- Haguroyama Masaji
Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername =羽黒山 政司 Haguroyama Masaji
realname = Masaji Kobayashi
dateofbirth = birth date|1914|11|18
placeofbirth = Niigata, Japan
dateofdeath = death date and age|1969|10|14|1914|11|18
height = height|meters=1.79
weight = convert|129.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Tatsunami
rank =
record = 359-99-117-1 draw
debut = January, 1934
highestrank = Yokozuna (May, 1941)
retireddate = September, 1953
yushos = 7 (Makuuchi) 1 (Juryo) 1 (Makushita) 1 (Sandanme) 1 (Jonidan) 1 (Jonokuchi)
update = October 2007Haguroyama Masaji (羽黒山 政司,
November 18 ,1914 -October 14 1969 ) was asumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi, Niigata,Japan . He was the sport's 36th "yokozuna".cite web
url = http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/haguroyama.html
title = The 36th Yokozuna Haguroyama Masaji
accessdate = 2007-10-08
publisher = sumo.goo.ne.jp] He was a "yokozuna" for a period of twelve years and three months dating from his promotion to that rank in May 1941 until his retirement in September 1953, which is an all-time record. During his career Haguroyama won seven top division championships and was runner-up on six other occasions. However, he was always in the shadow of "yokozuna"Futabayama , who came from the same stable. Cite book |author=Sharnoff, Lorna |title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill |year=1993 |id=ISBN 0-8348-0283-x]Career
Haguroyama made his professional debut in January 1934 at age 19, joining
Tatsunami stable . His progression was remarkably rapid. He passed through all the lower divisions in just one tournament each, in every case winning the divisional championship– a feat unlikely ever to be equalled. He made his debut in the top "makuuchi " division in May 1937. He was promoted to the "ozeki " rank after just one tournament at "sekiwake ." After finishing as runner-up in the January 1941 tournament and winning his first top division title in May 1941 he was promoted to "yokozuna". After three more runner-up performances he won his first championship as a "yokozuna" in May 1944.Upon the retirement of his great rival Futabayama in November 1945 he became dominant, winning four tournaments in a row. However in November 1947 he severed his
Achilles tendon and was out of action until May 1949. [cite web
url = http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20020512a1.html
title = Takanohana is still star of the no-show
accessdate = 2007-07-25 |date = 2002-05-12
publisher =Japan Times ] He won his final championship in January 1952 at age 37 with a perfect 15-0 record. It was his first tournament win in over four years. He retired in September 1953, when he was nearly 39.He was known for his hard training and his great strength, and was said to be "made of steel."
Retirement from sumo
Haguroyama married the daughter of his stablemaster, which enabled him to become head coach of
Tatsunami stable after retiring from the ring. He produced "ozeki "Wakahaguro and several other top wrestlers. When he died in 1969 the title of Tatsunami Oyakata passed onto his son-in-law, former "sekiwake"Annenyama .Top division record
"*Two tables represent a change in the tournament system over the years"
References
ee also
*
Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo tournament winners
*List of yokozuna External links
* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/haguroyama.html Japan Sumo Association profile]
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