Mienoumi Tsuyoshi
Encyclopedia
(born February 4, 1948 as is a former champion sumo
wrestler, the 57th yokozuna of the sport. He is the founder of Musashigawa stable
and a former chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
. He was born in Matsusaka
, Mie prefecture
, Japan
.
at junior high school and was introduced to a coach at Dewanoumi stable
, but was initially rejected due to his lack of height. He contacted the stable again a few years later, and this time was accepted by Dewanoumi Oyataka himself, the former Dewanohana. His first bout was in July 1963, aged just 15. At first fighting under his family name of Ishiyama, he switched to the shikona
of Mienoumi in 1966. After being personally trained by the new Dewanoumi Oyakaya, former yokozuna Sadanoyama, he developed his technique and was promoted to jūryō division in March 1969, and makuuchi
, the top division, in September 1969. In July of the following year, he reached the rank of komusubi, defeating two yokozuna (Taihō
and Tamanoumi
) and receiving his first prize (shukunshō). He was promoted to sekiwake in the next tournament in September 1970.
He suffered from a chronic liver
problem throughout his career, and although he tried to keep it under control by changing his diet, it was a factor in his eventual retirement.
In September 1974 his 11th day match with Futagodake was declared a draw (hikiwake). This is the last draw in the top division to date.
He won his first makuuchi tournament or yusho
in November 1975 and was promoted to ōzeki the following January. He lost a majority of bouts in the next two tournaments, resulting in an automatic demotion back to sekiwake, but a good result of 10 wins to 5 losses in the next tournament was sufficient to restore him to ōzeki.
In May 1979 he was a runner-up for the fourth time, to Wakanohana
with a 13-2 record. He followed that up with a superb 14-1 record in the following tournament, defeating Wakanohana, Kitanoumi and Wajima
, only losing the championship in a playoff to Wajima on the final day. In September 1979 he was finally promoted to yokozuna. The 97 tournaments it took him to do so is the slowest ever progress to sumo's top rank. His oyakata declared that he would be happy with just one more yusho before Mienoumi's retirement. In the event, Mienoumi won his second and third tournaments as yokozuna, the latter with a perfect score, but after this had several absences due to injury and illness, fighting a full fifteen bouts in only four tournaments as yokozuna, before retiring in November 1980. He has the lowest win-loss ratio of any post-war yokozuna.
in 1981. Until then Dewanoumi stable had discouraged any breaking away, and he was the first from Dewanoumi in 62 years to amicably set up a new stable. By 2000 Musashigawa stable had become one of the strongest stables in sumo with a yokozuna, Musashimaru
, and three ōzeki, Dejima
, Musōyama
and Miyabiyama
. Musashigawa performed an early kanreki dohyō-iri
in 2007 (normally performed on a yokozunas 60th birthday) to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Musashigawa stable. On September 8, 2008, he became the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
following the resignation of Kitanoumi
. One of his first actions was to demand a controversial tightening up of the rules for the tachi-ai
, or initial charge, which led to many false starts in the September 2008 tournament. Following a series of scandals involving wrestlers gambling and associating with organised crime members, he was suspended for the July 2010 tournament and announced his resignation the following month. He also cited health concerns, as he had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. In September 2010 he also stood down as head of Musashigawa stable, although he remains a coach there.
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, the 57th yokozuna of the sport. He is the founder of Musashigawa stable
Musashigawa stable
Fujishima stable is a heya or stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was set up on 29 August 1981 by Musashigawa Oyakata, the former yokozuna Mienoumi, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable...
and a former chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
Japan 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...
. He was born in Matsusaka
Matsusaka, Mie
, sometimes called Matsuzaka, is a city located in central Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan. The city is famous for its beef.-Founding:...
, Mie prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
, 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...
.
Career
His father was a construction worker who competed in amateur sumo tournaments. The young Mienoumi did judoJudo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
at junior high school and was introduced to a coach at Dewanoumi stable
Dewanoumi stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers. It has a long, prestigious history. Its current head coach is former sekiwake Washuyama. As of November 2007 it had 21 wrestlers....
, but was initially rejected due to his lack of height. He contacted the stable again a few years later, and this time was accepted by Dewanoumi Oyataka himself, the former Dewanohana. His first bout was in July 1963, aged just 15. At first fighting under his family name of Ishiyama, he switched to the shikona
Shikona
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...
of Mienoumi in 1966. After being personally trained by the new Dewanoumi Oyakaya, former yokozuna Sadanoyama, he developed his technique and was promoted to jūryō division in March 1969, and 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....
, the top division, in September 1969. In July of the following year, he reached the rank of komusubi, defeating two yokozuna (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...
and Tamanoumi
Tamanoumi Masahiro
Tamanoumi Masahiro , was a sumo wrestler, born in Aichi, Japan. He was the sport's 51st yokozuna.-Career:...
) and receiving his first prize (shukunshō). He was promoted to sekiwake in the next tournament in September 1970.
He suffered from a chronic liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
problem throughout his career, and although he tried to keep it under control by changing his diet, it was a factor in his eventual retirement.
In September 1974 his 11th day match with Futagodake was declared a draw (hikiwake). This is the last draw in the top division to date.
He won his first makuuchi tournament or yusho
Yusho
A Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...
in November 1975 and was promoted to ōzeki the following January. He lost a majority of bouts in the next two tournaments, resulting in an automatic demotion back to sekiwake, but a good result of 10 wins to 5 losses in the next tournament was sufficient to restore him to ōzeki.
In May 1979 he was a runner-up for the fourth time, to Wakanohana
Wakanohana Kanji II
Wakanohana Kanji II is a former sumo wrestler from Ōwani, Aomori, Japan. He was the sport's 56th Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Magaki stable.-Early career:...
with a 13-2 record. He followed that up with a superb 14-1 record in the following tournament, defeating Wakanohana, Kitanoumi and Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....
, only losing the championship in a playoff to Wajima on the final day. In September 1979 he was finally promoted to yokozuna. The 97 tournaments it took him to do so is the slowest ever progress to sumo's top rank. His oyakata declared that he would be happy with just one more yusho before Mienoumi's retirement. In the event, Mienoumi won his second and third tournaments as yokozuna, the latter with a perfect score, but after this had several absences due to injury and illness, fighting a full fifteen bouts in only four tournaments as yokozuna, before retiring in November 1980. He has the lowest win-loss ratio of any post-war yokozuna.
After retirement
Upon retirement Mienoumi took the name of Musashigawa Oyakata and established Musashigawa stableMusashigawa stable
Fujishima stable is a heya or stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was set up on 29 August 1981 by Musashigawa Oyakata, the former yokozuna Mienoumi, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable...
in 1981. Until then Dewanoumi stable had discouraged any breaking away, and he was the first from Dewanoumi in 62 years to amicably set up a new stable. By 2000 Musashigawa stable had become one of the strongest stables in sumo with a yokozuna, Musashimaru
Musashimaru Kōyō
, is a former sumo wrestler. He was the second foreign-born wrestler in history to reach the rank of yokozuna. He won over 700 top division bouts and took twelve top division tournament championships during his career. Musashimaru's sheer bulk combined with of height made him a formidable...
, and three ōzeki, Dejima
Dejima Takeharu
Dejima Takeharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1996, reaching the top makuuchi division the following year...
, Musōyama
Musoyama Masashi
Musōyama Masashi is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in January 1993, and he won promotion to the top makuuchi division in just four tournaments...
and Miyabiyama
Miyabiyama Tetsushi
Miyabiyama Tetsushi is a sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1998. He has been ranked in the top division of professional sumo since 1999, holding the second highest rank of ōzeki from 2000 to 2001...
. Musashigawa performed an early kanreki dohyō-iri
Kanreki dohyo-iri
In sumo wrestling, a kanreki dohyō-iri is a ring-entering ceremony performed by a former yokozuna in celebration of his 60th birthday . If he is a toshiyori , the ceremony is usually held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the main sumo hall in Tokyo. Otherwise, if retired, at another location...
in 2007 (normally performed on a yokozunas 60th birthday) to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Musashigawa stable. On September 8, 2008, he became the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
Japan 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...
following the resignation of Kitanoumi
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu is a former sumo wrestler and former Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the dominant yokozuna in sumo during the 1970s. Toshimitsu was promoted to yokozuna at age 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank, and he remained a yokozuna for a record 63...
. One of his first actions was to demand a controversial tightening up of the rules for the tachi-ai
Tachi-ai
The tachi-ai is the initial charge between two sumo wrestlers at the beginning of a bout.There are several common techniques that wrestlers use at the tachi-ai, with the aim of getting a decisive advantage in the bout:...
, or initial charge, which led to many false starts in the September 2008 tournament. Following a series of scandals involving wrestlers gambling and associating with organised crime members, he was suspended for the July 2010 tournament and announced his resignation the following month. He also cited health concerns, as he had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. In September 2010 he also stood down as head of Musashigawa stable, although he remains a coach there.
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 tournament winners
- List of yokozuna
External links
- Mienoumi biography at Japanese Sumo Association (English)
- (Japanese)
- Musashigawa stable Official homepage
- Article on Mienoumi