Maenoyama Taro

Maenoyama Taro - 前の山太郎 (born March 9, 1945 - March 11, 2021) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Moriguchi, Osaka. He made his debut in March 1961 and wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1966 and has five special prizes as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was ozeki and he retired in March 1974.

Early Life[]

He was born in Niwakubo Town in Kitakawachi-un, Osaka Prefecture (the town has now been incorporated into Moriguchi City), and was of Korean descent. He initially played baseball, however, after enrolling at Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences Namisho Senior High School, he joined the sumo club as he was growing taller. After winning some local competitions his confidence in the sport grew and he subsequently dropped out of high school and joined Takasago stable.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He made his professional debut in March 1961, however, due he broke his left arm during training session and did not wrestle his first match until the January 1962 tournament. He was given the shikona "Maenoyama" (前の山) which had been used by two former sekitori in his stable. He was promoted to sandanme in July 1962 and makushita in January 1964. In September 1965 he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 5 and was promoted to juryo for the following November 1965 tournament.

Juryo Career[]

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Maenoyama finished with a strong 10-5 record. In July 1966, he won the juryo yusho at the rank of juryo 6 with an impressive 13-2 record. He was promoted to makuuchi for the following September 1966 tournament.

Makuuchi Career[]

Maenoyama made his top division debut in September 1966 where he produced an 8-7 record. He made his san'yaku debut in January 1968, ranked at sekiwake, but he finished with a losing record.

20210330s00005000142000p view — Maenoyama (c. 1968)

In May 1969 he defeated yokozuna Kashiwado on opening day and went on to win 11 bouts, receiving his first sansho or special prize, for Fighting Spirit. He was promoted back to sekiwake where he finished with a 10-5 record and was awarded his first Outstanding Performance prize. Following this, Maenoyama remained as sekiwake for another seven tournaments. In March 1970, Maenoyama produced a 9-6 record and was awarded his second Outstanding Performance prize. In the following May tournament he finished with a 12-3 record and was runner-up to Kitanofuji's 14-1 record. In July he produced a 13-2 record, but missed out on the yusho after losing to Kitanofuji in a playoff. Nevertheless, he had accumulated 34 wins in the previous three tournaments and was promoted to ozeki in September 1970.

Ozeki Career[]

His ozeki debut in September 1970 was inauspicious as he had injured his right foot in training and had to miss the entire tournament through injury. He returned in November to score 9–6 and keep his rank, but the foot injury continued to trouble him, and he was unable to win more than nine bouts in any of his ten tournaments at ozeki rank. He was demoted from ozeki in March 1972 after two consecutive losing scores. His Day 12 win over Kotozakura in this tournament was criticized by the Japan Sumo Association as being an example of mukiryoku or "unmotivated" sumo, a euphemism for yaocho or match-fixing, as his fellow ozeki opponent had shown little resistance. It was unprecedented for the Sumo Association to publicly warn wrestlers in this way. Maenoyama withdrew after this bout and his resulting 6–7–2 record confirmed his demotion. He would have been promoted back to ozeki if he had won at least ten bouts in the following tournament, but he scored only 7–8. He continued to compete in the lower ranks until March 1974, when he announced his retirement from active competition at the age of 29.

Retirement from Sumo[]

He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Takadagawa and established the Takadagawa stable in April 1974. He produced such top division wrestlers as komusubi Maenoshin and Kenko, and maegashira Kiraiho. It was once part of the Takasago ichimon (group of stables). However, the stable became a pariah after Takadagawa ran for the leadership of the Sumo Association in 1998 against the wishes of the Takasago ichimon. As a result, he was forced to leave the Takasago camp. There was some belief that he would join the Dewanoumi group but instead the stable went independent. In December 2008 it was announced that former sekiwake Akinoshima would be his successor. Takadagawa stood down in August 2009 to ease the transition. The two swapped elder names, and he became Sendagawa Oyakata. He left the Japan Sumo Association in March 2010 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Death[]

He died of multiple organ failure on 11 March 2021 at the age of 76. After the family funeral was held, the Japan Sumo Association announced his death on 29 March.

Fighting Style[]

Maenoyama was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out.