Re: Dale's postcard

[Masumi Abe <abe@accesscom.com>]

Doreen & Dale:

No, Yokozuna Tamanishiki was never been demoted to Ozeki after the Yokozuna
promotion.

I don't know if the judges are supposed to be on the dohyo when Sandan-Gamae
is performed. In my observation, the rikishi on the right hand side looks very
much like Yokozuna Tsukenohana. I don't think Tamanishiki was in that picture
since he is very well-known for his big belly.

In this picture, Tsunenohana (if he is the one) is in the West side. That
means that the rikishi on the left representing the East banzuke. He is very
well to be a East Yokozuna at that time.

Also, Sandan-Gamae ceremony is not held occasionally, but for special
occasion, such as the dedication of the new Kokugikan.

If this is one of the opening of Kokugikan, it should be the May 1924.
If this is the celebration of the biginning of Showa Era and the dedication of
the Emperor Cup, then this should be the January 1927.

If it is from Jan. 1927, then the East Yokozuna must have been Yokozuna
Nishinoumi. Nishinoumi should be taller than the picture, though. The rikishi
on the left has too much hair for Tochigiyama toward the end of his career.
Miyagiyama is on the East for Jan. 1927 basho, but he was a haridashi. I don't
have the record, but I read that Yokozuna Nishinoumi were often not healthy
enough to be active during Yokozuna. If that is the case, it could be
Miyagiyama representing the East side as the brand new Yokozuna from Osaka
Sumo. He won yusho this basho as the very first basho in Showa Era under the
new Emperor Hirohito.

So, if this is the May 1924, the left one is Tochigiyama still with enough
hair, and the right one is the brand new Yokozuna Tsunenohana. He was ranked at
Yokozuna-Ozeki on the East, but if West Yokozuna Nishonoumi was absent, he could
be on the right or West only for Sandan-Gamae ceremony.

If this is the Jan. 1927, the left one is Miyagiyama. He was ranked at
Haridashi Yokozuna for the East side, but if East Yokozuna Nishinoumi was
absent, he could be on the left for Sandan-Gamae ceremony, since Tsunenohana is
the legitimate representative of West side and he can't be on left hand side.

Yokozuna Tochigiyama (173 cm, 104 kg)
Yokozuna: 1918 Summer - May 1925
According to a story, when he retired he did not have enough hair to wear
Mage.

Yokozuna Nishinoumi (183 cm, 116 kg)
Ozeki: 1923 Spring
Yokozuna: after 1924 Spring to Oct. 1928

Yokozuna Tsunenohana (178 cm, 112 kg)
Ozeki: 1920 - 1924
Yokozuna: May 1924 - May 1930
Yokozuna West:
May 1925, Jan. 1926, Jan. Mar. May 1927, Mar. May, Oct. 1928

Miyagiyama (from the first basho joined from Osaka Sumo) (174 cm, 113 kg)
1927: 10-1 (yusho, Yhe), 7-3 (Yhe), 3-3-5 (Yhe), 4-7 (Yw)
1928: 7-4 (Yw), 7-4 (Ye), 7-4 (Ye), 9-2 (yusho, Ye)
1929: 1-4-6 (Yw), 2-3-6 (Yw), 3-3-5 (Yw), 8-3 (Yw)
1930: 6-5 (Yw), 4-7 (Yw), 6-5 (Yw), 1-6-4 (Yw)
1931: 5-6 (Ye)

Tamanishiki (from his first yusho) (173 cm, 139 kg)
1929: 10-1 (yusho, Se), 9-2 (Se), 9-2 (Se), 7-4 (Se)
1930: 9-2 (Se), 8-3 (Se), 9-2 (Ohw), 9-2 (yusho, Ohw)
1931: 9-2 (yusho, Oe), 10-1 (yusho, Oe), 8-3 (Ow), 9-2 (Oe)
1932: 7-1 (Oe), 8-2 (Oe), 10-1 (yusho, Oe), 7-4 (Oe)
1933: 9-1 (Ye), 10-1 (yusho, Ye)
1934: 0-0-11 (Ye), 9-2 (Ye)
1935: 10-1 (yusho, Ye), 10-1 (yusho, Ye)
1936: 11-0 (yusho, Ye), 10-1 (Ye)
1937: 6-1-4 (Ye), 9-4 (Ye)
1938: 10-3 (Ye), 10-3 (Ye)

Toshiyori Masumiriki