Asahikuni Masuo
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Takeo Obata | |
| Date of birth | April 25, 1947 | |
| Place of birth | Hokkaidō, Japan | |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 81⁄2 in) | |
| Weight | 121 kg (270 lb) | |
| Career* | ||
| Heya | Tatsunami | |
| Record | 635-479-72 | |
| Debut | July, 1963 | |
| Highest rank | Ozeki (May, 1976) | |
| Retired | September, 1979 | |
| Yusho | 1 (Juryo) 1 (Makushita) |
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| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (1) Technique(6) |
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| Gold stars | 2 | |
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* Career information is correct as of July 2007. |
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Asahikuni Masuo (Japanese: 旭國斗雄; born 25 April 1947 as Takeo Obata, 太田武雄) is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki. He is now the head coach of Ōshima stable.
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[edit] Career
Born in Aibetsu, Kamikawa District, Asahikuni made his professional debut in July 1963, joining Tatsunami stable. He reached the second highest juryo division in March 1969 and the top makuuchi division just two tournaments after that. In 1970 he dropped to juryo once again but he returned to the top division in 1972, reaching sekiwake in November. He was an extremely skilful wrestler, earning the nickname "the PhD of sumo",[1] such was his knowledge of a wide variety of techniques. He won the prestigious Ginosho, or Technique prize, on six occasions. He achieved this despite the fact that he suffered regularly from pancreatitis and was known even to commute to tournaments from hospital.[1]
At the beginning of 1976 Asahikuni put together two strong records of 12-3 and 13-2, finishing as runner-up in both tournaments, and this earned him promotion to the rank of ozeki. In July 1977 he lost just one bout but finished as runner-up to Kitanoumi who won with a perfect record. Asahikuni was never able to win a top division championship. He retired in September 1979 after 21 tournaments as an ozeki.
[edit] Retirement from sumo
Asahikuni stayed in the sumo world as an elder under the name of Oshima Oyakata. In 1980 he established Oshima stable, despite strong opposition from his old stable boss Tatsunami.[1] Oshima stable has produced yokozuna Asahifuji and more recently the Mongolians Kyokushuzan and Kyokutenho. Oshima intends to pass over ownership of the stable to Kyokutenho once he reaches the mandatory retirement age of sixty five. He has also worked as a shinpan or judge of tournament bouts and is currently on the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors.
[edit] Top division record
| January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | x | x | x | East Maegashira #11 7–8 |
West Maegashira #12 8–7 |
East Maegashira #6 6–9 |
| 1970 | West Maegashira #11 8–7 |
East Maegashira #9 6–7–2 |
East Maegashira #13 9–6 |
West Maegashira #6 4–11 |
(Jūryō) | (Jūryō) |
| 1971 | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | (Jūryō) | East Maegashira #10 8–7 |
| 1972 | West Maegashira #4 0–1–14 |
(Jūryō) | West Maegashira #10 8–7 |
West Maegashira #7 9–6 |
West Maegashira #3 10–5 T |
West Sekiwake 4–11 |
| 1973 | East Maegashira #5 8–7 |
West Maegashira #1 8–7 |
East Maegashira #1 6–9 |
West Maegashira #3 8–7 |
West Sekiwake 0–3–12 |
East Maegashira #8 9–6 |
| 1974 | West Maegashira #2 4–11 |
West Maegashira #9 11–4 T |
West Maegashira #1 9–6 ★ |
East Maegashira #1 8–7 ★ |
West Komusubi 7–8 |
West Maegashira #1 7–8 |
| 1975 | West Maegashira #2 10–5 |
West Komusubi 4–2–9 |
East Maegashira #4 11–4 T |
East Komusubi 11–4 T |
West Sekiwake 9–6 T |
West Sekiwake 8–7 |
| 1976 | East Sekiwake 12–3 F |
East Sekiwake 13–2 T |
East Ōzeki 9–6 |
West Ōzeki 9–6 |
West Ōzeki 10–5 |
West Ōzeki 10–5 |
| 1977 | East Ōzeki 0–3–12 |
East Ōzeki 9–6 |
East Ōzeki 9–6 |
East Ōzeki 9–6 |
West Ōzeki 14–1 |
East Ōzeki 8–7 |
| 1978 | West Ōzeki 10–5 |
East Ōzeki 10–5 |
West Ōzeki 8–7 |
West Ōzeki 9–6 |
West Ōzeki 3–12 |
West Ōzeki 9–6 |
| 1979 | West Ōzeki 9–6 |
West Ōzeki 3–6–6 |
West Ōzeki 8–7 |
West Ōzeki 8–7 |
West Ōzeki 4–4–retired |
x |
| Record given as win-loss-absent Championship Retired Demoted from makuuchi Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi |
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c Sharnoff, Lorna (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-x.
- ^ Asahikuni Masuo Rikishi Information (English). Sumo Reference. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
