Kamikaze Shoichi (born Shoichi Akazawa; October 19, 1921 – May 15, 1990) was a sumo wrestler from Higashikagawa, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1937 and reached the top division in May 1942. His highest rank was sekiwake. He won six gold stars against grand champion yokozuna in the course of his career. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kataonami. He left the Sumo Association in September 1952.[1]
Shoichi joined Nishonoseki stable at the age of 15 years old making his debut in the 1937 Natsu (Summer) Basho and taking the shikona or ring name of Kamikaze meaning divine wind. He would steadily climb the ranks suffering only one make-koshi or losing record and winning the Makushita division yusho on his way to the Juryo division. He would make quick work of the Juryo division spending just two basho there before making his Makuuchi debut.
In the 1942 Haru (Spring) Basho he would make his top division debut at the rank of Maegashira 18. He would do well there finishing with an 11-4 winning record. He would jump up the banzuke to maegashira 6 but could not manage a winning record, finishing 7–8. Despite this he would still rise up the ranks to maegashira 5. This happened fairly often during these times and was due to the fact that East ranked and West ranked wrestlers were treated as two separate groups and if enough wrestlers from one side received bad losing records, other wrestlers from the same side had to be promoted to replace their slot in the rankings for the next tournament even if their records were not much better. Here he would get a 9–6 record which was enough to place him at the top maegashira 1 rank. At this rank he would get his first kinboshi with a win over YokozunaAkinoumi on day 9 but would finish with just a 5–10 record sending him back down the banzuke.
In the following basho ranked at maegashira 4 he would go 11-4 earning him promotion to the sanyaku ranks. In May 1944 making his sanyaku debut at the rank of Komusubi he would go 8-2 including a win over YokozunaTerukuni on day 5. For the following basho in November of the same year he would be promoted to the rank of Sekiwake and managed a 5–5 record which would see him demoted. Kamikaze would briefly change his name to Kaizan Taro for the year of 1945. In the summer 1945 tournament in the midst of regular allied bombings, Kaizan had one of his worst top division tournaments of his career. It had been scheduled to be held on the Meiji Shrine grounds in May but had been postponed due to the bombings. The tournament was moved to the Ryōgoku Kokugikan which itself was regularly closed due to the air raids. Under these conditions and with a truncated tournament of only seven days that was closed to the public, Kaizan, at komusubi, could manage just a 2–5 record.[2] he was demoted down to maegashira 4 following this performance. Here he would finish with a 5–5 record and claim his second kinboshi, again from Akinoumi. He would revert to his original shikona of Kamikaze Shoichi following this tournament.
The following year only the Aki (Autumn) Basho was held. Back at the rank of komusubi he would get a 7–6 record and gaining him promotion back to sekiwake. In the following Natsu Basho in 1947 at the rank of Sekiwake he would finish with a score of 7-3 including wins over ŌzekiMaedayama and Shionoumi on days 7 and 8 respectively. The following Basho he would have to pull out on day 6 having just won win over ŌzekiNayoroiwa to his name. He would see himself a ways down the banzuke in his return the following Basho at maegashira 6 – his lowest ranking since 1942. Here he would post a good 8-3 winning record. At maegashira 1 the following tournament he would get 7–4 record including his third and fourth kinboshi over Yokozuna Maedayama and Terukuni on days 4 and 5 respectively. Shoichi would have a fair start to his 1949 campaign posting 7-5-1 and 8-7 both at komusubi before injury would cause him to pull out midway in the Aki Basho finishing with just a 4-7-4 record. He would come back after this in the 1950 Haru Basho putting up 9–6 record including two kinboshi from YokozunaAzumafuji and Haguroyama on days 2 and 4 respectively. The 1950 Natsu Basho proved to be his last, after starting with 5 straight loses he would pull out on day 6 and announce his retirement from sumo.
Retirement from sumoedit
He would stay on as a coach at Nishonoseki stable under the name Kataonami Oyakata. This would last for only a little over two years before in September 1952 retiring from the Japan Sumo Association all together.
^"Kamikaze Shoichi Kabu History". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
^Kuroda, Joe (August 2005). "Rikishi of Old: Tenryu Saburo". Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
^"Kamikaze Shoichi Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
April 11, 2024
kamikaze, shoichi, born, shoichi, akazawa, october, 1921, 1990, sumo, wrestler, from, higashikagawa, kagawa, prefecture, japan, made, professional, debut, 1937, reached, division, 1942, highest, rank, sekiwake, gold, stars, against, grand, champion, yokozuna, . Kamikaze Shoichi born Shoichi Akazawa October 19 1921 May 15 1990 was a sumo wrestler from Higashikagawa Kagawa Prefecture Japan He made his professional debut in May 1937 and reached the top division in May 1942 His highest rank was sekiwake He won six gold stars against grand champion yokozuna in the course of his career Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Kataonami He left the Sumo Association in September 1952 1 Kamikaze Shoichi神風 正一Personal informationBornShoichi Akazawa 1921 10 19 October 19 1921Higashikagawa Kagawa Prefecture JapanDiedMay 15 1990 1990 05 15 aged 68 Height1 79 m 5 ft 10 1 2 in Weight98 kg 216 lb 15 st 6 lb CareerStableNishonosekiRecord172 123 20DebutMay 1937Highest rankSekiwake November 1944 RetiredMay 1950Championships1 Makushita Special PrizesTechnique 1 Gold Stars6Akinoumi 2 Azumafuji Haguroyama Maedayama Terukuni Up to date as of May 2013 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Retirement from sumo 3 Career record 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife and career editShoichi joined Nishonoseki stable at the age of 15 years old making his debut in the 1937 Natsu Summer Basho and taking the shikona or ring name of Kamikaze meaning divine wind He would steadily climb the ranks suffering only one make koshi or losing record and winning the Makushita division yusho on his way to the Juryo division He would make quick work of the Juryo division spending just two basho there before making his Makuuchi debut In the 1942 Haru Spring Basho he would make his top division debut at the rank of Maegashira 18 He would do well there finishing with an 11 4 winning record He would jump up the banzuke to maegashira 6 but could not manage a winning record finishing 7 8 Despite this he would still rise up the ranks to maegashira 5 This happened fairly often during these times and was due to the fact that East ranked and West ranked wrestlers were treated as two separate groups and if enough wrestlers from one side received bad losing records other wrestlers from the same side had to be promoted to replace their slot in the rankings for the next tournament even if their records were not much better Here he would get a 9 6 record which was enough to place him at the top maegashira 1 rank At this rank he would get his first kinboshi with a win over Yokozuna Akinoumi on day 9 but would finish with just a 5 10 record sending him back down the banzuke In the following basho ranked at maegashira 4 he would go 11 4 earning him promotion to the sanyaku ranks In May 1944 making his sanyaku debut at the rank of Komusubi he would go 8 2 including a win over Yokozuna Terukuni on day 5 For the following basho in November of the same year he would be promoted to the rank of Sekiwake and managed a 5 5 record which would see him demoted Kamikaze would briefly change his name to Kaizan Taro for the year of 1945 In the summer 1945 tournament in the midst of regular allied bombings Kaizan had one of his worst top division tournaments of his career It had been scheduled to be held on the Meiji Shrine grounds in May but had been postponed due to the bombings The tournament was moved to the Ryōgoku Kokugikan which itself was regularly closed due to the air raids Under these conditions and with a truncated tournament of only seven days that was closed to the public Kaizan at komusubi could manage just a 2 5 record 2 he was demoted down to maegashira 4 following this performance Here he would finish with a 5 5 record and claim his second kinboshi again from Akinoumi He would revert to his original shikona of Kamikaze Shoichi following this tournament The following year only the Aki Autumn Basho was held Back at the rank of komusubi he would get a 7 6 record and gaining him promotion back to sekiwake In the following Natsu Basho in 1947 at the rank of Sekiwake he would finish with a score of 7 3 including wins over Ōzeki Maedayama and Shionoumi on days 7 and 8 respectively The following Basho he would have to pull out on day 6 having just won win over Ōzeki Nayoroiwa to his name He would see himself a ways down the banzuke in his return the following Basho at maegashira 6 his lowest ranking since 1942 Here he would post a good 8 3 winning record At maegashira 1 the following tournament he would get 7 4 record including his third and fourth kinboshi over Yokozuna Maedayama and Terukuni on days 4 and 5 respectively Shoichi would have a fair start to his 1949 campaign posting 7 5 1 and 8 7 both at komusubi before injury would cause him to pull out midway in the Aki Basho finishing with just a 4 7 4 record He would come back after this in the 1950 Haru Basho putting up 9 6 record including two kinboshi from Yokozuna Azumafuji and Haguroyama on days 2 and 4 respectively The 1950 Natsu Basho proved to be his last after starting with 5 straight loses he would pull out on day 6 and announce his retirement from sumo Retirement from sumo editHe would stay on as a coach at Nishonoseki stable under the name Kataonami Oyakata This would last for only a little over two years before in September 1952 retiring from the Japan Sumo Association all together Career record editKamikaze 3 SpringHaru basho Tokyo SummerNatsu basho Tokyo AutumnAki basho Tokyo1937 x Maezumo Not held1938 East Jonokuchi 9 5 2 East Jonidan 4 1 4 2 Not held1939 East Jonidan 20 5 2 East Sandanme 19 6 2 Not held1940 East Makushita 38 7 1 East Makushita 7 7 1Champion Not held1941 East Juryō 7 9 6 West Juryō 2 11 4 Not held1942 East Maegashira 18 11 4 East Maegashira 6 7 8 Not held1943 West Maegashira 5 9 6 East Maegashira 1 5 10 Not held1944 West Maegashira 4 11 4 East Komusubi 1 8 2 East Sekiwake 2 5 5 1945 Not held West Komusubi 2 2 5 West Maegashira 4 5 5 1946 Not held Not held West Komusubi 1 7 6 1947 Not held East Sekiwake 1 7 3 East Sekiwake 1 1 5 5 1948 Not held West Maegashira 6 8 3 East Maegashira 1 7 4 T 1949 East Komusubi 1 7 5 1 East Komusubi 1 8 7 West Sekiwake 1 4 7 4 1950 East Maegashira 2 9 6 West Maegashira 1 Retired0 6 9 xRecord given as wins losses absencies 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 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 sekiwakeReferences edit Kamikaze Shoichi Kabu History Sumo Reference Retrieved 2019 07 01 Kuroda Joe August 2005 Rikishi of Old Tenryu Saburo Sumo Fan Magazine Retrieved 23 May 2019 Kamikaze Shoichi Rikishi Information Sumo Reference Retrieved 2019 07 01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kamikaze Shoichi amp oldid 1152255866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
