Fujinishiki Takemitsu

Sumo wrestler infobox
wrestlername = 富士錦 猛光
Fujinishiki Takemitsu


realname = Akira Ichimiya
dateofbirth = birth date|1937|03|18
placeofbirth = Yamanashi, Japan
dateofdeath = death date and age|2003|12|17|1937|03|18
height = height|meters=1.75
weight = convert|136|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Takasago
rank =
record = 576-560-5
debut = March, 1953
highestrank = Komusubi (March, 1960)
retireddate = November, 1968
yushos = 1 (Makuuchi) 1 (Makushita)
prizes = Outstanding Performance (2) Fighting Spirit (4) Technique (1)
goldstars = 7
update = July 2007

Fujinishiki Takemitsu (18 March1937 - 17 December2003) was a sumo wrestler from Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. After his retirement he was the head coach of Takasago stable.

Career

Making his debut in 1953, he first entered the top "makuuchi" division in 1959 and was runner-up in two tournaments that year. His highest rank was "komusubi". He spent a total of ten tournaments at that rank but never managed to earn promotion to "sekiwake". The highlight of his career came in July 1964 when he took the top division championship or yusho with a 14-1 record. He was ranked as a "maegashira" at the time and did not meet any "ozeki" or "yokozuna" during the tournament. He was perhaps fortunate that yokozuna Taiho, who won four championships in that year alone, dropped out after five days. He wrestled for Takasago stable and following his retirement as an active wrestler in November 1968 stayed there as a coach. In 1988 he became head of the stable, following the death of former "yokozuna" Asashio Tarō III. He coached Konishiki and Mitoizumi amongst others. He also served on the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors. In February 2002, in failing health, he passed on ownership of the stable to former "ozeki" Asashio Tarō IV. He died of liver disease in December 2003.

He was seen in the 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice", fighting in a bout against Kotozakura.

Top division record

References

reflist

ee also

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