Hitachiyama Taniemon
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Tani Ichige | |
| Date of birth | January 19, 1874 | |
| Place of birth | Mito, Ibaragi, Japan | |
| Date of death | June 19, 1922 (aged 48) | |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 81⁄2 in) | |
| Weight | 146 kg (320 lb) | |
| Career* | ||
| Heya | Dewanoumi | |
| Record | 150-15-131 22draws-2holds(Makuuchi) |
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| Debut | June, 1892 | |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (June, 1903) | |
| Retired | May, 1914 | |
| Yusho | 8 (Makuuchi) | |
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* Career information is correct as of September 2007. |
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Hitachiyama Taniemon (常陸山 谷右衞門, January 19, 1874 - June 19, 1922) was a sumo wrestler. He was the sport's 19th Yokozuna. He is the last wrestler to win over .900 in the top makuuchi division. Many consider him the most honorable yokozuna in sumo history. He is also known as Kakusei (角聖) which means "a sumo saint". His great rivalry with Umegatani Tōtarō II created the "Ume-Hitachi Era" and did much to popularise sumo. He is remembered as much for his exploits in promoting the sport as for his strength on the dohyo.
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[edit] Early career
In January 19 1874, Hitachiyama was born in a samurai family which belonged to Mito Domain. His family was dismissed by Meiji restoration and was through financially. He moved to Tokyo depending on his uncle and he attempted to enter Waseda University in which his uncle worked. At that time, however, he was so strong that he raised a rock weighing 58 kan, or 217.5 kg (480 lb). His uncle advised him to become a sumo wrestler. At that time, sumo wasn't seen as a good sport, so his father opposed the idea.[1] Despite this he joined Dewanoumi stable in 1890.
He made his professional debut in June 1892. However, he loved his head coach's niece; and when he was refused permission to wed her, he ran away from Tokyo sumo in the summer of 1894.[1] He moved to Nagoya sumo and then Osaka sumo. He returned to Tokyo sumo in the spring of 1896. He had become much stronger during his absence and won 32 consecutive bouts upon his return.[1] In January 1899, he won a championship at his first tournament in the top makuuchi division. In January 1901 he was promoted to ozeki. He fought against fellow ozeki Umegatani Tōtarō II on the final day of May 1903 tournament. He defeated Umegatani and his own promotion to yokozuna was confirmed, but Hitachiyama insisted that his rival be promoted as well. Hitachiyama got his wish and he and Umegatani were promoted to yokozuna together in June 1903. With Ōzutsu Man'emon also holding the rank, it was the first occasion that three yokozuna were active at the same time.[2]
[edit] Yokozuna
Hitachiyama was determined to see sumo held in higher regard with Japanese society, a task he saw as more important than merely winning tournament titles.[2] In August 1907, he went on a tour of the United States of America and Europe. He met President Theodore Roosevelt and performed the Yokozuna Dohyo-iri (the yokozuna ring entering ceremony) in the White House. Although he was absent from January 1908 tournament due to the journey, nobody criticized Hitachiyama as he was seen as a visionary and a pioneer for sumo.[2] After his return from his long journey he was not quite as dominant as he had been before, although he still managed to win a title in the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan, which opened in 1909 and which he had helped to build.[2] Overall in the top makuuchi division, he won 150 bouts and only lost 15 bouts. He started his powerful techniques after his opponents' attack, and his fight is seen as a model of yokozuna now. He introduced Bushidō into sumo, and raised the status of sumo wrestlers. He also performed Dohyo-iri in an unique way (footage below).
[edit] Later years
After his retirement in May 1914, he became the stablemaster of Dewanoumi stable. It had been a minor heya when he had first joined it, but even while still an active wresler Hitachiyama had trained many wrestlers, such as later yokozuna Tachiyama Mineemon, even though they were not members of his stable. As head coach he produced many top division wrestlers, including no fewer than three yokozuna: Ōnishiki Uichirō, Tochigiyama Moriya and Tsunenohana Kan'ichi. At the stable's peak he was in charge of two hundred wrestlers. To feed them, he devised chankonabe.[3]
He died suddenly in 1922 at the age of 48. A much respected figure in the sumo world, he was the first yokozuna for whom the Japan Sumo Association organised a formal funeral.[2] His cortege was reportedly 6 kilometres long.[2]
[edit] Top division record
*Seven championships before establishment of yusho system in 1909 are not admitted officially
*There was no fusensho system until May 1927
*All top division wrestlers were usually absent on the 10th day until 1909
| January | May | |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | East Maegashira #4 (8-0-1-1draw) | sat out due to injury |
| 1900 | East Maegashira #1 (7-1-1-1draw) | East Sekiwake (7-1-1-1draw) |
| 1901 | East Sekiwake (8-0-1-1draw) | West Ōzeki (7-2-1) |
| 1902 | West Ōzeki (7-1-2) | West Ōzeki (6-0-4) |
| 1903 | West Ōzeki (8-0-1-1draw) | West Ōzeki (9-0-1) |
| 1904 | West Yokozuna (7-1-2) | sat out due to injury |
| 1905 | West Yokozuna (2-0-8) | West Yokozuna (5-0-2-2draws-1hold) |
| 1906 | West Yokozuna (9-0-1) | West Yokozuna (8-0-2) |
| 1907 | sat out due to injury | West Yokozuna (6-2-1-1draw) |
| 1908 | sat out due to journey | West Yokozuna (5-0-5) |
| 1909 | East Yokozuna (6-0-4) | East Yokozuna (7-1-2draws) |
| 1910 | East Yokozuna (7-0-1-2draws) | East Yokozuna (2-0-8) |
| 1911 | East Yokozuna (5-2-3draws) | sat out due to injury |
| 1912 | West Yokozuna (5-1-4draws) | sat out due to injury |
| 1913 | East Yokozuna (6-1-3draws) | West Yokozuna (2-0-7-1hold) |
| 1914 | West Yokozuna (1-2-7) | retired |
- The wrestler's East/West designation, rank, and win/loss record are listed for each tournament.[4][5]
- A third figure in win-loss records represents matches sat-out during the tournament (usually due to injury)
| Green Box=Tournament Championship |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Kuroda, Joe (December 2007). Hitachiyama Taniemon (1874-1922). Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e f Kuroda, Joe (February 2008). Hitachiyama Taniemon (1874-1922) Part #2. Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
- ^ 巴潟のちゃんこ鍋 (Japanese). Chanko Tomoegata. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ Hitachiyama Taniemon Rikishi Information (English). Sumo Reference. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ 大相撲優勝力士 (Japanese). ja.wikipedia. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Hitachiyama Taniemon at Find A Grave
- Meiji Period at YouTube - In the video (after 3:26), Umegatani is the first to perform Dohyo-iri and Hitachyama is the second to perform Dohyo-iri
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