Kise Riji

[abe@zoom.com (Masumi Abe)]

Earlier this year, Sumo Kyokai elected three new Riji (Director) and
two of the three new Riji, Kitanoumi (former Yokozuna Kitanoumi) and 
Futagoyama (former Ozeki Takanohana) are well known and well respected.

How about Kise Riji? Do any of you know what his backgrounds are?

He is former Maegashira Kiyonomori/Kiyosegawa. He was a maegashira
(basically the lower majority of highest level, Maku(no)uchi) rikishi
(wrestler) for 19 basho (tornament). His record as Maku(no)uchi rikishi was
115 wins 170 losses (.404 winning percentage). In spite of his not-so-
impressive record, he was rather popular, particularly among female sumo
fans. He was from Akita Prefecture and his size was 183 cm and 92 kg.
He was handsome with light skin color and very slim. His last basho was
May, 1967.

He and his father-in-law hold a rather interesting sumo record, which 
could stay for ever.

He recorded 0-15 during Kyushu-basho in 1963 as Isegahama-beya rikishi.
He married to a daughter of Kise Oyakata (Kise-beya or Kise Stable is
a member of Tatsunami-Isegahama Rengo Ichimon or group of closely
associated heya or stable). Kise Oyakata that time was former Maegashira
Hitto (the top of Maegashira) Katsuragawa. Katsuragawa recorded 0-15
in Haru-basho in 1942.

Within a family (a father and a son) they recorded two 0-15 records.
That's a record hard to beat.

-Masumiriki