# Hananokuni Akihiro

Hananokuni Akihiro (born 15 October 1959 as Akihiro Noguchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan.

## Career

He made his professional debut in March 1975, joining Hanakago stable. He joined Hanaregoma stable when Hanakago was wound up in 1985. After many years in the lower ranks he finally reached the makuuchi or top division in March 1988 at the age of 28. His best result in a tournament came in September 1988 when he won eleven bouts, defeated ōzeki Konishiki and received the Fighting Spirit Award. He defeated yokozuna Hokutoumi in September 1989 to earn his only kinboshi. Chiyonofuji defeated him in March 1990 to become the first wrestler to win 1000 career bouts. His highest rank was maegashira 1. His last appearance in the top division came in November 1992 and he spent the last two years of his career back in the jūryō and makushita divisions.

## Retirement from sumo

Upon his retirement in November 1994 he was unable to obtain elder stock and become a member of the Japan Sumo Association. However, he was able to remain in sumo by becoming a wakaimonogashira, a kind of record keeper and odd job man which is a salaried role within the Sumo Association. He can often be seen assisting with the presentation of prizes to the yūshō winner at the conclusion of tournaments. He is attached to Shibatayama stable.

## Fighting style

Hananokuni′s favoured kimarite or techniques included yori taoshi (force out and down), uwatenage (overarm throw) and shitatedashinage (pulling inner arm throw. He used a migi yotsu grip on the mawashi, with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent′s arms.

## Career record

Hananokuni Akihiro :
| Year | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo | March Haru basho, Osaka | May Natsu basho, Tokyo | July Nagoya basho, Nagoya | September Aki basho, Tokyo | November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
| 1975 | x | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #4 4–3 | East Jonidan #89 2–5 | West Jonidan #109 5–2 | West Jonidan #70 5–2 |
| 1976 | West Jonidan #42 2–5 | West Jonidan #64 2–5 | West Jonidan #81 5–2 | East Jonidan #37 3–4 | West Jonidan #54 6–1 | East Sandanme #85 3–2–2 |
| 1977 | East Jonidan #10 2–5 | West Jonidan #34 5–2 | East Sandanme #80 2–5 | East Jonidan #13 5–2 | West Sandanme #75 4–3 | East Sandanme #59 3–4 |
| 1978 | West Sandanme #69 5–2 | East Sandanme #38 5–2 | West Sandanme #4 5–2 | East Makushita #46 4–3 | East Makushita #36 4–3 | East Makushita #29 4–3 |
| 1979 | West Makushita #22 3–4 | West Makushita #29 2–5 | West Makushita #52 4–3 | East Makushita #44 5–2 | East Makushita #24 4–3 | East Makushita #18 3–4 |
| 1980 | East Makushita #28 5–2 | East Makushita #18 4–3 | East Makushita #13 4–3 | East Makushita #9 2–5 | West Makushita #23 3–4 | West Makushita #32 4–3 |
| 1981 | East Makushita #9 2–5 | West Makushita #23 3–4 | West Makushita #32 4–3 | East Makushita #9 2–5 | West Makushita #23 3–4 | West Makushita #32 4–3 |
| 1982 | West Makushita #35 2–5 | East Makushita #54 5–2 | West Makushita #35 4–3 | East Makushita #28 5–2 | East Makushita #15 5–2 | West Makushita #9 5–2 |
| 1983 | West Makushita #2 4–3 | West Makushita #1 5–2 | West Jūryō #12 4–11 | East Makushita #8 4–3 | West Makushita #5 4–3 | West Makushita #3 5–2 |
| 1984 | West Jūryō #11 9–6 | East Jūryō #6 8–7 | East Jūryō #6 7–8 | East Jūryō #8 5–10 | East Makushita #2 2–5 | West Makushita #16 3–4 |
| 1985 | West Makushita #25 4–3 | East Makushita #15 7–0 Champion | East Jūryō #13 7–8 | West Makushita #1 4–3 | West Jūryō #12 8–7 | East Jūryō #10 5–10 |
| 1986 | West Makushita #1 4–3 | East Makushita #1 1–6 | East Makushita #25 4–3 | West Makushita #18 6–1 | East Makushita #5 4–3 | West Makushita #2 3–4 |
| 1987 | West Makushita #5 6–1–P | West Jūryō #12 9–6 | East Jūryō #7 9–6 | East Jūryō #4 9–6 | West Jūryō #1 8–7 | East Jūryō #1 6–9 |
| 1988 | West Jūryō #4 10–5 | East Maegashira #14 9–6 | East Maegashira #9 8–7 | West Maegashira #3 5–10 | West Maegashira #9 11–4 F | West Maegashira #2 6–9 |
| 1989 | East Maegashira #5 8–7 | East Maegashira #2 5–10 | East Maegashira #7 8–7 | East Maegashira #3 7–8 | East Maegashira #4 8–7 ★ | East Maegashira #1 4–11 |
| 1990 | East Maegashira #7 8–7 | West Maegashira #3 5–10 | East Maegashira #6 8–7 | East Maegashira #2 4–11 | East Maegashira #11 10–5 | East Maegashira #3 5–10 |
| 1991 | West Maegashira #8 8–7 | East Maegashira #4 6–9 | East Maegashira #10 8–7 | West Maegashira #6 1–2–12 | East Jūryō #2 8–7 | West Jūryō #1 7–8 |
| 1992 | East Jūryō #4 9–6 | West Maegashira #16 6–9 | West Jūryō #3 9–6 | East Maegashira #16 6–9 | East Jūryō #2 8–7 | West Maegashira #15 5–10 |
| 1993 | East Jūryō #6 7–8 | East Jūryō #8 8–7 | West Jūryō #6 8–7 | West Jūryō #4 5–10 | West Jūryō #9 7–8 | East Jūryō #12 8–7 |
| 1994 | West Jūryō #7 2–6–7 | West Makushita #10 4–3 | East Makushita #5 4–3 | West Makushita #3 2–5 | West Makushita #15 1–6 | Retired – |
| Record given as wins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira |||||||