Onigatani Saiji

鬼ヶ谷 才治
Onigatani Saiji
Personal information
Born Saiji Suzuki
April 19, 1855(1855-04-19)
Ehime, Japan
Died February 2, 1931(1931-02-02) (aged 75)
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight 80 kg (180 lb)
Career
Heya Ikazuchi
Record 113-125-146-29draws-13holds
Debut January, 1886
Highest rank Komusubi (May 1891)
Retired January, 1907
* Career information is correct as of May 2008.

Onigatani Saiji (鬼ヶ谷才治, April 19, 1855 – February 2, 1931) was a Japanese sumo wrestler who is known for being active in the top makuuchi division at the age of 51, which is a record after the beginning of the Meiji era.

Contents

Career

At first, he joined Tokitsukaze stable in Osaka sumo but was recruited by former yokozuna Umegatani I and moved to Ikazuchi stable in Tokyo sumo. From January 1887, he recorded 20-years' career in makuuchi. He had been the oldest active wrestler in makuuchi since January 1897 when he was 41 years old. He retired in January 1907 when he was 51 years old. He was specially awarded a silver cup by the Sumo Association. He also trained future yokozuna Umegatani II.[1]

Top division record

January May
1887 Sat out East Maegashira #8 (5-4-1)
1888 East Maegashira #4 (5-3-1-1hold) East Maegashira #2 (3-4-3)
1889 East Maegashira #5 (3-4-2-1draw) East Maegashira #4 (3-4-1-2holds)
1890 East Maegashira #3 (3-0-7) West Maegashira #1 (4-3-1-1draw-1hold)
1891 West Maegashira #1 (4-5-1) West Komusubi (5-3-1-1draw)
1892 West Komusubi (1-1-8) West Maegashira #2 (0-2-7-1draw)*
1893 Sat out West Maegashira #5 (3-6-1)
1894 West Maegashira #7 (2-4-1-2draws-1hold) West Maegashira #10 (2-1-2-4draws-1hold)
1895 West Maegashira #8 (0-3-6-1draw) West Maegashira #12 (5-0-4-1draw)*
1896 West Maegashira #4 (2-2-4-2draws) West Maegashira #3 (2-7-1)
1897 West Maegashira #7 (1-1-7-1hold) West Maegashira #10 (3-2-4-1draw)
1898 West Maegashira #7 (6-3-1) East Maegashira #2 (2-2-6)
1899 West Maegashira #2 (1-8-1) West Maegashira #4 (5-3-1-1draw)
1900 West Maegashira #3 (2-0-8) West Maegashira #4 (4-3-1-1draw-1hold)
1901 East Maegashira #3 (2-6-1-1draws) West Maegashira #6 (3-6-1)
1902 East Maegashira #8 (2-4-2-2draws) East Maegashira #8 (5-2-1-1draw-1hold)
1903 East Maegashira #1 (0-1-9) East Maegashira #5 (2-4-1-3draws)
1904 East Maegashira #10 (6-0-2-2holds) Sat out
1905 East Maegashira #5 (3-5-1-1draw) East Maegashira #7 (2-4-1-2draws-1hold)
1906 East Maegashira #9 (3-6-1) East Maegashira #11 (1-3-5-1draw)
1907 retired x

*tournament actually held one month later than listed.

References

  1. ^ Kuroda, Joe (June 2005). "Rikishi of Old: Umegatani II". Sumo Fan Magazine. http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Rikishi_of_Old.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  2. ^ "Onigatani Saiji Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. http://sumodb.sumogames.com/Rikishi.aspx?r=3488. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

See also