Dewanohana Yoshihide - 出羽ノ花 好秀 (born November 1, 1928 - March 3, 2011) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shariki, Aomori. He made his debut in November 1946 and last wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1954. His highest rank was maegashira 13 and he retired in March 1957.
Career[]
Early Career[]
Born in the village of Shariki (currently Tsugaru city) in Aomori prefecture, he joined Dewanoumi stable and made his professional debut in November 1946. Initially wrestling under his surname Osanai, he adopted the shikona "Ozakura" (大櫻) in 1949. He won the sandanme yusho in October 1948 and was eventually promoted to juryo in January 1952.
Juryo Career[]
By the time he rose to juryo, he had already changed his shikona to "Dewanohana" (出羽ノ花) which was same shikona used by Musashigawa Oyakata (former maegashira Dewanohana Kuniichi). In his first tournament as a sekitori, Dewanohana could only manage a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to makushita. He did not return to juryo until March 1953 where he posted three consecutive double-digit winning records to earn a promotion to makuuchi for the January 1954 tournament.
Makuuchi Career[]
Dewanohana struggled to establish himself in the top division until September 1955. He struggled to progress to the upper-levels of makuuchi due to his inability to put on weight. He rose as high as maegashira 13 in January 1957, but sat out this tournament due to injury.
Retirement from Sumo[]
He retired in the March 1957 tournament after developing spondylosis. Upon retiring from sumo, he worked at Dewanoumi stable as a manager (he was unable to obtain elder stock and was not a member of the Japan Sumo Association). After this, he ran a coffee shop in Tokyo.
He died on March 3, 2011, at the age of 82.
Personal Life[]
His cousin is sekiwake Dewanohana Yoshitaka.
Fighting Style[]
Dewanohana was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was sotogake, or outside leg trip.
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 236-204-30/440 (35 basho)
- Makuuchi: 63-72-30/135 (11 basho)
- Juryo: 63-42/105 (7 basho)
- Makushita: 93-84/177 (12 basho)
- Sandanme: 10-2/12 (2 basho)
- Jonidan: 3-3/6 (1 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 4-1/5 (1 basho)
Championships[]
- 1 Sandanme Championship (October 1948)
Shikona History[]
- Osanai Kiyomi (1946.11 - 1948.10)
- Ozakura (1949.01 - 1950.05)
- Dewanohana Yoshihide (1950.09 - 1957.03)
Gallery[]
