Tsurugizan Taniemon
Tsurugizan Taniemon (劔山谷右衛門, 1803 – October 17, 1854) was a sumo wrestler from Toyama City, Japan. His highest rank was ōzeki. He won six tournament championships on an unofficial basis, before the yūshō system was established and was offered, but rejected, a yokozuna licence.
| Tsurugizan Taniemon | |
|---|---|
| 劔山谷右衛門 | |
 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Bunzō 1803 Toyama, Japan |
| Died | October 17, 1854 (aged 51) |
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Weight | 115 kg (254 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Onomatsu |
| Record | 143-31-148 22draws-6holds-5noresults (Makuuchi) |
| Debut | March, 1827 |
| Highest rank | Ōzeki (February 1842) |
| Retired | February, 1852 |
| Championships | 6 (Makuuchi, unofficial) |
| * Up to date as of June 2008. | |
Career
He joined Hatachiyama stable and was later trained under yokozuna Ōnomatsu Midorinosuke. At first he fought under the ring name Waniishi. He was one of few wrestlers to defeat yokozuna Inazuma Raigorō, who held a winning percentage of 90.9. After he won all bouts as sekiwake in the November 1841 tournament, he was promoted to ōzeki in February 1842. He was to have the best individual record in six tournaments, equivalent to six yūshō today, and recorded 29 consecutive wins. He changed his techniques according to the circumstances.[1] He was granted a yokozuna licence but rejected this and nominated Hidenoyama Raigorō instead.[2] He held the ōzeki rank for 11 years, but he finally retired as an active wrestler in February 1852 shortly before the age of 50. He is said to have died on October 17, 1854, but his death date remains vague.
Top division record
- The actual time the tournaments were held during the year in this period often varied.
| - | Spring | Winter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1834 | East Maegashira #8 3–1–3 2d 1nr |
East Maegashira #5 7–1–1 1d |
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| 1835 | East Maegashira #5 3–0–6 1d |
East Maegashira #3 7–1–1 1d |
||||
| 1836 | East Maegashira #1 5–0–1 Unofficial |
East Komusubi #1 7–0–2 1d Unofficial |
||||
| 1837 | East Komusubi #1 4–1–4 1d |
East Komusubi #1 6–0–2 1d 1nr Unofficial |
||||
| 1838 | East Komusubi #1 3–0–3 |
East Komusubi #1 2–2–6 |
||||
| 1839 | Sat out | Sat out | ||||
| 1840 | East Komusubi #1 6–3–1 |
East Komusubi #1 5–0–5 |
||||
| 1841 | West Sekiwake #1 6–0–3 1h Unofficial |
West Sekiwake #1 8–0 Unofficial |
||||
| 1842 | East Ōzeki #1 3–0–4 2d 1h |
East Ōzeki #1 5–1–2 2d Unofficial |
||||
| 1843 | East Ōzeki #1 4–0–6 |
East Ōzeki #1 4–1–4 1d |
||||
| 1844 | East Ōzeki #1 3–1–5 1d |
East Ōzeki #1 1–0–9 |
||||
| 1845 | Sat out | East Ōzeki #1 5–1–2 1d 1h |
||||
| 1846 | East Ōzeki #1 4–1–4 1h |
East Ōzeki #1 4–2–4 |
||||
| 1847 | East Ōzeki #1 4–2–4 |
East Ōzeki #1 5–2–2 1d |
||||
| 1848 | East Ōzeki #1 4–2–3 1nr |
East Ōzeki #1 4–2–2 1d 1nr |
||||
| 1849 | East Ōzeki #1 2–0–8 |
East Ōzeki #1 6–2–1 1nr |
||||
| 1850 | East Ōzeki #1 5–2–2 1d |
East Ōzeki #1 7–1–1 1d |
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| 1851 | Sat out | East Ōzeki #1 1–2–2 3d 2h |
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| 1852 | East Ōzeki #1 Retired 0–0–10 |
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| Record given as win-loss-absent Top Division Champion Retired Lower Divisions Key: d=Draw(s) (引分); h=Hold(s) (預り); nr=no result recorded Yokozuna (not ranked as such on banzuke until 1890) Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira | ||||||
*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.
References
- 「得意手のないのが名人！」（大関・剣山谷右衛門） (in Japanese). Japan Sumo Association. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- 博物館だより 第四十二号 (in Japanese). Toyama, Toyama. 2000-06-30. Archived from the original on 2005-12-01. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- "NAME Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference.