Tsunenohana Kan'ichi

Tsunenohana Kan'ichi
常ノ花 寛市
Personal information
Born	Kanichi Yamanobe November 23, 1896 Okayama, Japan
Died	November 28, 1960 (aged 64)
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	115 kg (254 lb)
Career
Stable	Dewanoumi
Record	263-81-66 (8 draws)
Debut	January, 1910
Highest rank	Yokozuna (January, 1924)
Retired	October, 1930
Championships	10 (Makuuchi) 1 (Jūryō)
* Up to date as of Sep. 2012.

Tsunenohana Kan'ichi (常ノ花 寛市, November 23, 1896 – November 28, 1960) was a sumo wrestler from Okayama, Japan. He was the sport's 31st yokozuna.

Career

He made his professional debut in January 1910 and reached the top makuuchi division in May 1917. He won his first top division championship in May 1921 from the rank of ōzeki, with a perfect record of ten wins and no losses. After his second championship in May 1923 and a runner-up spot in January 1924, he was promoted to yokozuna. He was to win eight more championships during his yokozuna career, including three in a row in 1927. He was much stronger than his competition and had no serious rivals. As a result, turnout at tournaments tended to be quite poor.^[1] His last title came in March 1930. He fought his last bouts in May of that year and officially retired in October. His retirement came very suddenly, as he was at the height of his powers, and it left Miyagiyama as the only yokozuna.^[1]

Retirement

After retiring from active competition he was the seventh head of the Dewanoumi stable and from 1944 to 1957 was also the chairman of the Sumo Association. During his tenure as chairman of the Association, in 1956, he performed his kanreki dohyō-iri or '60th year ring entrance ceremony' to commemorate his years as yokozuna. Later on in his tenure, he began to be blamed for the Sumo Association's problems and attempted to commit suicide by a sword and gas in May 1957. He was fortunately rescued but he retired as the chairman of the Sumo Association.^[2]

Top Division Record

• In 1927 Tokyo and Osaka sumo merged and four tournaments a year in Tokyo and other locations began to be held.

Tsunenohana^[3]

-	Spring Haru basho, varied	Summer Natsu basho, varied
1917	x	West Maegashira #12 6–3 1h
1918	East Maegashira #4 5–4–1	East Maegashira #1 8–1–1
1919	East Sekiwake 6–3–1	East Sekiwake 7–2 1h
1920	East Sekiwake 6–1–1 1d 1h	Sat out
1921	West Ōzeki 9–1	East Ōzeki 10–0
1922	East Ōzeki 7–2 1h	West Ōzeki 5–4 1d
1923	East Ōzeki 4–4 2d	West Ōzeki 9–0 1d 1h
1924	West Ōzeki 8–2	East Yokozuna 5–2–1 2d 1h
1925	East Yokozuna 0–2–9	West Yokozuna 3–1–6 1d
1926	West Yokozuna 11–0	Sat out

-	Spring Haru basho, Tokyo	March Sangatsu basho, varied	Summer Natsu basho, Tokyo	October Jūgatsu basho, varied
1927	West Yokozuna 7–4	West Yokozuna 10–1	West Yokozuna 10–1	East Yokozuna 10–1
1928	Sat out	West Yokozuna 10–1	West Yokozuna 11–0	West Yokozuna 9–2
1929	East Yokozuna 4–4–3	Sat out	East Yokozuna 10–1	East Yokozuna 8–3
1930	East Yokozuna 8–3	East Yokozuna 10–1	East Yokozuna 5–4	West Yokozuna Retired 0–0–0
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Retired Lower Divisions Key:d=Draw(s) (引分);   h=Hold(s) (預り) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of sumo tournament top division champions
• List of yokozuna

References

1. Newton, Clyde (1994). Dynamic Sumo. Kodansha. p. 124. ISBN 4-7700-1802-9.
2. "The Gallery - Rijicho of the Kyokai". The Oyakata Gallery. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
3. "Tsunenohana Kanichi Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2007-09-27.

External links

• Japan Sumo Association profile