Daishoho Masami
Encyclopedia
Daishōhō Masami was a sumo
wrestler from Hokkaidō
, Japan
. His highest rank was komusubi.
as a young boy, as he came from an area famous for its ski slopes. He also played basketball
at school. However his father was an amateur sumo enthusiast and encouraged his son to try the sport. In his third year of junior high he took part in the National Junior High School Sumo Championships, held in Tokyo
, and was put up in Tatsunami stable
during the championships. Daishoho was an amateur sumo champion at Nihon University
, and after graduation he returned to Tatsunami stable. He entered professional sumo in January 1990 at the makushita level, and quickly reached the top makuuchi
division in July 1991. His best performance in a tournament was in September 1992 when he was runner-up to Takahanada with 11 wins. He reached his highest rank of komusubi in January 1993, but after that he was plagued by a number of injuries to his knees, back and triceps. He fell back to the jūryō division after pulling out of the January 1997 tournament on the 4th day.
In 1999 Daishoho was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
. He wanted to receive treatment whilst still remaining active on the dohyo
, but in June he was persuaded by his doctors to enter hospital full time and so retired from sumo. Since it was clear that he would be unlikely to live long enough to have a formal retirement ceremony (danpatsu-shiki) at the Ryogoku Kokugikan
, which normally takes place up to a year after retiring, in October 1999 his fellow wrestler and graduate of Nihon University Mainoumi organised a private function for him which was attended by many wrestlers and elders of the Sumo Association. Daishoho's weight had dropped from 150 kg to below 90 kg. He died on December 4, 1999 at the age of 32 due to pancreatic cancer
or belt, where he preferred a migi-yotsu grip, a left hand outside and right hand inside position. His most commonly used kimarite
were yorikiri (force out), oshidashi (push out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).
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 from 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...
, 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...
. His highest rank was komusubi.
Career
Born in Sapporo, he took up skiingSkiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
as a young boy, as he came from an area famous for its ski slopes. He also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at school. However his father was an amateur sumo enthusiast and encouraged his son to try the sport. In his third year of junior high he took part in the National Junior High School Sumo Championships, held in 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...
, and was put up in Tatsunami stable
Tatsunami stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, and the head stable of the Tatsunami ichimon or group.-History:The stable is one of the most prestigious in sumo. It was originally founded in 1876 by Onigazaki, but the current incarnation dates from 1915...
during the championships. Daishoho was an amateur sumo champion at Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
, and after graduation he returned to Tatsunami stable. He entered professional sumo in January 1990 at the makushita level, and quickly reached 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 in July 1991. His best performance in a tournament was in September 1992 when he was runner-up to Takahanada with 11 wins. He reached his highest rank of komusubi in January 1993, but after that he was plagued by a number of injuries to his knees, back and triceps. He fell back to the jūryō division after pulling out of the January 1997 tournament on the 4th day.
In 1999 Daishoho was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. He wanted to receive treatment whilst still remaining active on the dohyo
Dohyo
thumb|A dohyōThe dohyō is the ring in which sumo wrestling bouts are held. A modern dohyo is a circle of rice-straw bales 4.55 meters in diameter, mounted on a square platform of clay 6.7m on a side, and 34 to 60 cm high. The surface is covered by sand.A new dohyō is built prior to each...
, but in June he was persuaded by his doctors to enter hospital full time and so retired from sumo. Since it was clear that he would be unlikely to live long enough to have a formal retirement ceremony (danpatsu-shiki) at the Ryogoku Kokugikan
Ryogoku Kokugikan
, also known as Sumo Hall, is an indoor sporting arena located in the Ryōgoku neighborhood of Sumida, one of the 23 wards of Tokyo in Japan, next to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It is the third building built in Tokyo associated with the name kokugikan. The current building was opened in 1985 and has a...
, which normally takes place up to a year after retiring, in October 1999 his fellow wrestler and graduate of Nihon University Mainoumi organised a private function for him which was attended by many wrestlers and elders of the Sumo Association. Daishoho's weight had dropped from 150 kg to below 90 kg. He died on December 4, 1999 at the age of 32 due to pancreatic cancer
Fighting style
Daishoho liked pushing techniques, particularly tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the chest. However, he was also good at fighting on the mawashiMawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
or belt, where he preferred a migi-yotsu grip, a left hand outside and right hand inside position. His most commonly used kimarite
Kimarite
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...
were yorikiri (force out), oshidashi (push out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).
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 sumo tournament second division winners
- List of past sumo wrestlers