Azumafuji Kin'ichi
| 東富士 欽壹 Azumafuji Kin'ichi | |
|---|---|
Yokozuna (October 1948) | |
| Retired | September, 1954 |
| Elder name | Nishikido |
| Championships | 6 (Makuuchi) 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita) |
| * Up to date as of June 2020. | |
Azumafuji Kin'ichi (
Sumo career
His real name was Inoue Kin'ichi (井上 謹一). He made professional debut in January 1936, joining Takasago stable. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in May 1943. On the sixth day of the November 1944 tournament, he defeated yokozuna Futabayama, the last wrestler ever to do so as Futabayama pulled out of the tournament the next day and only fought one more bout before his retirement. Azumafuji was promoted to ōzeki in June 1945 on the strength of two runner-up performances. He won his first top division championship in May 1948, and was promoted to the top yokozuna rank in October of that year after finishing as runner-up. Going against historical trends, he managed to win his debut yokozuna tournament, in January 1949.
On the 12th day of the September 1951 tournament, Azumafuji recorded an
Azumafuji won his sixth and final championship in September 1953, and struggled with injuries after that. In September 1954, ōzeki Tochinishiki seemed certain to win his second consecutive championship. Azumafuji suddenly announced his retirement at that tournament, not wishing to hinder Tochinshiki's promotion to yokozuna.[1] Had he remained, Tochinishiki would have become the fifth active yokozuna, an unprecedented situation. Tochinishiki reportedly asked Azumafuji to reconsider his decision, but to no avail.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Azumafuji was the first yokozuna to turn to Western-style
Championships and accomplishments
Sumo top division record
- From 1953 a New Year tournament was added and the Spring tournament began to be held in Osaka.
| - | Spring Haru basho, Tokyo |
Summer Natsu basho, Tokyo |
Autumn Aki basho, Tokyo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | x | East Maegashira #8 10–5 |
Not held | |||
| 1944 | West Maegashira #1 7–4–4 |
East Maegashira #2 6–4 |
West Sekiwake 9–1 |
|||
| 1945 | Not held | East Sekiwake #1 6–1 |
East Ōzeki #1 9–1 |
|||
| 1946 | Not held | Not held | East Ōzeki #1 7–6 |
|||
| 1947 | Not held | West Ōzeki #2 9–1–P |
West Ōzeki #1 6–5 |
|||
| 1948 | Not held | West Ōzeki #2 10–1 |
West Ōzeki #1 10–1–P |
|||
| 1949 | West Yokozuna #2 10–2 1d |
East Yokozuna #1 8–7 |
West Yokozuna #2 10–5 |
|||
| 1950 | West Yokozuna #1 6–6–3 |
West Yokozuna #1 14–1 |
East Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
|||
| 1951 | West Yokozuna #1 10–5 |
East Yokozuna #2 12–3 |
East Yokozuna #1 13–1 1h |
|||
| 1952 | East Yokozuna #1 7–4–4 |
West Yokozuna #2 13–2 |
East Yokozuna #1 7–7–1 |
|||
| Record given as wins–losses–absencies Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Playoff (s)Divisions: Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Maegashira |
||||||
| - | New Year Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
Spring Haru basho, Osaka |
Summer Natsu basho, Tokyo |
Autumn Aki basho, Tokyo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | West Yokozuna #1 2–5–8 |
West Yokozuna #2 12–3 |
East Yokozuna #1 11–4 |
West Yokozuna #1 14–1 |
||
| 1954 | East Yokozuna #1 3–7–5 |
West Yokozuna #2 5–3–7 |
East Yokozuna #2 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
East Yokozuna #2 Retired 4–4–7 |
||
| Record given as wins–losses–absencies Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Playoff (s)Divisions: Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Maegashira |
||||||
*d = draw (引分) / h = hold (預り)
See also
- Glossary of sumo terms
- List of past sumo wrestlers
- List of sumo tournament top division champions
- List of yokozuna
References
- ^ a b c Kuroda, Joe (October 2007). "Tochinishiki Kiyotaka (1925–1990) the 44th Yokozuna Part 2". Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ History of Puroresu : The Rikidozan Era
- ^ "Azumafuji Kinichi Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
External links
- Japan Sumo Association profile
- Article on Azumafuji
- Azumafuji Kin'ichi's profile at Cagematch.net
