Haguroyama Masaji
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Masaji Kobayashi | |
| Date of birth | November 18, 1914 | |
| Place of birth | Niigata, Japan | |
| Date of death | October 14, 1969 (aged 54) | |
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 101⁄2 in) | |
| Weight | 129.5 kg (285 lb) | |
| Career* | ||
| Heya | Tatsunami | |
| Record | 359-99-117-1 draw | |
| Debut | January, 1934 | |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (May, 1941) | |
| Retired | September, 1953 | |
| Yusho | 7 (Makuuchi) 1 (Juryo) 1 (Makushita) 1 (Sandanme) 1 (Jonidan) 1 (Jonokuchi) |
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* Career information is correct as of October 2007. |
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Haguroyama Masaji (羽黒山 政司, November 18, 1914 - October 14, 1969) was a sumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi, Niigata, Japan. He was the sport's 36th yokozuna.[1] 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[1], 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. [2]
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[edit] 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,[2] 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.[3] 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."[2]
[edit] 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.[2] 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.[2]
[edit] Top division record
*Two tables represent a change in the tournament system over the years
| Spring | Summer | Autumn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | x | West Maegashira #16 (9-4) | no tournament held |
| 1938 | East Maegashira #5 (10-3) | East Komusubi (7-6) | no tournament held |
| 1939 | East Komusubi (8-4-1) | East Sekiwake (11-4) | no tournament held |
| 1940 | East Ōzeki (11-4) | East Ōzeki (7-5-3) | no tournament held |
| 1941 | West Ōzeki (14-1) | West Ōzeki (14-1) | no tournament held |
| 1942 | East Yokozuna (13-2) | East Yokozuna (2-4-9) | no tournament held |
| 1943 | West Yokozuna (13-2) | East Yokozuna (14-1) | no tournament held |
| 1944 | West Yokozuna (12-3 | East Yokozuna (10-0) | East Yokozuna (7-3) |
| 1945 | no tournament held | East Yokozuna (5-2) | East Yokozuna (10-0) |
| 1946 | no tournament held | no tournament held | West Yokozuna (13-0) |
| 1947 | no tournament held | East Yokozuna (9-1) | East Yokozuna (10-1) |
| 1948 | no tournament held | sat out due to injury | sat out due to injury |
| 1949 | sat out due to injury | West Yokozuna (11-4) | West Yokozuna (12-3) |
| 1950 | East Yokozuna (6-4-5) | East Yokozuna (12-3) | West Yokozuna (4-1-10) |
| 1951 | East Yokozuna (12-3) | West Yokozuna (10-5) | East Yokozuna (10-5) |
| 1952 | East Yokozuna (15-0) | East Yokozuna (7-3-5) | East Yokozuna (4-3-8) |
| New Year | Spring | Summer | Autumn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | West Yokozuna (9-6) | sat out due to injury | West Yokozuna (0-3-12) | retired |
- The wrestler's East/West designation, rank, and win/loss record are listed for each tournament.[4]
- A third figure in win-loss records represents matches sat-out during the tournament (usually due to injury)
- an X signifies the wrestler had yet to reach the top division at that point in his career
| Green Box=Tournament Championship | ☆= Number of Gold Stars. |
[edit] References
- ^ a b The 36th Yokozuna Haguroyama Masaji. sumo.goo.ne.jp. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
- ^ a b c d e Sharnoff, Lorna (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-x.
- ^ Takanohana is still star of the no-show. Japan Times (2002-05-12). Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
- ^ Haguroyama Masaji Rikishi Information (English). Sumo Reference. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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