Tamanofuji Shigeru

Tamanofuji Shigeru - 玉ノ富士茂 (born November 24, 1949 - June 21, 2021) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ogawa, Tochigi. He made his debut in May 1967 and wrestled for Kataonami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1974 and has three special prizes as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in November 1981.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He played basketball in high school. He began his career in May 1967, joining Kataonami stable. However, he ran away from the stable shortly after fighting his first tournament in the lowest jonokuchi division, and joined the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. After being discharged, he returned to sumo in September 1970, winning two straight tournaments (or yusho) in the jonokuchi and jonidan division. In September 1973, he produced 6-1 record at the rank of makushita 2 and was promoted to juryo in the following November 1973 tournament.

Juryo Career[]

Tamanofuji produced an 8-7 record in his debut and was able to establish himself as a sekitori. In March 1974, he suffered an injury and withdrew on 9th day, but he eventually returned on the 12th day. He followed with two more winning records and was promoted to makuuchi.

Makuuchi Career[]

In September 1974 he reached the top makuuchi division. In January 1978 he scored 11 wins against 4 losses at the rank of komusubi, including wins over all four ozeki. As a result, he was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize and promotion to sekiwake for the following tournament. He held the rank a further five times, and stayed in the san'yaku ranks for eight consecutive tournaments. In September 1979 he defeated the eventual tournament winner, yokozuna Kitanoumi to earn his first kinboshi (he had defeated yokozuna Wajima on two previous occasions but had been ranked in san'yaku so was not eligible for a kinboshi). The victory was remarkable as Tamanofuji had lost every one of his previous 19 matches with Kitanoumi. He was awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. He defeated Kitanoumi again in the next tournament in November 1979, but did not get a kinboshi as he was ranked as a komusubi (he also defeated Wajima for the third time in this tournament, and was awarded his second Fighting Spirit prize). However, he did pick up another kinboshi in November 1980 with a win over Mienoumi. In 1981 he fell back to the juryo division and he retired in November of that year.

Retirement from Sumo[]

202106240000685-w1300 0 — Kataonami Oyakata (c. 2004)

He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Minatogawa. In 1987 he became head of the Kataonami stable following the death of the previous head, his old boss Tamanoumi Daitaro. As Kataonami Oyakata he produced several top division wrestlers including Tamakasuga, Tamanoshima, Tamarikido, Tamaasuka and Tamawashi. In February 2010 he handed over control of the stable to Tamakasuga and adopted the Tateyama name. In February 2012 he joined the board of Directors of the Sumo Association. In November 2014 he reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age of sixty-five. He no longer had full oyakata status, but following a rule change he was rehired by the Sumo Association as a san'yo or consultant for a period of five years with reduced pay, the first example of this happening. The Sumo Association announced in April 2019 that he had left his position, around seven months ahead of schedule.

Death[]

He died on June 21, 2021, at the age of 71 due to liver cancer. His death was announced three days later by the Japan Sumo Association.

Personal Life[]

His wife is the president of a company that trades in marine products.

Tamanofuji ran away from his stable after his first jonokuchi tournament in July 1967 because he was dissatisfied with his result. He later enlisted at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in 1968. After being discharged, he worked several odd jobs including tunnel construction, building construction, and at a miso factory. He returned back to Kataonami stable in September 1970 and even though his retirement papers were submitted after the May 1968 tournament, he was allowed back in as the policies of reinstatement were more relaxed back then. In addition, his stablemaster also served in the Japanese army during World War II.

Fighting Style[]

Tamanofuji had a steady, unspectacular style, and has been described as a "dull and plodding grinder." His most common winning kimarite was yorikiri or force out, followed by hatakikomi, slap down. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position.