Oshio Kenji
Encyclopedia
Ōshio Kenji is a former sumo
wrestler from Kitakyushu, Japan
. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo.
. He made his professional debut in January 1962 at the age of just 14, joining Tokitsukaze stable
. His first stablemaster was the former yokozuna Futabayama. He initially fought under his own surname, Hatano, before adopting the shikona
of Ōshio in 1969. He reached the second highest juryo division in November 1969 and was promoted to the top makuuchi
division for the first time in September 1971. He reached his top rank of komusubi in January 1978, but held it for only one tournament. In the May 1978 tournament he defeated Wajima
on the opening day, his first ever victory over a yokozuna. He was to earn two more kinboshi
in September 1982 and January 1983, at the age of 35. He also earned two special prizes
, for Technique and Fighting Spirit.
During his extraordinarily long career Ōshio was ranked in makuuchi for 51 tournaments and 55 tournaments in juryo, for a total of 106 ranked as an elite sekitori
wrestler, a record that stood until 2002 when it was broken by Terao
. He holds the "elevator" record for going between makuuchi and juryo a total of 13 times. The longest he was able to stay in the top division consecutively was 18 tournaments between January 1981 and November 1983. He fell from makuuchi for the last time in May 1984 and announced his retirement in January 1988 at the age of forty after falling into the non-salaried makushita division. He had competed in 157 tournaments, and had fought a total of 1891 career bouts, which is an all-time record. His total of 964 career wins was also a record at the time, although it was surpassed by Chiyonofuji
less than two years later, in September 1989.
and set up Shikihide stable in 1992. To date, none of his wrestlers have managed to reach the top two divisions.
was hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most commonly used kimarite
at sekitori level was yori-kiri, a straightforward force out, which was used in around 30 percent of his victories. He also won frequently with oshi-dashi (push out), yori taoshi (force out and down) and uwatenage (overarm throw).
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler from Kitakyushu, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo.
Career
He was born in Yahata Higashi wardYahata Higashi-ku, Kitakyushu
is a ward of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan. It is the second smallest ward in Kitakyūshū after Tobata ward at only 36.36 square kilometres. Residents have a very high average age, one of the highest in Japan. The population was 77,077 at the end of September 2003....
. He made his professional debut in January 1962 at the age of just 14, joining Tokitsukaze stable
Tokitsukaze stable
The is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Tokitsukaze group of stables. It was originally founded in 1769 and was dominant during the Taishō period. In its modern form it dates from 1941 when it was established by Futabayama, who was still an active wrestler at the time. Initially known as...
. His first stablemaster was the former yokozuna Futabayama. He initially fought under his own surname, Hatano, before adopting the shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
of Ōshio in 1969. He reached the second highest juryo division in November 1969 and was promoted to the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division for the first time in September 1971. He reached his top rank of komusubi in January 1978, but held it for only one tournament. In the May 1978 tournament he defeated Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....
on the opening day, his first ever victory over a yokozuna. He was to earn two more kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
in September 1982 and January 1983, at the age of 35. He also earned two special prizes
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
, for Technique and Fighting Spirit.
During his extraordinarily long career Ōshio was ranked in makuuchi for 51 tournaments and 55 tournaments in juryo, for a total of 106 ranked as an elite sekitori
Sekitori
A sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
wrestler, a record that stood until 2002 when it was broken by Terao
Terao Tsunefumi
Terao Tsunefumi is a former sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable...
. He holds the "elevator" record for going between makuuchi and juryo a total of 13 times. The longest he was able to stay in the top division consecutively was 18 tournaments between January 1981 and November 1983. He fell from makuuchi for the last time in May 1984 and announced his retirement in January 1988 at the age of forty after falling into the non-salaried makushita division. He had competed in 157 tournaments, and had fought a total of 1891 career bouts, which is an all-time record. His total of 964 career wins was also a record at the time, although it was surpassed by Chiyonofuji
Chiyonofuji Mitsugu
, born June 1, 1955, as in Hokkaidō, Japan, is a former champion sumo wrestler and the 58th yokozuna of the sport. He is now the head coach of Kokonoe stable....
less than two years later, in September 1989.
Retirement from sumo
Ōshio remained in the sumo world as an elder of the Japan Sumo AssociationJapan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
and set up Shikihide stable in 1992. To date, none of his wrestlers have managed to reach the top two divisions.
Fighting style
Ōshio's preferred grip on his opponent's mawashiMawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
was hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most commonly used kimarite
Kimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
at sekitori level was yori-kiri, a straightforward force out, which was used in around 30 percent of his victories. He also won frequently with oshi-dashi (push out), yori taoshi (force out and down) and uwatenage (overarm throw).
Top division record
See also
- Glossary of sumo termsGlossary of sumo termsThe following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. azukari : Hold. A kind of draw. After a mono-ii, the gyōji or the shimpan "holds" the result if it was too close to call...
- List of sumo tournament second division winners
- List of past sumo wrestlers
- List of sumo record holders