Kitanoumi Toshimitsu

Kitanoumi Toshimitsu (北の湖敏満 Obata Toshimitsu; May 16, 1953 – November 20, 2015) was a Japanese sumo wrestler. He was the dominant yokozuna in sumo during the 1970s. Kitanoumi was promoted to yokozuna at age 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank, and he remained a yokozuna for a record 63 tournaments.  

He won 24 tournament championships during his career. Following his retirement in 1985 he established Kitanoumi stable. He was chairman of the Japan Sumo Association from 2002 until 2008, and from 2012 until his death. 

Kitanoumi died of multiple organ failure caused by colorectal cancer on the evening of November 20, 2015, aged 62.北の湖理事長が死去、６２歳　元横綱・優勝２４度 . Asahi. November 20, 2015 He was in Fukuoka for the Kyushu tournament and was taken to hospital for anemia in the morning, after which his condition deteriorated.

References

Other websites

 Japan Sumo Association profile 
 Article on Kitanoumi

Category:1953 births
Category:2015 deaths
Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers
Category:Sportspeople from Hokkaido
Category:Deaths from multiple organ failure
Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer
Category:Cancer deaths in Japan