Azumafuji Kin'ichi

was a sumo wrestler from Taitō, Tokyo, Japan. He was the sport's 40th Yokozuna, and later a professional wrestler.

umo career

He made professional debut in January 1936, joining Takasago stable. He was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division in May 1943. On the sixth day of the November 1944 tournament, he defeated "yokozuna" Futabayama Sadaji, the last wrestler ever to do so as Futabayama pulled out of the tournament the next day and only fought one more bout before his retirement. Azumafuji was promoted to "ozeki" in June 1945 on the strength of two runner-up performances. He won his first top division championship in May 1948, and was promoted to the top "yokozuna" rank in October of that year after finishing as runner-up. Unusually, he managed to win his debut "yokozuna" tournament, in January 1949.

On the 12th day of the September 1951 tournament, he recorded a "azukari", or hold, a rare result. On that day, he had come down with acute pneumonia but he forced himself to continue in the tournament as he had only one loss. Azumafuji fought with then "ozeki" Yoshibayama twice, but the outcome still could not be determined. After the second bout, Azumafuji couldn't stand up any more and conceded defeat, but the gentlemanly Yoshibayama insisted that the fairest result was to declare a hold, which was confirmed by the officials. Azumafuji went on to win the tournament, his fourth championship.

Azumafuji won his sixth and final championship in September 1953, and struggled with injuries after that. In September 1954, "ozeki" Tochinishiki seemed certain to win his second consecutive championship. Azumafuji suddenly announced his retirement at that tournament, not wishing to hinder Tochinshiki's promotion to "yokozuna".cite web|author=Kuroda, Joe|title=Tochinishiki Kiyotaka (1925-1990) the 44th Yokozuna Part 2|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_15/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=October 2007|accessdate=2008-05-01] Had he remained, Tochinishiki would have had to become a fifth active "yokozuna", an unprecedented situtation. Tochinishiki reportedly asked Azumafuji to reconsider his decision, but to no avail.

Professional wrestling career

He was the first "yokozuna" to turn to Western-style |professional wrestling, in 1955. This occurred after a dispute in the Japan Sumo Association between two other elders, Takasago and Tatsunami, which he wished to escape. In April 1955 he won the Hawaiian Tag Team title in Honolulu alongside another former sumo wrestler turned professional wrestler, Rikidozan. In 1956 he defeated Toshio Yamaguchi to win the Japanese Heavyweight tournament. [ [http://www.puroresu.com/history/jwa-riki.html History of Puroresu : The Rikidozan Era ] ]

Top division record

"*Two tables represent a change in the tournament system over the years"

References

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo tournament winners
*List of yokozuna

External links

* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/azumafuji.html Japan Sumo Association profile]