koemon, whereas it was in fact created by Unryū. Hikoyama was such an authority that no-one contradicted him, and the Shiranui name has stuck. [cite web|author=Castella, Stehane;Perran, Thierry|title=History and evolution of the tsuna since 1789|publisher=Le Monde Du Sumo|url=http://www.lemondedusumo.com/english/MDS14_tsuna.php?mag=mds&num=14|date=February 2006|accessdate=2008-06-17]

Top division record

"*1-2 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

*List of yokozuna
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*Glossary of sumo terms

External links

*ja icon [http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/18520202.htm Unryu Hisakichi tournament result]