Chiyonofuji Mitsugu
Encyclopedia
, born June 1, 1955, as in Hokkaidō
, Japan
, is a former champion sumo
wrestler and the 58th yokozuna of the sport. He is now the head coach of Kokonoe stable
.
Chiyonofuji was one of the greatest yokozuna of recent times, winning 31 tournament championships, second only to Taihō
. He was particularly remarkable for his longevity in sumo's top rank, which he held for a period of ten years from 1981 to 1991. He won more tournaments in his thirties than any other wrestler and retired in his mid-thirties, in contrast to most recent yokozuna who have tended to retire around 30. During his 21 year professional career Chiyonofuji set records for most career victories (1045) and most wins in the top makuuchi
division (807). Both of these records were later broken by Kaiō Hiroyuki
. He won the Kyushu
tournament, one of the six annual honbasho
, a record eight years in a row from 1981 until 1988, and also set the record for the longest postwar run of consecutive wins (53 bouts in 1988).
In a sport where weight is often regarded as vital, Chiyonofuji was quite light at around 120 kg. He relied on superior technique and muscle to defeat opponents. He was the lightest yokozuna since Tochinoumi in the 1960s.
He was born in Fukushima
, a town in the Matsumae District
of Hokkaidō
, northern Japan. He was a son of a fisherman. At school he excelled in athletics events, particularly running. He was scouted at the age of 15 by the Kokonoe stable's head Chiyonoyama
, who had served as the 41st yokozuna and was from the same Fukushima town. Chiyonoyama promised him a trip to Tokyo
in an airplane, which excited the young Akimoto as he had never flown before. At the time of his debut he weighed just 71 kg (156.5 lb). In 1977, Chiyonoyama died, and Kitanofuji
, the 52nd yokozuna also from Hokkaidō, took over the stable.
(ring name) 千代の富士 (Chiyonofuji) was formed from those of the two previous yokozuna from his stable, Chiyonoyama and Kitanofuji. 千代 (Chiyo, thousand years) is a word used to mean forever. 富士 (Fuji) is the same as that in 富士山 (Mount Fuji). As a young wrestler, Chiyonofuji was plagued by shoulder injuries. He was remarkable in his willingness to go the extra mile and train relentlessly beyond the level of his peers. His nickname was "The Wolf", due to the piercing stare he gave his opponents in the pre-bout rituals. This nickname also seems to capture his character in his day-to-day life as many have spoken of him as a man most comfortable in times of solitude.
division in November 1974, and was promoted to the top makuuchi division in September 1975. However, he lasted for only one tournament before being demoted again, and subsequent injuries led to him falling back to the unsalaried ranks. He finally won promotion back to the top division in January 1978. After he got a fighting spirit prize (Kantō-shō
) in May, he reached komusubi (the fourth-highest rank) for the first time. During his early top division career he was often compared with another lightweight wrestler who was popular with sumo fans, Takanohana I
. Takanohana had first come across Chiyonofuji whilst on a regional tour and encouraged him to give sumo a try. Later, he also advised Chiyonofuji to give up smoking, which helped him put on some extra weight.
In 1979, due to his shoulder trouble, Chiyonofuji briefly fell to the second division, but he soon came back to the top division. Encouraged by his stablemaster, he began to rely not only on throwing techniques, which increased the risk of reinjuring his shoulders, but also on gaining ground quickly and forcing out his opponents. Showing much more consistency, he earned three kinboshi
(i.e. defeated yokozuna in three regular matches) in total in March and July 1980 tournaments, where he also got technique prizes (Ginō-shō
). He fought again as a komusubi in May and September tournaments, in the latter of which he won 10 matches in the top division for the first time. He reached sekiwake (the third-highest rank), and stayed at this rank for only two tournament. As a sekiwake, he scored 11-4 in November, and in January 1981 he scored 14-1, losing only one regular match to dominating yokozuna Kitanoumi, and then defeated him in the subsequent playoff to win a top makuuchi division title for the first time. This earned him promotion to ōzeki (the second-highest rank). While making these speedy rises, he also got technique prizes in three tournaments in a row to that in January, where he also received an outstanding performance prize (Shukun-shō
). Also as an ōzeki he scored well in the following three tournaments to July 1981, where he again defeated Kitanoumi and won his second title. After this victory, he was promoted to yokozuna.
in a playoff. He later said that this victory was the foundation upon which he built his subsequent success as a yokozuna. He was to win the Kyushu tournament eight years in a row from 1981 to 1988, a record dominance of any of the six honbasho
.
As his rival Kitanoumi went into a long slump, Chiyonofuji dominated sumo in 1982, winning four of the six tournaments. However, over the next two years, another Yokozuna Takanosato, emerged to challenge him, and he also suffered a number of injury problems. He was restricted to just one championship in the nine tournaments held from May 1983 to September 1984. But Kitanoumi retired in January 1985, with the aging Takanosato following a year later, and Chiyonofuji resumed his dominance. In 1986 he won five out of the six tournaments held, the first time this had been done since Kitanoumi in 1978. Despite being older and lighter than nearly all his opponents, his strength, skill, and phenomenal will to win made him almost unbeatable.
In 1988 he went on a winning streak of 53 bouts, second in sumo history only to Futabayama's 69. The sequence began on the 7th day of the May 1988 tournament and continued through the July and September 1988 tournaments, ending only on the final day of the November 1988 tournament when he was defeated by Onokuni. Had he won that bout, he would have been the first wrestler ever to win three consecutive tournaments with 15-0 records. Nonetheless, his winning run was the best ever in the postwar period, surpassing the 45 bouts won by Taiho in 1968 and 1969. In July 1989 he took his 28th championship in a playoff from his stablemate Hokutoumi
, marking the first time ever that two yokozuna from the same stable had met in competition. Shortly before the tournament began he had lost his youngest daughter to sudden infant death syndrome
. In September 1989 Chiyonofuji surpassed Oshio
's record of 964 career wins and in March 1990 won his 1000th match. His final goal was Taiho's record of 32 tournament titles, but his 31st championship in November of that year proved to be his last.
In the opening tournament of 1991, Chiyonofuji surpassed Kitanoumi's record of 804 top division wins but injured himself on the second day and had to withdraw. He returned in May, but he lost on the opening day of the tournament to the 18-year-old rising star and future Yokozuna Takanohana Koji
(then known as Takahanada). It was estimated that half of the Japanese population watched the match on TV. Coincidentally, Takahanada's father, Takanohana Kenshi
, had retired in 1981 shortly after losing to Chiyonofuji. Chiyonofuji beat Itai
on the next day, but this was to be his final win. After losing another match with Takatoriki on the third day, Chiyonofuji announced his own retirement, a few weeks short of his 36th birthday.
decided to profer the special status of ichidai-toshiyori (one-generation sumo-elder using his ring name as his elder name) to him, but he declined it because he intended to inherit another elder name. Following his retirement from the ring in May 1991, Chiyonofuji inherited the elder name "Jinmaku"; then in 1992 he and his stablemaster Kokonoe (the 52nd Yokozuna Kitanofuji) exchanged their elder names ("Jinmaku" and "Kokonoe") and he took over Kokonoe stable. Under him, his stable has produced several wrestlers including former ozeki Chiyotaikai, former komusubi Chiyotenzan and former maegashira Chiyohakuho. He also served for some years as a competition judge or shinpan. In February 2008 he joined the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association, where he was responsible for organising the regional tours or jungyo, but he had to resign in April 2011 after his wrestler Chiyohakuho admitted involvement in match-fixing and retired from sumo.
or technique was uwatenage, or overarm throw. He preferred a migi-yotsu, or left hand outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi. His left hand outer grip was so effective that some commentators referred to it as his "death grip." Uwatenage was his second most common winning technique at sekitori level after yorikiri, or force out. He was also well known for tsuridashi, or lift out. He had knowledge of a wide range of other techniques as well, employing 41 different kimarite in his career. In January 1987 he won with the very rare amiuchi, or fisherman's net casting throw, and joked to the press afterwards that it was appropriate for him as he was the son of a fisherman. Chiyonofuji's muscular physique, athleticism and dramatic throws made him the most successful and one of the most popular wrestlers of his day.
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, 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...
, is a former champion sumo
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...
wrestler and the 58th yokozuna of the sport. He is now the head coach of Kokonoe stable
Kokonoe stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It was formed in 1967 and is located in Ishiwara, Sumida, Tokyo. As of April 2008 it had 16 sumo wrestlers.-History:...
.
Chiyonofuji was one of the greatest yokozuna of recent times, winning 31 tournament championships, second only to Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...
. He was particularly remarkable for his longevity in sumo's top rank, which he held for a period of ten years from 1981 to 1991. He won more tournaments in his thirties than any other wrestler and retired in his mid-thirties, in contrast to most recent yokozuna who have tended to retire around 30. During his 21 year professional career Chiyonofuji set records for most career victories (1045) and most wins in the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division (807). Both of these records were later broken by Kaiō Hiroyuki
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...
. He won the Kyushu
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
tournament, one of the six annual honbasho
Honbasho
A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
, a record eight years in a row from 1981 until 1988, and also set the record for the longest postwar run of consecutive wins (53 bouts in 1988).
In a sport where weight is often regarded as vital, Chiyonofuji was quite light at around 120 kg. He relied on superior technique and muscle to defeat opponents. He was the lightest yokozuna since Tochinoumi in the 1960s.
Early life
Fukushima, Hokkaido
is a town located in Matsumae District, Oshima, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 5,549 and a density of 30.28 persons per km². The total area is 187.23 km².Industries in the town include squid fishing and tourism...
, a town in the Matsumae District
Matsumae District, Hokkaido
is a district located in southwestern Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 16,068 and a density of 33.45 persons per km²...
of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, northern Japan. He was a son of a fisherman. At school he excelled in athletics events, particularly running. He was scouted at the age of 15 by the Kokonoe stable's head Chiyonoyama
Chiyonoyama Masanobu
Chiyonoyama Masanobu was a sumo wrestler from Fukushima, Hokkaidō, Japan. He was the sport's 41st Yokozuna. He was also the founder of Kokonoe stable.-Career:...
, who had served as the 41st yokozuna and was from the same Fukushima town. Chiyonoyama promised him a trip to 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 an airplane, which excited the young Akimoto as he had never flown before. At the time of his debut he weighed just 71 kg (156.5 lb). In 1977, Chiyonoyama died, and Kitanofuji
Kitanofuji Katsuaki
Kitanofuji Katsuaki 北の富士勝昭 is a former sumo wrestler, born in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan. He was the sport's 52nd Yokozuna. He was also the head coach of Kokonoe stable.-Career:...
, the 52nd yokozuna also from Hokkaidō, took over the stable.
Becoming Chiyonofuji
His shikonaShikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
(ring name) 千代の富士 (Chiyonofuji) was formed from those of the two previous yokozuna from his stable, Chiyonoyama and Kitanofuji. 千代 (Chiyo, thousand years) is a word used to mean forever. 富士 (Fuji) is the same as that in 富士山 (Mount Fuji). As a young wrestler, Chiyonofuji was plagued by shoulder injuries. He was remarkable in his willingness to go the extra mile and train relentlessly beyond the level of his peers. His nickname was "The Wolf", due to the piercing stare he gave his opponents in the pre-bout rituals. This nickname also seems to capture his character in his day-to-day life as many have spoken of him as a man most comfortable in times of solitude.
Early career
Chiyonofuji began his career in September 1970. He reached the second highest jūryōProfessional sumo divisions
Professional sumo is divided into 6 ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win/loss records in official tournaments. For more information see kachikoshi and makekoshi. Wrestlers are also ranked within each division...
division in November 1974, and was promoted to the top makuuchi division in September 1975. However, he lasted for only one tournament before being demoted again, and subsequent injuries led to him falling back to the unsalaried ranks. He finally won promotion back to the top division in January 1978. After he got a fighting spirit prize (Kantō-shō
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
) in May, he reached komusubi (the fourth-highest rank) for the first time. During his early top division career he was often compared with another lightweight wrestler who was popular with sumo fans, Takanohana I
Takanohana Kenshi
Takanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active rikishi he was extremely popular and was nicknamed the "prince of sumo" due to his good looks and relatively slim build...
. Takanohana had first come across Chiyonofuji whilst on a regional tour and encouraged him to give sumo a try. Later, he also advised Chiyonofuji to give up smoking, which helped him put on some extra weight.
In 1979, due to his shoulder trouble, Chiyonofuji briefly fell to the second division, but he soon came back to the top division. Encouraged by his stablemaster, he began to rely not only on throwing techniques, which increased the risk of reinjuring his shoulders, but also on gaining ground quickly and forcing out his opponents. Showing much more consistency, he earned three kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
(i.e. defeated yokozuna in three regular matches) in total in March and July 1980 tournaments, where he also got technique prizes (Ginō-shō
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
). He fought again as a komusubi in May and September tournaments, in the latter of which he won 10 matches in the top division for the first time. He reached sekiwake (the third-highest rank), and stayed at this rank for only two tournament. As a sekiwake, he scored 11-4 in November, and in January 1981 he scored 14-1, losing only one regular match to dominating yokozuna Kitanoumi, and then defeated him in the subsequent playoff to win a top makuuchi division title for the first time. This earned him promotion to ōzeki (the second-highest rank). While making these speedy rises, he also got technique prizes in three tournaments in a row to that in January, where he also received an outstanding performance prize (Shukun-shō
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
). Also as an ōzeki he scored well in the following three tournaments to July 1981, where he again defeated Kitanoumi and won his second title. After this victory, he was promoted to yokozuna.
Yokozuna
Chiyonofuji had to pull out of his first tournament as a Yokozuna with an injury, but he returned to win the championship in November, defeating AsashioAsashio Taro IV
Asashio Tarō IV is a former sumo wrestler from Muroto, Kochi, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki...
in a playoff. He later said that this victory was the foundation upon which he built his subsequent success as a yokozuna. He was to win the Kyushu tournament eight years in a row from 1981 to 1988, a record dominance of any of the six honbasho
Honbasho
A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
.
As his rival Kitanoumi went into a long slump, Chiyonofuji dominated sumo in 1982, winning four of the six tournaments. However, over the next two years, another Yokozuna Takanosato, emerged to challenge him, and he also suffered a number of injury problems. He was restricted to just one championship in the nine tournaments held from May 1983 to September 1984. But Kitanoumi retired in January 1985, with the aging Takanosato following a year later, and Chiyonofuji resumed his dominance. In 1986 he won five out of the six tournaments held, the first time this had been done since Kitanoumi in 1978. Despite being older and lighter than nearly all his opponents, his strength, skill, and phenomenal will to win made him almost unbeatable.
In 1988 he went on a winning streak of 53 bouts, second in sumo history only to Futabayama's 69. The sequence began on the 7th day of the May 1988 tournament and continued through the July and September 1988 tournaments, ending only on the final day of the November 1988 tournament when he was defeated by Onokuni. Had he won that bout, he would have been the first wrestler ever to win three consecutive tournaments with 15-0 records. Nonetheless, his winning run was the best ever in the postwar period, surpassing the 45 bouts won by Taiho in 1968 and 1969. In July 1989 he took his 28th championship in a playoff from his stablemate Hokutoumi
Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi
Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. He is the sport's 61st Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Hakkaku stable.-Early life:...
, marking the first time ever that two yokozuna from the same stable had met in competition. Shortly before the tournament began he had lost his youngest daughter to sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...
. In September 1989 Chiyonofuji surpassed Oshio
Oshio Kenji
Ōshio Kenji is a former sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo.-Career:He was born in Yahata Higashi ward...
's record of 964 career wins and in March 1990 won his 1000th match. His final goal was Taiho's record of 32 tournament titles, but his 31st championship in November of that year proved to be his last.
In the opening tournament of 1991, Chiyonofuji surpassed Kitanoumi's record of 804 top division wins but injured himself on the second day and had to withdraw. He returned in May, but he lost on the opening day of the tournament to the 18-year-old rising star and future Yokozuna Takanohana Koji
Takanohana Koji
is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever...
(then known as Takahanada). It was estimated that half of the Japanese population watched the match on TV. Coincidentally, Takahanada's father, Takanohana Kenshi
Takanohana Kenshi
Takanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active rikishi he was extremely popular and was nicknamed the "prince of sumo" due to his good looks and relatively slim build...
, had retired in 1981 shortly after losing to Chiyonofuji. Chiyonofuji beat Itai
Keisuke Itai
is a former sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. After his retirement he caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were fixed.-Career:...
on the next day, but this was to be his final win. After losing another match with Takatoriki on the third day, Chiyonofuji announced his own retirement, a few weeks short of his 36th birthday.
Retirement from the ring
In September 1989 while Chiyonofuji was still active, the Japan Sumo AssociationJapan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
decided to profer the special status of ichidai-toshiyori (one-generation sumo-elder using his ring name as his elder name) to him, but he declined it because he intended to inherit another elder name. Following his retirement from the ring in May 1991, Chiyonofuji inherited the elder name "Jinmaku"; then in 1992 he and his stablemaster Kokonoe (the 52nd Yokozuna Kitanofuji) exchanged their elder names ("Jinmaku" and "Kokonoe") and he took over Kokonoe stable. Under him, his stable has produced several wrestlers including former ozeki Chiyotaikai, former komusubi Chiyotenzan and former maegashira Chiyohakuho. He also served for some years as a competition judge or shinpan. In February 2008 he joined the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association, where he was responsible for organising the regional tours or jungyo, but he had to resign in April 2011 after his wrestler Chiyohakuho admitted involvement in match-fixing and retired from sumo.
Fighting style
Throughout his career, Chiyonofuji's trademark kimariteKimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
or technique was uwatenage, or overarm throw. He preferred a migi-yotsu, or left hand outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi. His left hand outer grip was so effective that some commentators referred to it as his "death grip." Uwatenage was his second most common winning technique at sekitori level after yorikiri, or force out. He was also well known for tsuridashi, or lift out. He had knowledge of a wide range of other techniques as well, employing 41 different kimarite in his career. In January 1987 he won with the very rare amiuchi, or fisherman's net casting throw, and joked to the press afterwards that it was appropriate for him as he was the son of a fisherman. Chiyonofuji's muscular physique, athleticism and dramatic throws made him the most successful and one of the most popular wrestlers of his day.
Top division record
See also
- Glossary of sumo termsGlossary of sumo termsThe following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. azukari : Hold. A kind of draw. After a mono-ii, the gyōji or the shimpan "holds" the result if it was too close to call...
- List of past sumo wrestlers
- List of sumo records
- List of sumo tournament winners
- List of yokozuna