Umegatani Tōtarō II

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 梅ヶ谷 藤太郎 Umegatani Tōtarō


realname = Otojiro Oshida
dateofbirth = birth date|1878|3|11
placeofbirth = Toyama, Japan
dateofdeath =death date and age|1927|9|2|1878|3|11
height = height|meters=1.68
weight = convert|158|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Ikazuchi
rank =
record = 168-27-116
47draws-2holds(Makuuchi)
debut = June, 1892
highestrank = Yokozuna (June, 1903)
retireddate = May, 1915
yushos = 3 (Makuuchi, unofficial)
prizes =
goldstars =
update = October 2007

Umegatani Tōtarō II (梅ヶ谷 藤太郎, March 11 1878 - September 2 1927) was a sumo wrestler from Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 20th Yokozuna. Umegatani had a great rivalry with "yokozuna" Hitachiyama Taniemon. Their era was known as the Ume-Hitachi Era and it brought sumo to heights of popularity never before seen in the Meiji period.cite web|author=|title=Rikishi of Old: Umegatani II|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=June 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10]

Career

He was adopted by the 15th Yokozuna Umegatani Tōtarō I and joined his Ikazuchi stable in June 1892 at the age of 14. His father was initially reluctant to let him join at such a young age but Umegatani I personally guaranteed his well-being.cite web|author=|title=Rikishi of Old: Umegatani II|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=June 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10]

In the stable, he was trained by Onigatani. He rose through the ranks quickly, making his "juryo" debut in January 1897 and reaching the top "makuuchi" division in January 1898. Initially wrestling under the sumo name of Umenotani Otomatsu, he officially took on the Umegatani Totaro name before his fourth basho as an "ozeki" in January 1902. He met Hitachiyama in May 1903 when both "ozeki" were undefeated. The clash caused great excitement throughout Japan.cite web|author=|title=Rikishi of Old: Umegatani II|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=June 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10] Although Umegatani lost the match, after the tournament both he and Hitachiyama were promoted to "yokozuna".

Umegatani had reached sumo's highest rank at the age of 25 years and 3 months, making him the youngest ever "yokozuna" at that time. The record stood until the promotion of Terukuni in 1942.cite web|author=|title=Rikishi of Old: Umegatani II|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=June 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10] He won at least 3 championships before June 1909, when the "yūshō" system was established by the "Mainichi Shimbun" newspaper (the Japan Sumo Association officially recognised the system in 1926). He won the last tournament before this, in January 1909. Although he didn't win any championship officially, he was given a prize frame in honor of his contribution when he retired in June 1915. There was his prize frame between June 1909 tournament and January 1910 tournament. His bouts were more masterly than his record because his techniques were orthodox methods. Although he was extremely heavy for his short height, he showed great skill.cite book|author=Newton, Clyde|title=Dynamic Sumo|publisher=Kodansha|year=1994|pages=56|id=ISBN 4-7700-1802-9]

He missed many bouts in his later career due to illness, retiring at the age of 37. In the top "makuuchi" division, he won 168 bouts and lost 27 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 86.2. So many people wished to attend his retirement ceremony that it was held over three days.cite web|author=|title=Rikishi of Old: Umegatani II|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=June 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10] He died at the age of 49 whilst still active in sumo as a "shimpan" (judge) and head of Ikazuchi stable. The stable folded upon his death.

Top division record

"*Championships from this period were unofficial
"*There was no fusensho system until March 1927
"*All top division wrestlers were usually absent on the 10th day until 1909
"*In May 1898, "ozeki" Asashio Taro I also finished with a 7-1-1-1draw record.
"*In January 1904, west "yokozuna" Hitachiyama Taniemon finished with a 7-1-2 record, so several historians include a January 1904 championship though Umegatani recorded that before east was officially designated as ranked above west in 1909.

References

ee also

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

External links

* [http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm Article on Umegatani II]