Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
| Kitanoumi Toshimitsu | |
|---|---|
| Bắc の hồ mẫn mãn | |
 Kitanoumi in 2013 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Toshimitsu Obata May 16, 1953 Sōbetsu,Hokkaido,Japan |
| Died | November 20, 2015(aged 62) Fukuoka,Japan |
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft10+1⁄2in) |
| Weight | 169 kg (373 lb; 26.6 st) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Mihogaseki |
| Record | 951-350-107 |
| Debut | January 1967 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (July 1974) |
| Retired | January 1985 |
| Elder name | Kitanoumi |
| Championships | 24 (Makuuchi) |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance (2) Fighting Spirit (1) |
| Gold Stars | 1 (Kitanofuji) |
| * Up to date as of June 2020. | |
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu(Japanese:Bắc の hồ mẫn mãn,May 16, 1953 – November 20, 2015),bornToshimitsu Obata(Tiểu điền mẫn mãn,Obata Toshimitsu),was a Japanese professionalsumowrestler. He was the dominant wrestler in the sport during the 1970s. Kitanoumi was promoted toyokozunaat the age of 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank. He won 24 tournament championships during his career and was one of a series of truly greatyokozunawho came fromHokkaido,the largest and northernmost prefecture of Japan. At the time of his death he still held the records for most tournaments atyokozuna(63) and most bouts won as ayokozuna(670), but they have since been surpassed. Following his retirement in 1985 he established theKitanoumi stable.He was chairman of theJapan Sumo Associationfrom 2002 until 2008, and again from 2012 until his death.
Career[edit]
Born inSōbetsu,Hokkaido,Kitanoumi began his professional sumo career in January 1967 at the age of 13, whilst still in middle school. He joinedMihogaseki stable,and was promoted to sumo's second highestjūryōdivision in May 1971 and the topmakuuchidivision a year later.[1]He won his first top divisionyūshōor tournament championship in January 1974 and was promoted toōzekiimmediately afterwards. He secured promotion toyokozunajust three tournaments after that. At 21 years 2 months, he was the youngest everyokozuna,[2]beating the previous record held byTaihōby one month.
Kitanoumi was the most successful wrestler in sumo for the rest of the 1970s. His dominance, and perceived stern demeanor, meant that he was not that popular with the general public.[3]When he was defeated by underdogTakanohanain a playoff for the championship in September 1975, the audience threw so manyzabuton—or cushions—into the ring in delight, that Kitanoumi said he could "hardly see the ceiling".[4]He was known for not offering a defeated opponent a hand to get back to their feet,[5]and was also notoriously monosyllabic when being interviewed by reporters.[6]His best year was 1978, when he won five of the six tournaments and won 82 out of a possible 90 bouts, a record that stood until 2005.[7]His chief rival during these years wasWajima,[8]but Kitanoumi was much more consistent. He was heavy at 169 kg, was extremely strong and had excellent balance. He was also remarkably injury free and rarely missed a tournament. From July 1973 until September 1981 he chalked up 50 consecutivekachi-koshi,or tournament records of at least eight wins out of 15, which was a record for the top division[7]until 2015, whenHakuhōreached 51 consecutivekachi-koshi.
By the beginning of the 1980s he had a new rival,Chiyonofuji,who earned promotion toōzekiand thenyokozunaby defeating him in decisive matches in January and July 1981. In November 1981 Kitanoumi withdrew from a tournament for the first time. After that his record was patchy, with many absences.[8]His 24th and final title came in May 1984, with a perfect 15–0 record. This was seen by many as a fitting end to a great career and he wanted to retire after that tournament, but was persuaded by the Sumo Association to carry on until the opening of the newRyōgoku Kokugikanstadium in January 1985.[4]Three days into the tournament, without winning a match, he announced his retirement.[8]He had been ranked as ayokozunaon thebanzukein 63 tournaments, which remained the most in history until Hakuhō surpassed it in May 2018.[3]During his career he had won 951 matches, the most in history at the time (he was overtaken byŌshioin 1987). Of those victories, 804 came in the top division (a record broken by Chiyonofuji in 1991), and 670 of those came at theyokozunarank.[9]
After retirement[edit]
Kitanoumi was honored for his great achievements by being offered membership of theJapan Sumo Associationwithout having to purchase a share (ichidai toshiyori). He was the secondrikishiafter Taihō to be given this honor. As a result, he was able to keep his sumo name after retirement.[10]He opened up his own training stable,Kitanoumi stable,[1]taking several wrestlers from Mihogaseki stable who had already been under his wing. Kitanoumi stable became one of the largest in sumo, and produced a handful of top division wrestlers over the years, such asmaegashiraGanyū,KitazakuraandKitataiki.He also inherited Russian wrestlerHakurozan,who joined the stable in 2006.
In 2002 Kitanoumi became head of the Sumo Association. He was the first chairman under the age of 50 in half a century, and his appointment was widely welcomed;[4]however, he came under pressure after a series of scandals hit sumo. These included the behavior ofyokozunaAsashōryū,who was suspended for two tournaments in 2007 but then allowed to return toMongolia,the death of junior wrestler TokitaizanatTokitsukaze stable,and the dismissal of several top wrestlers for usingcannabis.[4]When it became clear in September 2008 that one of them was his own wrestler Hakurozan, whom he had previously backed, Kitanoumi resigned his post,[11]apologizing for "the trouble I have caused to the Sumo Association and to fans".[12]He remained on the board of directors, in charge of running the Osaka tournament,[4]but had to resign from that position in April 2011 after another of his wrestlers,Kiyoseumi,was found guilty ofmatch-fixingand forced to retire from sumo.[13]AfterHanaregomastepped down in February 2012, Kitanoumi returned to the role of chairman, becoming the first person to head the association twice.[14]
Death[edit]
Kitanoumi died ofcolorectal cancerand multiple organ failure on the evening of November 20, 2015.[3]He was inFukuokafor the Kyushu tournament and was taken to the hospital foranemiain the morning, after which his condition deteriorated.[15]A memorial service was held on December 22 at theRyōgoku Kokugikan.[2]
Fighting style[edit]
Kitanoumi preferred to grip his opponent's belt (yotsu-zumō) over pushing and thrusting. His favored grip washidari-yotsu(the right hand outside of the opponent's arm and the left hand inside holding the opponent'smawashi).[3]His most common winning techniques (kimarite) wereyorikiri(frontal force out),oshidashi(frontal push out), anduwatenage(overarm throw). He did not employ a wide variety of winning techniques, using only twenty-one differentkimariteover the course of his career.
Career record[edit]
| Year | January Hatsu basho,Tokyo |
March Haru basho,Osaka |
May Natsu basho,Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho,Nagoya |
September Aki basho,Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho,Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #13 5–2 |
East Jonidan #95 4–3 |
West Jonidan #49 2–5 |
West Jonidan #82 4–3 |
West Jonidan #55 4–3 |
| 1968 | West Jonidan #36 7–0–PP |
West Sandanme #20 0–7 |
West Sandanme #64 6–1 |
West Sandanme #31 2–5 |
East Sandanme #55 4–3 |
East Sandanme #39 6–1 |
| 1969 | East Sandanme #5 6–1 |
East Makushita #38 2–5 |
West Makushita #56 4–3 |
East Makushita #51 5–2 |
West Makushita #30 3–4 |
East Makushita #37 4–3 |
| 1970 | East Makushita #29 5–2 |
East Makushita #16 4–3 |
West Makushita #13 4–3 |
West Makushita #10 5–2 |
East Makushita #3 2–5 |
West Makushita #10 5–2 |
| 1971 | West Makushita #5 6–1 |
East Makushita #1 5–2 |
East Jūryō #10 9–6 |
West Jūryō #4 6–9 |
West Jūryō #8 9–6 |
West Jūryō #2 9–6 |
| 1972 | East Maegashira #12 5–10 |
West Jūryō #3 10–5 |
West Maegashira #11 9–6 |
East Maegashira #7 9–6 |
East Maegashira #3 6–9 |
West Maegashira #6 10–5 |
| 1973 | East Komusubi #1 4–11 |
West Maegashira #5 9–6 F |
West Maegashira #1 6–9 ★ |
East Maegashira #4 8–7 |
East Komusubi #1 8–7 |
East Sekiwake #1 10–5 O |
| 1974 | East Sekiwake #1 14–1 O |
East Ōzeki #1 10–5 |
East Ōzeki #1 13–2 |
East Ōzeki #1 13–2–P |
West Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
West Yokozuna #1 12–3–P |
| 1975 | East Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2–P |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 9–6 |
East Yokozuna #1 12–3–P |
East Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
| 1976 | East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 10–5 |
West Yokozuna #1 13–2–P |
West Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
West Yokozuna #1 10–5 |
West Yokozuna #1 14–1 |
| 1977 | East Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
West Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
West Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
| 1978 | West Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2–P |
East Yokozuna #1 14–1–P |
East Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 14–1 |
East Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
| 1979 | East Yokozuna #2 14–1 |
East Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
West Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
West Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 10–5 |
| 1980 | East Yokozuna #2 12–3 |
West Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 14–1 |
East Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
West Yokozuna #1 12–3 |
| 1981 | East Yokozuna #2 14–1–P |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 14–1 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1 10–5 |
West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1 5–4–6 |
| 1982 | West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
West Yokozuna #1 9–4–2 |
East Yokozuna #2 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
East Yokozuna #2 10–5 |
East Yokozuna #2 9–3–3 |
| 1983 | West Yokozuna #1 5–4–6 |
West Yokozuna #1 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
West Yokozuna #1 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
West Yokozuna #1 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
East Yokozuna #2 4–1–10 |
East Yokozuna #2 11–4 |
| 1984 | East Yokozuna #2 8–7 |
East Yokozuna #2 10–5 |
West Yokozuna #1 15–0 |
East Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
East Yokozuna #1 0–3–12 |
East Yokozuna #2 3–4–8 |
| 1985 | West Yokozuna #1 Retired 0–3 |
x | x | x | x | x |
| Record given aswins–losses–absenciesTop division championTop division runner-upRetiredLower divisionsNon-participation Sanshōkey:F=Fighting spirit;O=Outstanding performance;T=Technique Also shown:★=Kinboshi;P=Playoff(s) |
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See also[edit]
- Glossary of sumo terms
- Kanreki dohyō-iri
- List of past sumo wrestlers
- List of sumo record holders
- List of sumo tournament top division champions
- List of sumo tournament top division runners-up
- List of yokozuna
References[edit]
- ^ab"Legendary yokozuna Kitanoumi dies at 62".The Japan News.November 21, 2015.RetrievedNovember 21,2015.
- ^ab"Sumo great Kitanoumi dies at 62".Japan Times.November 21, 2015.RetrievedNovember 23,2015.
- ^abcd"Kitanoumi: Legendary yokozuna dominated an era".Japan News/Yomiuri Shimbun.November 21, 2015.RetrievedNovember 23,2015.
- ^abcdeGould, Chris (October 2008)."The Rise and Fall of Kitanoumi"(PDF).Sumo Fan Magazine.RetrievedFebruary 12,2009.
- ^Gunning, John (January 17, 2020)."Former yokozuna Kitanoumi was imposing figure in sumo".Japan Times.RetrievedJanuary 17,2020.
- ^Kaori, Shoji (January 14, 2000)."Wrestling with a national tradition".Japan Times.RetrievedFebruary 13,2017.
- ^abKuroda, Joe (April 2006)."A Shot At the Impossible – Yokozuna Comparison Through The Ages – Part 2".Sumo Fan Magazine.RetrievedJune 27,2007.
- ^abcSharnoff, Lora (1993).Grand Sumo.Weatherhill.ISBN0-8348-0283-X.
- ^"VOX POPULI: Gone too soon, but Kitanoumi's sumo legend lives on".Asahi Shimbun.November 22, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2015.RetrievedNovember 23,2015.
- ^Hall, Mina (1997).The Big Book of Sumo(Paperback). Berkeley, CA, USA: Stone Bridge Press. p.95.ISBN1-880656-28-0.
- ^"Sumo head resigns over drugs row".BBC News.September 8, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 8,2008.
- ^"Japan sumo chief resigns over marijuana scandal".Reuters. September 8, 2008.RetrievedMarch 15,2016.
- ^"SUMO/ Scandal illuminates JSA chairman's powerlessness".Asahi Shimbun.April 8, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon April 8, 2011.RetrievedNovember 21,2015.
- ^"Kitanoumi returns as JSA chairman".The Japan Times.January 31, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 31,2012.
- ^"Sumo association head Kitanoumi dies at 62".Nikkei Asian Review.November 20, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon November 22, 2015.RetrievedNovember 20,2015.
- ^"Kitanoumi Toshimitsu Rikishi Information".Sumo Reference.RetrievedJuly 27,2012.
External links[edit]
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| National | |
