Yoshibayama Junnosuke

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 吉葉山 潤之輔 Yoshibayama Junnosuke
realname = Junnosuke Ikeda
dateofbirth = birth date|1920|4|3
placeofbirth = Hokkaidō, Japan
dateofdeath = death date and age|1977|11|26|1920|4|3
height = height|meters=1.79
weight = convert|143|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Takashima
rank =
record = 357-171-85-1hold
debut = May, 1938
highestrank = Yokozuna (March, 1954)
retireddate = January, 1958
yushos = 1 (Makuuchi) 1 (Makushita)
prizes = Outstanding Performance (3)
goldstars = 2 (Terukuni)
update = September 2007

Yoshibayama Junnosuke (吉葉山 潤之輔, April 3, 1920 - November 26 1977), real name Junnosuke Ikeda, was a sumo wrestler from Atsuta, Hokkaidō, Japan. He was the sport's 43rd Yokozuna. He suffered a number of injuries and only one won tournament championship, but he was a popular wrestler. After his retirement he was head coach of Miyagino stable.

Career

He entered sumo in a curious way. He had travelled to Tokyo on a train to attend school, but was met at the station by a sumo wrestler who was expecting a new recruit, who had in fact had second thoughts and not made the trip. The conspicuously large Ikeda was mistaken for him and taken back to Takashima stable before he even realised what was going on.Cite book |author=Sharnoff, Lorna |title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill |year=1993|pages=6 |id=ISBN 0-8348-0283-x] He made his professional debut in May 1938. After suffering appendicitis he had to undergo emergency surgery and changed his "shikona" from Hokutoyama to Yoshibayama in honour of the doctor (a Shosaku Yoshiba) who had saved his life.cite web|author=Kuroda, Joe|title=Rikishi of Old|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_13/Rikishi_of_Old.pdf|date=August 2007|accessdate=2008-06-20] He got to the verge of promotion to the juryo division in 1942 but was then drafted into the Japanese army and took part in World War II He was seriously wounded during gunfights. His death was reported for a while, and he was surprisingly thin when he returned to Japan. If he hadn't been conscripted and lost several years of his career, he could have become more strong.cite book|author=Newton, Clyde|title=Dynamic Sumo|publisher=Kodansha|year=1994|pages=63|id=ISBN 4-7700-1802-9] He was shot in the leg twice, and the second bullet permanently lodged itself in his foot.

In spite of his war injury, he returned to sumo in 1947 and was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division in November of that year. He remained in the "maegashira" ranks until September 1950, but was then was promoted to "ozeki" in May 1951, after two successive runner-up performances of 13-2 at the rank of sekiwake. He recorded a "azukari", or hold, on the 12th day of September 1951 tournament. The reason is that his opponent, Azumafuji, couldn't stand up any more. Yoshibayama could have been awarded a win, but sportingly conceded the draw. In May 1953 he finished with 14 wins and only one loss, but the championship went to an undefeated "maegashira" whom Yoshibayama had not been paired against. He was promoted to "yokozuna" after winning his first championship with a perfect 15-0 record in January 1954.

Although he was promoted to "yokozuna", the bullet remained in his ankle, so his style of fighting was a mess. Besides, his favourite technique was "ketaguri", or leg kick. [cite web|url=http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/ozumo_joho_kyoku/yomu/002/125.html|title=止むに止まれぬ「けたぐり」（第43代横綱・吉葉山）|language=Japanese|publisher=Nihon Sumo Kyokai|accessdate=2008-06-14] A controversial move, it was considered to be unacceptable at his top "yokozuna" rank, but he had no time to understand sumo's techniques due to the war. He wasn't able to win any championships in his "yokozuna" career. Although he was popular with the public, he ate and drank to excess and had several internal ailments, including kidney problems.

Having finally reached his physical limit, he announced his retirement during the January 1958 tournament. His old rival Kagamisato, who had been promoted to "ozeki" alongside him in May 1951, also decided to retire on the final day, the first time that two" yokozuna" had quit in the same tournament.

Retirement from sumo

After his retirement, Yoshibayama became the 8th head coach of Miyagino stable. The previous head coach Ōtori Tanigorō insisted that his successor had to be only "yokozuna". After Otori's death in 1956, Miyagino stable was closed once due to his that intention. Yoshibayama opened his stable in 1960 and it became the modern Miyagino stable. He developed a number of top division wrestlers. He was also a shinpan or judge of tournament bouts, and on the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors. He also opened a number of chankonabe restaurants that still operate today.

He performed the "Dohyo-iri" (ring entering ceremony) in the "shiranui" style. Later yokozuna Hakuho Sho, who belongs to Miyagino stable, succeeded to his style. On June 1 2007, Hakuho performed "Dohyo-iri" wearing Yoshibayama's "kesho-mawashi" at the Meji Jingu shrine.

Top division record

"*The different tables represent a change in the tournament system over the years"

References

reflist

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/yoshibayama.html Japan Sumo Association profile]