Akashi Shiganosuke
Encyclopedia
Akashi Shiganosuke (c. 1600 – c. 1649) was officially acknowledged as the first sumo wrestler
to hold the title of yokozuna. A legendary figure, his historical existence is disputed. He is said to have been active in the Kan'ei era (1624–1643). He was described as being of gigantic size, being 2.58 metre tall and weighing 184 kg (405.7 lb).
He is said to have been born in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture
in central Japan
, the son of Yamanouchi Shuzen, a samurai
who served Sumaura Rinemon.
According to sumo folklore, he took part in a sumo tournament in Yotsuya
, Tokyo
in 1624 and became an instant star, enabling sumo organisers to charge admission for the first time. He is said to have been given the title of Hinoshita Kaisan (a Buddhist term signifying a man of exceptional power) by the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu.
By 1800 his reputation as a huge and powerful rikishi had been confirmed and his exploits were retold and embellished through the years. He became so legendary that when the 12th Yokozuna Jinmaku Kyugoro
came to compile the first list of yokozuna in 1900, Akashi was placed at the beginning, followed by two dominant champions from the Edo period
, Ayagawa Goroji
and Maruyama Gondazaemon
. Despite this, Tanikaze was the first to receive a yokozuna licence and perform the yokozuna dohyo-iri and so is often regarded as the first "real" yokozuna.
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
to hold the title of yokozuna. A legendary figure, his historical existence is disputed. He is said to have been active in the Kan'ei era (1624–1643). He was described as being of gigantic size, being 2.58 metre tall and weighing 184 kg (405.7 lb).
He is said to have been born in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
in central Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the son of Yamanouchi Shuzen, a samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
who served Sumaura Rinemon.
According to sumo folklore, he took part in a sumo tournament in Yotsuya
Yotsuya, Tokyo
is a neighborhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:Yotsuya is located in the southeastern part of Shinjuku. Prior to 1943, when Tokyo was still a city, Yotsuya was one of its wards and had definite boundaries, but it is less clearly defined today...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1624 and became an instant star, enabling sumo organisers to charge admission for the first time. He is said to have been given the title of Hinoshita Kaisan (a Buddhist term signifying a man of exceptional power) by the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu.
By 1800 his reputation as a huge and powerful rikishi had been confirmed and his exploits were retold and embellished through the years. He became so legendary that when the 12th Yokozuna Jinmaku Kyugoro
Jinmaku Kyugoro
Jinmaku Kyūgorō was a sumo wrestler from what is now Shimane, Japan. He was the sport's 12th Yokozuna.-Career:...
came to compile the first list of yokozuna in 1900, Akashi was placed at the beginning, followed by two dominant champions from the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, Ayagawa Goroji
Ayagawa Goroji
Ayagawa Gorōji was a sumo wrestler. He is formally recognised as the second yokozuna .Ayagawa came from Tochigi prefecture and was promoted to ozeki in 1717. According to tradition, he was the strongest wrestler in the Genbun era. He was a famous sumo wrestler in Edo, Osaka and Kyoto...
and Maruyama Gondazaemon
Maruyama Gondazaemon
Maruyama Gondazaemon was a sumo wrestler. He is officially recognised as the third yokozuna . His real name was '. He came from a village in the Sendai Domain .-Career:Gondazaemon went to Edo at the age of just 17, and was trained by...
. Despite this, Tanikaze was the first to receive a yokozuna licence and perform the yokozuna dohyo-iri and so is often regarded as the first "real" yokozuna.