Kitanoumi Toshimitsu

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Kitanoumi.

Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
北の湖敏満
Kitanofuji
)
* Up to date as of June 2020.

Kitanoumi Toshimitsu (

Kitanoumi stable. He was chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
from 2002 until 2008, and again from 2012 until his death.

Career

Born in

Taihō
by 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.

kachi-koshi, or tournament records of at least eight wins out of 15, which was a record for the top division[7] until 2015, when Hakuhō
reached 51 consecutive kachi-koshi.

By the beginning of the 1980s he had a new rival,

Chiyonofuji, who earned promotion to ōzeki and then yokozuna by 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 new Ryōgoku Kokugikan stadium in January 1985.[4] Three days into the tournament, without winning a match, he announced his retirement.[8] He had been ranked as a yokozuna on the banzuke in 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 by Ōshio in 1987). Of those victories, 804 came in the top division (a record broken by Chiyonofuji in 1991), and 670 of those came at the yokozuna rank.[9]

Kitanoumi original Yokozuna tegata (handprint & signature)

After retirement

Takanohana
in 2013

Kitanoumi was honored for his great achievements by being offered membership of the

Hakurozan
, 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;

match-fixing and forced to retire from sumo.[13] After Hanaregoma stepped down in February 2012, Kitanoumi returned to the role of chairman, becoming the first person to head the association twice.[14]

Death

Kitanoumi died of colorectal cancer and multiple organ failure on the evening of November 20, 2015.[3] He was in Fukuoka for the Kyushu tournament and was taken to the hospital for anemia in the morning, after which his condition deteriorated.[15] A memorial service was held on December 22 at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[2]

Fighting style

Kitanoumi preferred to grip his opponent's belt (yotsu-zumō) over pushing and thrusting. His favored grip was hidari-yotsu (the right hand outside of the opponent's arm and the left hand inside holding the opponent's mawashi).[3] His most common winning techniques (kimarite) were yorikiri (frontal force out), oshidashi (frontal push out), and uwatenage (overarm throw). He did not employ a wide variety of winning techniques, using only twenty-one different kimarite over the course of his career.

Career record

Kitanoumi Toshimitsu[16]
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 as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Playoff
(s)
Divisions:
Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: 
Maegashira

See also

References

  1. ^
    The Japan News
    . November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Sumo great Kitanoumi dies at 62". Japan Times. November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Kitanoumi: Legendary yokozuna dominated an era". Japan News/Yomiuri Shimbun. November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Gould, Chris (October 2008). "The Rise and Fall of Kitanoumi" (PDF). Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  5. ^ Gunning, John (January 17, 2020). "Former yokozuna Kitanoumi was imposing figure in sumo". Japan Times. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Kaori, Shoji (January 14, 2000). "Wrestling with a national tradition". Japan Times. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Kuroda, Joe (April 2006). "A Shot At the Impossible – Yokozuna Comparison Through The Ages – Part 2". Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2007.
  8. ^
    ISBN 0-8348-0283-X
    .
  9. Asahi Shimbun. November 22, 2015. Archived from the original
    on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  10. ISBN 1-880656-28-0
    .
  11. ^ "Sumo head resigns over drugs row". BBC News. September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  12. ^ "Japan sumo chief resigns over marijuana scandal". Reuters. September 8, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  13. ^ "SUMO/ Scandal illuminates JSA chairman's powerlessness". Asahi Shimbun. April 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  14. ^ "Kitanoumi returns as JSA chairman". The Japan Times. January 31, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  15. Nikkei Asian Review. November 20, 2015. Archived from the original
    on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  16. ^ "Kitanoumi Toshimitsu Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved July 27, 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kitanoumi Toshimitsu.


Preceded by
Wajima Hiroshi
 55th Yokozuna
1974–1985 		Succeeded by
Yokozuna
 is not a successive rank, and more than one wrestler can hold the title at once
Sporting positions
Preceded by Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
2002–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association
2012–2015 		Succeeded by
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