Minanogawa Tozo - 男女ノ川 登三 (born September 17, 1903 - January 20, 1971) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sugama, Ibaraki. He made his debut in January 1924 and last wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1928 and has two kinboshi and two top division championships. He was the 34th yokozuna and he retired in January 1942.
Early Life[]
He was born Sakata Tomojiro (坂田 供次郎) in the village of Sugama (currently Tsukuba city) in Ibaraki prefecture. He had lost his father in the Russo-Japanese War at the age of two, and worked as a roof installer with his grandfather and brother to support his mother. Already 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) tall at the age of 15, very large for Japanese youths in his time, he was spotted by Takasago stable's Akutsugawa.
Career[]
Early Career[]
He made his professional debut in January 1924 and was given the shikona "Minanogawa" (男女ノ川) which is derived from a poem describing his hometown. He posted a 4-2 record in his first tournament and followed with two 5-1 records. In January 1926, he won the sandanme yusho with a perfect 6-0 record and was promoted to makushita in May 1926. After one tournament in makushita, he was promoted to juryo in January 1927.
Juryo Career[]
In his first tournament as a sekitori, he finished with a 5-1 record. He initially relied on pushing techniques, or oshi-sumo, but began to develop a more rounded technique after being given instruction by former sekiwake Kiyosegawa. After three more tournaments in juryo, he was promoted to makuuchi in January 1928.
Makuuchi Career[]
In 1929 Akutsugawa, the wrestler who had discovered him, retired and encouraged him to join his newly established Sadogatake stable. However Takasago's stablemaster, the former ozeki Asashio Taro II, did not want his promising rikishi to leave and even changed Minanogawa's shikona to his own of Asashio to obligate him to stay. Eventually a compromise was worked out and Minanogawa divided his time between the two stables.
Minanogawa celebrates after winning the 1933 Spring Tournament
He made komusubi in January 1930, and had two consecutive runner-up scores in October 1930 and January 1931, the second from the third highest sekiwake rank. Along with the lean and handsome Musashiyama he was one of the most popular men in sumo in this time. Standing at 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in), he was also the second tallest wrestler in the top division, after Dewagatake.
However, in 1931 he suffered a series of knee injuries, and in 1932 was caught up in the so-called "Shunjuen Incident", when a number of top division wrestlers went on strike. Minanogawa was out of the Japan Sumo Association for four tournaments and he and his followers held a number of their own rival tournaments with knockout rounds.
He returned to the Sumo Association in 1933 and immediately took his first tournament championship with an unbeaten record, defeating Musashiyama, Shimizugawa and yokozuna Tamanishiki, all of whom had stayed with the Association during the strike. He reverted to the Minanogawa ring name and won his second championship in January 1934. This earned him promotion to ozeki for the May 1934 tournament.
Ozeki Career[]
Minanogawa finished with a poor 5-6 record in his ozeki debut, but he bounced back with two winning records. He was promoted to yokozuna after a 9–2 runner-up score in January 1936, just one tournament after Musashiyama, and it was suggested that the double promotion was as a result of a deal between the Takasago and Dewanoumi factions.
Yokozuna Career[]
Minanogawa performs the yokozuna dohyo-iri (c. 1938)
Although his record at yokozuna rank was not as bad as Musashiyama, who managed only one kachi-koshi winning score as a grand champion, Minanogawa was unable to win any further championships, and was overshadowed by Tamanishiki and the dominant Futabayama. He was never able to beat Futabayama as a yokozuna and had only one win over Tamanishiki. In May 1938 he could win only six out of 13 bouts, and became one of the very few yokozuna to compete in a full tournament and turn in a make-koshi losing score. By 1941 he was 36 years old and suffering from injuries, and he wanted to retire, but was asked to stay on until Maedayama or Akinoumi were ready to replace him. He eventually retired in January 1942, a tournament in which Akinoumi produced a strong 13–2 record.
Retirement from Sumo[]
Minanogawa had been able to stay in sumo as an elder due to his yokozuna ranking, but he had lost interest in sumo. He had recently married and started a family, and had also done a law and economics degree at Waseda University.
Minanogawa after retirement from sumo
He decided to resign from the Sumo Association (an irreversible decision) and run for election to parliament. However he lost badly and used up most of his severance pay from the Sumo Association. He also lost money through gambling.
After this, he subsequently opened up a private investigation office. However, he would usually only follow stubborn husbands on the behest of their wives. Shortly after, he left the profession as he was too big and would usually get spotted out. Then, through the help of a supporter, he worked as a as a financial advisor and later, as an insurance salesman. The bouncing back and forth between jobs took a toll on his personal life and his wife later divorced him, taking his only son as well. He participated on the 1958 film The Barbarian and the Geisha, but was unable to establish himself in the film industry.
He lived his later years confined in a senior home due to a back injury and was unable to earn a steady income, relying on donations from fans and sumo officials. In February 1969, a fan offered him food and room and board, as well as a salary if he did a few chores at his restaurant. Due to the generosity of the fan, Minanogawa no longer needed to worry about money and was genuinely happy.
Death[]
He died two years later on January 20, 1971, at his home in Tokyo due to a stroke. He was 67 years old. His funeral was only attended by 30 people at the Cho-En Ji Temple in Musashimurayama City on January 25, 1971.
Fighting Style[]
Minanogawa defeats Tamanishiki by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)
Minanogawa was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who preferred 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 kotenage, or armlock throw. He was also fond of employing thrusting and pushing techniques and regularly won by tsukidashi (thrust out).
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 294-155-34-1d/449 (46 basho)
- Makuuchi: 247-136-33-1d/383 (36 basho)
- Juryo: 23-13-1/36 (4 basho)
- Makushita: 4-2/6 (1 basho)
- Sandanme: 11-1/12 (2 basho)
- Jonidan: 5-1/6 (1 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 4-2/6 (1 basho)
Championships[]
- 2 Makuuchi Championships
- 1st (January 1933)
- 2nd (January 1934)
- 1 Sandanme Championship (January 1926)
Achievements[]
- Kinboshi: 2: (1) Tsunenohana, (1) Tamanishiki
Shikona History[]
- Minanogawa Kyojiro (1924.01 - 1929.03)
- Asashio Kyojiro (1929.05 - 1933.01)
- Minanogawa Tozo (1933.05 - 1942.01)
Gallery[]
