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Makunouchi Banzuke Page
[sumo] Sumo and World War II
Obviously finding such information like the ranks and
so forth are almost impossible as many records have
been lost but I imagine it would make a nice graduate
thesis for some student in Japanese history.
Basically any information for those Makushita and
below (even Juryos) are hard to come by but I am sure
some enterprising persons will find a time to go dig
for it one
day and be exhibited at the Sumo Museum.
It also helps to know what was going on with the
Kyokai during the Second World War years.
Briefly in those days, they only had two bashos a year
and other than those, Ichimon rikishis used to go to
regional Jyungyos. In the war years they also went to
work at
various factories for war efforts around Tokyo.
In 1944, the Ryogoku Kokugikan was seized by the
Japanese military to be turned into a balloon bomb
factory and was subsequently destroyed during an air
raid.
While this period (from 1940 to 1950) they used a
variety of venues from the Korakuen grounds to the
Meiji Jingu Shrine for 10 days or 13 days or whatever
length they felt comfortable.
The Kyokai instituted a 15 day basho system in 1939
the same year Yokozuna Futabayama's 69 consecutive
winning streak ended. Prior to 1937, they only had 11
day bashos but Ozumo became so popular after
Futabayama started his dominance over all the others,
they had to extend it to accomodate the overflowing
crowds.
However proving also that they were not necessary in
it for money, they held an open air, closed to the
public basho at the burned out Kokugikan in 1945. They
were so keen to hold onto the principle that they
needed to have a new Banzuke in a regular set time
period that the attendance came secondary.
Then in 1946, the Kokugikan became the Memorial Hall
to be used by the US Forces. In 1947 the Kyokai set up
Yusho Kettei-sen system as well as instituted the
Sansho awards and torikumi matches based on Ichimon
rikishis. This was to turn the tide of declining
popularity after the war when there were so much chaos
and only few star rikishis present.
In 1950 they moved into a temporary facility in
Kuramae and set up the Yokozuna Deliberation
Committee.
Here is a list of the Makuuchi rikishis who were
called up for a military duty during their active
career but obviously not exhaustive one as I am sure I
missed some.
1. Hiranoto Chiyozo (Dewanoumi Beya, Maegashira 17)
Born: 1921
Dohyo debut : May 1940
In Sandanme, called up for a duty in 1943 for three
and half years. After the war, promoted to Makuuchi
when he was 28 years old. Retired at the age of 37
with a total of 5 Makuuchi bashos.
2. Kainishiki Masaru (Matsugane/Nishonozeki,
Maegashira 12)
Born : 1920
Dohyo debut: May 1938
Called in 1941 while a Sandanme. Promoted to Makuuchi
in May 1949 but only stayed five bashos and retired.
An uncle of pro wrestler Jumbo Tsuruta.
3. Toyonishiki Kiichiro (Dewanoumi, Maegashira 20)
Born: 1920
Died: 1998
Dohyo-debut: January 1938
Toyonishiki was a Japanese American (Nisei) born in
Colorado. Promoted and called in for a duty in the
1944 Natsu Basho. When returned, became an interpreter
for the
US Forces so only had one basho as a Makuuchi. From
the dohyo debut til retirement, never had a Makekoshi
basho.
3. Hitachiumi Mitsufusa (Tokitsukaze, Maegashira 12)
Born: 1913
Died: 1962
Dohyo debut: May 1928
Promoted to Makuuchi in the May 1943 but within two
bashos, got called up. Came back in 1946 but fell to
Juryo and then made it back to Makuuchi but retired in
two bashos. Had a total of 3 Makuuchi bashos.
4. Sharinishiki Kikuzo (Nishinozeki, Maegashira 18)
Born: 1917
Died: 1950
Dohyo debut: May 1935
One of Tamanishiki's favorite deshis and quickly
promoted to Juryo in the Haru Basho 1939 but was soon
called up. After his return in 1949, competed in his
first Makuuchi Basho and then retired.
5. Ookuma Munekiyou (Kumagatani, Maegashira 6)
Born: 1920
Died: 1991
Dohyo debut: January 1937
Half a dozen bashos after making Makuuchi in May 1942,
called up for a duty and came back in 1947. He retired
after putting in half a dozen more bashos.
6. Toyoshima Masao (Dewanoumi, Sekiwake)
Born: 1919
Died: 1945 (while active)
Dohyo debut: May 1937
Promoted to Sekiwake in 1943 and considered to be the
next Ozeki but injured his finger and had Makekoshi in
the next basho. In his last basho he beat Futabayama
for the second time in his career. He died during an
air raid that hit Tokyo.
7. Mutsunosato Toshio (Dewanoumi, Maegashira 6)
Born: 1916
Dohyo Debut: May 1938 (Makushita Tsukedashi)
Started from Makushita Tsukedashi by joining from the
Osaka Sumo, known for well executed techniques but
lacked power. Called up in 1944 and competed several
more years in Makuuchi for a total of 13 Bashos.
8. Sadogashima Rinzo (Asakayama/Izutsu, Maegashira 12)
Born: 1909
Died: 1955
Dohyo debut: May 1933
As enrolled in military and joining Ozumo late, was
over 30 years old when promoted to Makuuchi in 1940.
Called up in 1942 and returned home safely but felt
too old to continue and retired without competing.
9. Matsuragata Tatsuya (Nishikijima/Tatsutagawa,
Komusubi)
Born: 1915
Died: 1945 (while active)
Dohyo debut: January 1930
Promoted to Komusubi in 1942 and defeated Yokozuna
Terukuni and Akinoumi. The then Dewanoumi oyakata
commented, "We surely will have the age of Matsuragata
soon." However not as mentally tenacious and not
training hard, could not reach
the potential others saw in him. Died during a Tokyo
air raid.
10. Daikyuzan Takayoshi (Dewanoumi, Sekiwake)
Born: 1908
Died: 1983
Dohyo debut: January 1925
Defeated both Yokozuna Minanogawa and Terukuni (before
his promotion) and once considered to be an Ozeki
candidate with Maedayama. Called up in 1942 and
returned to compete in one more basho before retiring.
11. Bishuyama Daihachiro (Isegaham/Araiso, Sekiwaka)
Born: 1919
Died: 1962
Dohyo Debut: January 1936
Never had a Makekoshi in his Jonokuchi, Jonidan,
Sandanme, Makushita (3 bashos) and Juryo (2 bashos).
Not called up but had one remarkable achievement. As a
Maegashira Lead in the Natsu 1945, he won all his
bouts to earn the Yusho
at the open air basho at burned out Kokugikan. They
had a 7 day no-roofed tournament, only seen by the
shimpans and not opened to general public.
--
=====
.....Jonosuke
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