Shikinohana Norio

Shikinohana Norio - 四季の花 範雄 (born January 2, 1937) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori. He made his debut in January 1955 and wrestled for Miyagino stable. He reached the juryo division in May 1963. His highest rank was juryo 13 and he retired in July 1973.

## **Early Life**

Originally, Aiuchi was aiming on becoming a boxer while he worked as a fisherman. However, while Takashima stable was on tour, he was recruited into professional sumo as his brother and Yokozuna Yoshibayama were acquaintances.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in January 1955 and was given the shikona "Chitosenanda" (稚登勢洋). He was promoted to sandanme in September 1955 and makushita in May 1958. He changed his shikona to "Kitaarashi" (北嵐) in July 1958, but was later given the shikona "Shikinohana" (四季の花) in May 1961. In March 1963, he posted a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 4 and was promoted to juryo for the May 1963 tournament.

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Shikinohana posted an 8-7 record, however, he followed with a 4-11 record and was demoted back down to makushita in September 1963. He returned to juryo in January 1964, but could only last three tournaments. After falling back down to the unsalaried ranks again in July 1964, he reverted his ring name back to his real name Aiuchi. He remained in makushita for another nine years before falling back down to sandanme in May 1973. He retired from sumo in the following July 1973 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired from sumo in July 1973 at the age of 36. After retiring, he was engaged in the building materials industry. In May 1980, he published an article for *the Weekly Post* and made many accusatory statements of rampant match-fixing in professional sumo.

## **Personal Life**

His nephew is sekiwake Hasegawa (Hasegawa's mother is his older sister). Even though they trained in separate stables and were ranked in juryo simultaneously, they were barred from competing with each other in official tournaments because they are related.

While ranked in makushita, Shikinohana was married and lived outside a stable. At the time many unsalaried sumo wrestlers worked side jobs to support their families. This practice is no longer allowed and sumo wrestlers must be ranked in the top two divisions to be allowed to live outside the stable.

## **Fighting Style**

Shikinohana was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers 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 yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 409-396-7/805 (107 basho)
* **Juryo:** 29-46/75 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 314-294/608 (85 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 54-49-7/103 (14 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 10-6/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Aiuchi Norio (1955.01 - 1955.03)
* Chitosenada (1955.05 - 1958.05)
* Kitaarashi (1958.07 - 1961.03)
* Shikinohana Norio (1961.05 - 1964.05)
* Aiuchi Norio (1964.07 - 1973.07)

## **Gallery**

Shikinohana during his later career in the unsalaried ranks (c. 1972)Tabloid article about Shikinohana's match-fixing accusations (c. 1980)
## **Sources**

* Shikinohana Norio Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shikinohana Norio Rikishi Information