Akinoumi Setsuo

Template:Short description Template:Template other , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hiroshima. He was the sport's 37th yokozuna.

Career

File:Futabayama defeated.jpg

Akinoumi brings Futabayama's record winning streak to an end in January 1939, as reported in the Yomiuri Shimbun

Akinoumi made his professional debut in February 1932 and reached the top makuuchi division in January 1938. He was the man who ended Futabayama's record 69 bout winning streak in January 1939. As he was only ranked as a maegashira at the time, it was regarded as an enormous upset. He defeated the yokozuna by sotogake, an outer leg trip. He had practiced this technique in training with Komanosato, who had been Futabayama's 69th and final defeated opponent. He was overwhelmed by his achievement, but was told by his stablemaster, "Become a rikishi not to be praised when he wins but to cause an uproar when he loses."

His only top division championship came in May 1940 when he was ranked as a sekiwake. At the time of his promotion to ōzeki in 1941, he was the first wrestler from Hiroshima Prefecture to be promoted at this rank since Hiodoshi Katsugorō in 1814, 127 years earlier. Akinoumi earned promotion to yokozuna in May 1942 after two runner-up performances of 13 wins against two losses. He was promoted simultaneously with Terukuni. Akinoumi was not a particularly successful yokozuna, lasting only eight tournaments at the rank and not managing to win any further championships. He is arguably better remembered for his victory over Futabayama than his exploits as a grand champion.

Retirement from sumo

Akinoumi retired in November 1946, and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association with the name of Fujishima. He married the daughter of Dewanoumi Oyakata, the former yokozuna Tsunenohana, but was unfaithful to her, his geisha mistress giving birth the same day that his wife did. They were later divorced. This put an end to any hopes of becoming the head of Dewanoumi stable, and he left the sumo world in January 1955. He later remarried. He ran a chanko restaurant, and when that went out of business, a clothing store. He also appeared as a sumo commentator on broadcasts of tournaments. He celebrated his 60th birthday in 1974 but for reasons which are unclear, did not get to perform the kanreki dohyō-iri ceremony. He died in 1979 of congestive heart failure.

Career record

File:Akinoumi yusho May 1940.jpg

Akinoumi holding the Emperor's Cup after winning the May 1940 tournament

• Through most of the 1930s and 1940s only two tournaments were held a year, and in 1946 only one was held.

1932 (Maezumo) (Maezumo) West JonokuchiTemplate:Ifnumber
3–3
  West JonokuchiTemplate:Ifnumber
6–0
Champion
  Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

1933 East JonidanTemplate:Ifnumber
2–4
  West JonidanTemplate:Ifnumber
4–2
  Not held 1934 West SandanmeTemplate:Ifnumber
5–1
  East MakushitaTemplate:Ifnumber
6–5
  Not held 1935 West MakushitaTemplate:Ifnumber
7–4
  West MakushitaTemplate:Ifnumber
6–5
  Not held 1936 West JūryōTemplate:Ifnumber
6–5
  West JūryōTemplate:Ifnumber
5–6
  Not held 1937 West JūryōTemplate:Ifnumber
7–4
  East JūryōTemplate:Ifnumber
10–3
  Not held 1938 West MaegashiraTemplate:Ifnumber
8–5
  West MaegashiraTemplate:Ifnumber
9–4
  Not held 1939 West MaegashiraTemplate:Ifnumber
6–7
★ East MaegashiraTemplate:Ifnumber
10–5
  Not held 1940 West SekiwakeTemplate:Ifnumber
10–5
  West SekiwakeTemplate:Ifnumber
14–1
  Not held 1941 East ŌzekiTemplate:Ifnumber
12–3
  East ŌzekiTemplate:Ifnumber
9–6
  Not held 1942 West Haridashi ŌzekiTemplate:Ifnumber
13–2
  West ŌzekiTemplate:Ifnumber
13–2
  Not held 1943 East Yokozuna-ŌzekiTemplate:Ifnumber
12–3
  West Haridashi YokozunaTemplate:Ifnumber
11–4
  Not held 1944 Sat out due to injury West Haridashi YokozunaTemplate:Ifnumber
5–5
  Sat out due to injury 1945 Not held East Haridashi YokozunaTemplate:Ifnumber
6–1
  East YokozunaTemplate:Ifnumber
4–6
  1946 Not held Not held East YokozunaTemplate:Ifnumber
Retired
0–0–13 Template:Sumo record box end 1930-1946

See also

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

External links

• Japan Sumo Association profile

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