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Ōzutsu Man'emon

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Ōzutsu Man'emon
大砲 万右衛門
Personal information
BornKakubari Manji
(1869-12-30)30 December 1869
Miyagi, Japan
Died27 May 1918(1918-05-27) (aged 48)
Height1.97 m (6 ft 5+12 in)
Weight131 kg (289 lb)
Career
StableOguruma
Record98-29-138-51draws-4holds
(Makuuchi)
DebutJanuary 1885
Highest rankYokozuna (April 1901)
RetiredJanuary 1908
Elder nameMatsuchiyama
Championships2 (Makuuchi, unofficial)
* Up to date as of October 2007.

Ōzutsu Man'emon (大砲 万右衛門, 30 December 1869 – 27 May 1918) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture. He was the sport's 18th yokozuna.

Early life and career

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His real name was Kakubari Manji (角張 萬次), before changing his given name to Man'emon (萬右衛門). He was born in Misawa, Otakazawa in present-day Shiroishi City, and was called "Monster child of Misawa" (三沢の怪童, "Misawa no Kaidai").[1] Kakubari was known for his large and strong body, and, at the age of 13, it was said that he could easily carry two bales of rice.[2]
At an unknown age he was spotted by the wife of a former rikishi of the Isenoumi stable, who heard rumors of the boy's excellent physique, and in the spring of 1884 he moved to Tokyo and joined the Oguruma stable at age 17.[2] Despite his outward appearance, he was reputed as a fine-tuned, quick-witted man, good at arithmetic and a good debater. He was also a good salesman during the traveling tournaments.[3] In professional sumo, he began using the shikona, or ring name, Misawataki (三沢滝) in May 1884 in honour of his hometown. Ōzutsu was tall compared to other wrestlers of his time, but when he first joined his stable, his legs and back were so weak that he was ridiculed and nicknamed konnyaku (コンニャク, solidified jelly).[2]
Through training, he was rapidly promoted and changed his shikona to Ōzutsu (大砲) in 1888.[2] Ōzutsu was promoted to juryō in 1892. Having scored a make-kochi record (3 wins and 6 losses), he was however promoted thanks to the impression he left on the crowds thanks to his size. Ōzutsu reached sekiwake only three tournaments after entering the top makuuchi division. His strength increased and he was promoted to ōzeki in May 1899.

Yokozuna career

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He had never lost any bouts as ōzeki and was awarded a yokozuna licence by the Yoshida family in April 1901. In May 1902, he had the best record in the tournament with no defeats. At some point, he was advised to assume the ring name of past yokozuna Tanikaze Kajinosuke, which was supposed to be his legacy within the Tokyo Sumo Association since both of them were from Miyagi Prefecture, but he declined saying that he did not want to become a laughingstock in the future.[2]
However, his strength rapidly declined after taking part in the Russo-Japanese War. He was absent for three tournaments due to the war.

Fighting style

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Despite being gifted with a great strength of body, Ōzutsu struggled at the beginning of his career, and people said "he was clumsy and weak in the waist" and "could never win a bout because he was too big for his own good".[3] With time, he began to take advantage of his strength by prodding from afar and pulling in slowly. While not being an agile person, he developed a method preventing his adversary to stand up, he would catch them with his favoured right hand grip and hold them down, never letting go.[3]

Retirement and death

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Ōzutsu on a commemorative postcard depicting the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan in 1909

After his return from the war, his chronic rheumatism had worsened and Ōzutsu sat out the 1907 second tournament. He chose to retire in the next year, assuming the name of Matsuchiyama.[4] In his retirement speech, he said that former yokozuna Umegatani Tōtarō I had taught him that a yokozuna must not be defeated.[5] In the top makuuchi division, he won 98 bouts and lost 29 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 77.2. He also recorded 51 draws. In 1915, he was hospitalized with a stomach ulcer on his back and became seriously ill. He died on May 27, 1918, of diabetes that he developed after the surgery at 48 years old.[2]
His grave is located in the premises of the Ekō-in temple in Tokyo.[4]

Homage

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Then-komusubi Ōzutsu and William K. Burton in 1895.

A bronze statue of Ōzutsu was erected at the ruins of Shiroishi Castle, Shiroishi, Miyagi.[1]

Top division record

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Ozutsu[6]
- Spring Summer
1892 x West Maegashira #6
3–6–1
 
1893 Sat out West Maegashira #2
5–4–1
 
1894 West Sekiwake
2–2–6
 
West Maegashira #1
4–2–2
2d

 
1895 West Komusubi
2–1–7
 
West Komusubi
7–0–2
1d
Unofficial

 
1896 West Sekiwake
3–1–5
1d

 
Sat out
1897 West Maegashira #1
6–2–1
1d

 
West Komusubi
4–3–1
2d

 
1898 West Komusubi
4–0–2
4d

 
West Sekiwake
6–0–2
2d

 
1899 West Sekiwake
4–1–1
4d

 
West Ōzeki
1–0–6
2d 1h

 
1900
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15
West Ōzeki
6–0–1
2d 1h

 
1901 West Ōzeki
7–0–2
1d

 
East Yokozuna
6–1–1
1draw 1h

 
1902 East Yokozuna
6–2–1
1d

 
East Yokozuna
8–0–1
1d
Unofficial

 
1903 East Yokozuna
7–1–1
1d

 
Sat out for military service
1904 Sat out for military service Sat out for military service
1905 East Yokozuna
3–1–5
1h

 
East Yokozuna
2–1–1
6d

 
1906 East Yokozuna
1–0–1
8d

 
Sat out
1907 East Yokozuna
1–1–6
2d

 
East Yokozuna
0–0–1
9d

 
1908 East Yokozuna
Retired
0–0
x
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

Key:d=Draw(s) (引分);   h=Hold(s) (預り)
Divisions: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira

*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognised or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Kahoku-city website. "Know your hometown hero, Shiraishi's 18th Yokozuna, Ōzutsu Man'emon, on DVD" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "18th Yokozuna Ōzutsu Man'emon - Time-Line". Ozumo database (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Atsuo Tsubota. "Biographies of Yokozuna (14th to 18th)" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 5 March 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Encyclopedia of Sumo Wrestler Graves: Ōzutsu". Grave Mylar goes (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  5. ^ "I was told that a yokozuna should never lose..." (18th yokozuna Ōzutsu)". Japan Sumo Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Ozutsu Manemon Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2007-10-03.


Preceded by 18th Yokozuna
1901–1908
Succeeded by
Yokozuna is not a successive rank, and more than one wrestler can hold the title at once