Fujinishiki Akira (born Akira Watanabe, also known as Akira Ichimiya, 18 March 1937 – 17 December 2003) was a sumo wrestler from Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi, which he held on ten occasions. He won the top makuuchi division tournament championship or yūshō in 1964 and was runner-up in two other tournaments. He won seven special prizes and seven gold stars for defeating yokozuna. After his retirement in 1968 he was an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and was the head coach of Takasago stable from 1988 until shortly before his retirement from the Sumo Association in 2002. He died of liver disease in 2003.
Fujinishiki Akira
富士錦 猛光
Personal information
Born
Akira Watanabe (1937-03-18)18 March 1937 Yamanashi, Japan
Making his debut in 1953, he wrestled for Takasago stable, home of then yokozunaAzumafuji to whom the "Fuji" part of his shikona referred. He first entered the top makuuchi division in 1959 and was runner-up in two tournaments that year, winning a special prize for Fighting Spirit in each. His highest rank was komusubi, which he first reached in 1960. He spent a total of ten tournaments at that rank, the last coming in 1967, but never managed to earn promotion to sekiwake. He never managed to win more than eight bouts as a komusubi but was somewhat unlucky not be promoted after two consecutive 8–7 records at the rank in 1961, and he was regarded as certainly being of sekiwake level in ability. He holds the modern record for most tournaments at komusubi without reaching sekiwake.
The highlight of his career came in July 1964 when he took the top division championship or yūshō with a 14–1 record. He was ranked as a maegashira at the time and did not meet any ōzeki or yokozuna during the tournament. He defeated sekiwakeKitanofuji on the final day, avoiding the need for a playoff with ōzekiYutakayama. He was perhaps fortunate that yokozunaTaihō, who won four championships in that year alone, dropped out after five days.
His tsukebito or personal attendant was Hawaiian born Takamiyama, later to become the first foreigner to win a championship, and Fujinishiki was one of the wrestlers who helped introduce him to sumo and Japanese culture. His mentorship of Takamiyama continued as a coach after his retirement from the ring.[1]
Retirement from sumoedit
Following his retirement as an active wrestler in November 1968 he stayed at Takasago stable as a coach under the elder name of Nishiiwa. In 1988 he became head of the stable, following the death of former yokozunaAsashio Tarō III. He coached Konishiki, Mitoizumi and Senshuyama [ja] amongst others. He also served on the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors. However, after his wrestler Tōki was involved in a car accident that killed a pedestrian in December 2000, he was punished by a demotion and a reduction in salary.[2] In February 2002, in failing health, he passed on ownership of the stable to former ōzekiAsashio Tarō IV, who merged his Wakamatsu stable with Takasago's. He let his former wrestler Mitoizumi use the old Takasago premises to launch Nishikido stable. He remained as a coach under the Wakamatsu name until his retirement the following month upon reaching 65, and continued to attend training sessions after that. He died of liver disease in December 2003.
Fighting styleedit
He specialized in pushing and thrusting techniques (tsuki/oshi) and was known for his strong tachi-ai or initial charge.
Personal lifeedit
His eldest son Shōichi [ja], born in 1969, is a professional wrestler. His second eldest son Akihiro was once the personal manager of yokozunaAsashoryu (who was criticized for failing to attend Fujinishiki's funeral). It was Akihiro who was initially reported to have been punched by Asashoryu in a drunken brawl at a dance club in January 2010, although it soon emerged it was the manager of the club and this led to the yokozuna's enforced retirement.[3]
^Gunning, John (22 March 2020). "You Only Live Twice' participant Fujinishiki stood on top of sumo's fourth-highest rank". Japan Times. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
^"大砂嵐、追突事故 無免許の疑いも…本人は否定、夫人運転と主張" (in Japanese). Hochi. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^"Charges could see Sumo champ expelled". ABC News. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
^Gunning, John (15 March 2020). "Kotozakura had limited run as yokozuna but successful tenure as stablemaster". Retrieved 16 March 2020.
^"Fujinishiki Akira Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
December 01, 2023
fujinishiki, akira, born, akira, watanabe, also, known, akira, ichimiya, march, 1937, december, 2003, sumo, wrestler, from, kofu, yamanashi, japan, highest, rank, komusubi, which, held, occasions, makuuchi, division, tournament, championship, yūshō, 1964, runn. Fujinishiki Akira born Akira Watanabe also known as Akira Ichimiya 18 March 1937 17 December 2003 was a sumo wrestler from Kofu Yamanashi Japan His highest rank was komusubi which he held on ten occasions He won the top makuuchi division tournament championship or yushō in 1964 and was runner up in two other tournaments He won seven special prizes and seven gold stars for defeating yokozuna After his retirement in 1968 he was an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and was the head coach of Takasago stable from 1988 until shortly before his retirement from the Sumo Association in 2002 He died of liver disease in 2003 Fujinishiki Akira富士錦 猛光Personal informationBornAkira Watanabe 1937 03 18 18 March 1937Yamanashi JapanDied17 December 2003 2003 12 17 aged 66 Height1 75 m 5 ft 9 in Weight136 kg 300 lb CareerStableTakasagoRecord576 560 5DebutMarch 1953Highest rankKomusubi March 1960 RetiredNovember 1968Elder nameWakamatsuChampionships1 Makuuchi 1 Makushita Special PrizesOutstanding Performance 2 Fighting Spirit 4 Technique 1 Gold Stars7Tochinoumi 3 Kashiwado 2 Wakanohana ISadanoyama Up to date as of June 2020 Contents 1 Career 2 Retirement from sumo 3 Fighting style 4 Personal life 5 Career record 6 See also 7 ReferencesCareer editMaking his debut in 1953 he wrestled for Takasago stable home of then yokozuna Azumafuji to whom the Fuji part of his shikona referred He first entered the top makuuchi division in 1959 and was runner up in two tournaments that year winning a special prize for Fighting Spirit in each His highest rank was komusubi which he first reached in 1960 He spent a total of ten tournaments at that rank the last coming in 1967 but never managed to earn promotion to sekiwake He never managed to win more than eight bouts as a komusubi but was somewhat unlucky not be promoted after two consecutive 8 7 records at the rank in 1961 and he was regarded as certainly being of sekiwake level in ability He holds the modern record for most tournaments at komusubi without reaching sekiwake The highlight of his career came in July 1964 when he took the top division championship or yushō with a 14 1 record He was ranked as a maegashira at the time and did not meet any ōzeki or yokozuna during the tournament He defeated sekiwake Kitanofuji on the final day avoiding the need for a playoff with ōzeki Yutakayama He was perhaps fortunate that yokozuna Taihō who won four championships in that year alone dropped out after five days His tsukebito or personal attendant was Hawaiian born Takamiyama later to become the first foreigner to win a championship and Fujinishiki was one of the wrestlers who helped introduce him to sumo and Japanese culture His mentorship of Takamiyama continued as a coach after his retirement from the ring 1 Retirement from sumo editFollowing his retirement as an active wrestler in November 1968 he stayed at Takasago stable as a coach under the elder name of Nishiiwa In 1988 he became head of the stable following the death of former yokozuna Asashio Tarō III He coached Konishiki Mitoizumi and Senshuyama ja amongst others He also served on the Japan Sumo Association s board of directors However after his wrestler Tōki was involved in a car accident that killed a pedestrian in December 2000 he was punished by a demotion and a reduction in salary 2 In February 2002 in failing health he passed on ownership of the stable to former ōzeki Asashio Tarō IV who merged his Wakamatsu stable with Takasago s He let his former wrestler Mitoizumi use the old Takasago premises to launch Nishikido stable He remained as a coach under the Wakamatsu name until his retirement the following month upon reaching 65 and continued to attend training sessions after that He died of liver disease in December 2003 Fighting style editHe specialized in pushing and thrusting techniques tsuki oshi and was known for his strong tachi ai or initial charge Personal life editHis eldest son Shōichi ja born in 1969 is a professional wrestler His second eldest son Akihiro was once the personal manager of yokozuna Asashoryu who was criticized for failing to attend Fujinishiki s funeral It was Akihiro who was initially reported to have been punched by Asashoryu in a drunken brawl at a dance club in January 2010 although it soon emerged it was the manager of the club and this led to the yokozuna s enforced retirement 3 He was seen in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice fighting in a bout against Kotozakura 4 Career record editThe Kyushu tournament was first held in 1957 and the Nagoya tournament in 1958 Fujinishiki Akira 5 Year in sumo JanuaryHatsu basho Tokyo MarchHaru basho Osaka MayNatsu basho Tokyo JulyNagoya basho Nagoya SeptemberAki basho Tokyo NovemberKyushu basho Fukuoka1953 x Shinjo 3 0 West Jonidan 26 5 3 Not held East Jonidan 10 4 4 Not held 1954 East Jonidan 5 5 3 West Sandanme 50 4 4 East Sandanme 48 4 4 Not held West Sandanme 44 6 2 Not held 1955 East Sandanme 29 5 3 East Sandanme 8 4 4 East Sandanme 3 3 5 Not held West Sandanme 5 5 3 Not held 1956 East Makushita 53 5 3 West Makushita 43 6 2 East Makushita 35 6 2 Not held West Makushita 24 7 1 PChampion Not held 1957 West Makushita 6 2 6 East Makushita 15 7 1 East Makushita 3 3 5 Not held East Makushita 8 4 4 East Makushita 8 5 3 1958 West Makushita 4 6 2 West Juryō 24 8 7 East Juryō 23 11 4 P West Juryō 14 8 7 West Juryō 10 11 4 West Juryō 2 11 4 1959 East Maegashira 18 5 10 East Juryō 3 12 3 West Maegashira 18 9 6 West Maegashira 14 12 3 F West Maegashira 3 4 11 East Maegashira 11 12 3 F1960 East Maegashira 2 9 6 West Komusubi 1 7 8 West Maegashira 2 5 10 West Maegashira 6 5 10 East Maegashira 7 6 9 East Maegashira 11 11 4 1961 East Maegashira 4 10 5 F West Komusubi 2 8 7 East Komusubi 7 8 East Maegashira 1 9 6 East Komusubi 1 8 7 East Komusubi 1 8 7 1962 West Komusubi 1 4 11 East Maegashira 5 7 8 West Maegashira 4 4 11 West Maegashira 10 9 6 East Maegashira 5 8 7 West Maegashira 1 4 11 1963 West Maegashira 7 11 4 East Maegashira 1 8 7 O West Komusubi 1 4 11 West Maegashira 3 9 6 O West Komusubi 1 2 8 5 West Maegashira 7 8 7 1964 West Maegashira 3 7 8 West Maegashira 3 4 11 West Maegashira 5 5 10 West Maegashira 9 14 1 F T East Komusubi 1 4 11 West Maegashira 4 6 9 1965 East Maegashira 6 8 7 West Maegashira 3 5 10 West Maegashira 5 6 9 West Maegashira 7 10 5 East Maegashira 3 7 8 West Maegashira 3 8 7 1966 East Maegashira 3 8 7 West Maegashira 2 6 9 West Maegashira 3 9 6 East Maegashira 1 6 9 West Maegashira 3 7 8 West Maegashira 3 10 5 1967 West Komusubi 2 6 9 East Maegashira 2 8 7 East Maegashira 1 2 13 West Maegashira 5 7 8 West Maegashira 6 5 10 East Maegashira 9 8 7 1968 East Maegashira 7 8 7 West Maegashira 5 5 10 West Maegashira 8 7 8 East Maegashira 9 6 9 East Maegashira 12 8 7 West Maegashira 9 Retired1 14Record given as win loss absent Top Division Champion Top Division Runner up Retired Lower Divisions Sanshō key F Fighting spirit O Outstanding performance T Technique Also shown Kinboshi P Playoff s Divisions Makuuchi Juryō Makushita Sandanme Jonidan Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks Yokozuna Ōzeki Sekiwake Komusubi MaegashiraSee also editGlossary of sumo terms List of past sumo wrestlers List of sumo tournament top division champions List of sumo tournament top division runners up List of komusubiReferences edit Gunning John 22 March 2020 You Only Live Twice participant Fujinishiki stood on top of sumo s fourth highest rank Japan Times Retrieved 22 March 2020 大砂嵐 追突事故 無免許の疑いも 本人は否定 夫人運転と主張 in Japanese Hochi 22 January 2018 Retrieved 22 January 2018 Charges could see Sumo champ expelled ABC News 29 January 2010 Retrieved 7 February 2017 Gunning John 15 March 2020 Kotozakura had limited run as yokozuna but successful tenure as stablemaster Retrieved 16 March 2020 Fujinishiki Akira Rikishi Information Sumo Reference Retrieved 7 February 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fujinishiki Akira amp oldid 1167268794, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
