Akinoumi Setsuo (Japanese: 安藝ノ海 節男, Hepburn: Akinoumi Setsuo, May 30, 1914 – March 25, 1979), born Nagata Setsuo (永田 節男), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hiroshima. He was the sport's 37th yokozuna.

安藝ノ海 節男
Akinoumi Setsuo
Personal information
BornNagata Setsuo
(1914-05-30)May 30, 1914
Hiroshima, Japan
DiedMarch 25, 1979(1979-03-25) (aged 64)
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Weight127.5 kg (281 lb)
Career
StableDewanoumi
Record209–101–38
DebutFebruary 1932
Highest rankYokozuna (May 1942)
RetiredNovember, 1946
Elder nameFujishima
Championships1 (Makuuchi)
1 (Jonokuchi)
Gold Stars1 (Futabayama)
* Up to date as of June 2020.

Career

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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.[citation needed] 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."[1]

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

Retirement from sumo

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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.[4] 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.[5] 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

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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.
Akinoumi Setsuo[6]
- Spring
Haru basho, Tokyo
March
Sangatsu basho, varied
Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo
October
Jūgatsu basho, varied
1932 (Maezumo) (Maezumo) West Jonokuchi #12
3–3
 
West Jonokuchi #12
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: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira
- Spring
Haru basho, Tokyo
Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo
Autumn
Aki basho, Tokyo
1933 East Jonidan #12
2–4
 
West Jonidan #19
4–2
 
Not held
1934 West Sandanme #30
5–1
 
East Makushita #23
6–5
 
Not held
1935 West Makushita #13
7–4
 
West Makushita #3
6–5
 
Not held
1936 West Jūryō #14
6–5
 
West Jūryō #8
5–6
 
Not held
1937 West Jūryō #14
7–4
 
East Jūryō #8
10–3
 
Not held
1938 West Maegashira #16
8–5
 
West Maegashira #10
9–4
 
Not held
1939 West Maegashira #3
6–7
East Maegashira #4
10–5
 
Not held
1940 West Sekiwake
10–5
 
West Sekiwake
14–1
 
Not held
1941 East Ōzeki
12–3
 
East Ōzeki
9–6
 
Not held
1942 West Haridashi Ōzeki
13–2
 
West Ōzeki
13–2
 
Not held
1943 East Yokozuna-Ōzeki
12–3
 
West Haridashi Yokozuna
11–4
 
Not held
1944 Sat out due to injury West Haridashi Yokozuna
5–5
 
Sat out due to injury
1945 Not held East Haridashi Yokozuna
6–1
 
East Yokozuna
4–6
 
1946 Not held Not held East Yokozuna
Retired
0–0–13
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

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

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jonosuke (9 January 2007). "Akinoumi". Sumo Forum. Retrieved 29 September 2016.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Wrestlers from Hiroshima Prefecture by rank". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. ^ Gunning, John (2 June 2021). "Dual yokozuna promotion could join list of recent rare events in sumo". Japan Times. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
  5. ^ "Akinoumi Setsuo Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  6. ^ "Akinoumi Setsuo Rikishi Information". Sumo References. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
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Preceded by 37th Yokozuna
1941–1953
Succeeded by
Yokozuna is not a successive rank, and more than one wrestler can hold the title at once