Hananokuni Akihiro

Hananokuni Akihiro (born 15 October 1959 as Akihiro Noguchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan.

Hananokuni Akihiro
花ノ国 明宏
Personal information
BornAkihiro Noguchi
(1959-10-15) 15 October 1959
Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight146 kg (322 lb)
Career
StableHanakago → Hanaregoma
Record605-593-21
DebutMarch, 1975
Highest rankMaegashira 1 (November, 1989)
RetiredNovember, 1994
Championships1 (Makushita)
Special PrizesFighting Spirit (1)
Gold Stars1 (Hokutoumi)
* Up to date as of Sep. 2012.

Career

He made his professional debut in March 1975, joining Hanakago stable. He joined Hanaregoma stable when Hanakago was wound up in 1985. After many years in the lower ranks he finally reached the makuuchi or top division in March 1988 at the age of 28. His best result in a tournament came in September 1988 when he won eleven bouts, defeated ōzeki Konishiki and received the Fighting Spirit Award.[1] He defeated yokozuna Hokutoumi in September 1989 to earn his only kinboshi. Chiyonofuji defeated him in March 1990 to become the first wrestler to win 1000 career bouts. His highest rank was maegashira 1. His last appearance in the top division came in November 1992 and he spent the last two years of his career back in the jūryō and makushita divisions.

Retirement from sumo

Upon his retirement in November 1994 he was unable to obtain elder stock and become a member of the Japan Sumo Association. However, he was able to remain in sumo by becoming a wakaimonogashira, a kind of record keeper and odd job man which is a salaried role within the Sumo Association. He can often be seen assisting with the presentation of prizes to the yūshō winner at the conclusion of tournaments. He is attached to Shibatayama stable.

Fighting style

Hananokuni′s favoured kimarite or techniques included yori taoshi (force out and down), uwatenage (overarm throw) and shitatedashinage (pulling inner arm throw.[1] He used a migi yotsu grip on the mawashi, with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent′s arms.[1]

Career record
Hananokuni Akihiro[2]
Year in sumo January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1975 x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #4
4–3
 		 East Jonidan #89
2–5
 		 West Jonidan #109
5–2
 		 West Jonidan #70
5–2
 
1976 West Jonidan #42
2–5
 		 West Jonidan #64
2–5
 		 West Jonidan #81
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #37
3–4
 		 West Jonidan #54
6–1
 		 East Sandanme #85
3–2–2
 
1977 East Jonidan #10
2–5
 		 West Jonidan #34
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #80
2–5
 		 East Jonidan #13
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #75
4–3
 		 East Sandanme #59
3–4
 
1978 West Sandanme #69
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #38
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #4
5–2
 		 East Makushita #46
4–3
 		 East Makushita #36
4–3
 		 East Makushita #29
4–3
 
1979 West Makushita #22
3–4
 		 West Makushita #29
2–5
 		 West Makushita #52
4–3
 		 East Makushita #44
5–2
 		 East Makushita #24
4–3
 		 East Makushita #18
3–4
 
1980 East Makushita #28
5–2
 		 East Makushita #18
4–3
 		 East Makushita #13
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
2–5
 		 West Makushita #23
3–4
 		 West Makushita #32
4–3
 
1981 East Makushita #9
2–5
 		 West Makushita #23
3–4
 		 West Makushita #32
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
2–5
 		 West Makushita #23
3–4
 		 West Makushita #32
4–3
 
1982 West Makushita #35
2–5
 		 East Makushita #54
5–2
 		 West Makushita #35
4–3
 		 East Makushita #28
5–2
 		 East Makushita #15
5–2
 		 West Makushita #9
5–2
 
1983 West Makushita #2
4–3
 		 West Makushita #1
5–2
 		 West Jūryō #12
4–11
 		 East Makushita #8
4–3
 		 West Makushita #5
4–3
 		 West Makushita #3
5–2
 
1984 West Jūryō #11
9–6
 		 East Jūryō #6
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #6
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #8
5–10
 		 East Makushita #2
2–5
 		 West Makushita #16
3–4
 
1985 West Makushita #25
4–3
 		 East Makushita #15
7–0
Champion
 		 East Jūryō #13
7–8
 		 West Makushita #1
4–3
 		 West Jūryō #12
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #10
5–10
 
1986 West Makushita #1
4–3
 		 East Makushita #1
1–6
 		 East Makushita #25
4–3
 		 West Makushita #18
6–1
 		 East Makushita #5
4–3
 		 West Makushita #2
3–4
 
1987 West Makushita #5
6–1–P
 		 West Jūryō #12
9–6
 		 East Jūryō #7
9–6
 		 East Jūryō #4
9–6
 		 West Jūryō #1
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #1
6–9
 
1988 West Jūryō #4
10–5
 		 East Maegashira #14
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #9
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #3
5–10
 		 West Maegashira #9
11–4
F		 West Maegashira #2
6–9
 
1989 East Maegashira #5
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #2
5–10
 		 East Maegashira #7
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #3
7–8
 		 East Maegashira #4
8–7
★		 East Maegashira #1
4–11
 
1990 East Maegashira #7
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #3
5–10
 		 East Maegashira #6
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #2
4–11
 		 East Maegashira #11
10–5
 		 East Maegashira #3
5–10
 
1991 West Maegashira #8
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #4
6–9
 		 East Maegashira #10
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #6
1–2–12
 		 East Jūryō #2
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #1
7–8
 
1992 East Jūryō #4
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #16
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #3
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #16
6–9
 		 East Jūryō #2
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #15
5–10
 
1993 East Jūryō #6
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #8
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #6
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #4
5–10
 		 West Jūryō #9
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #12
8–7
 
1994 West Jūryō #7
2–6–7
 		 West Makushita #10
4–3
 		 East Makushita #5
4–3
 		 West Makushita #3
2–5
 		 West Makushita #15
1–6
 
Retired
0–0–0
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

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

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

See also

References
  1. Patmore, Angela (1990). The Giants of Sumo. MacDonald & Co. p. 99. ISBN 0356181200.
  2. "Hananokuni Akihiro Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
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