Shiranui Dakuemon

Shiranui Dakuemon - 不知火 諾右衛門 (born October 1801 - August 20, 1854) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Todoroki, Higo. He made his debut in November 1830 and wrestled for Urakaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1837 and has one top division championship. He was the 8th yokozuna and he retired in January 1844.

## **Early Life**

Born Chikahisa Shinji (近久 信次), he married early, at the age of 19, and had two sons. In 1823, he got into an argument with the head of his village. Forgetting his own strength, he pushed the village head too harshly. The village head fell to the floor and was knocked unconscious. Knowing the trouble this would cause him, he escaped from his hometown, leaving his family.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He entered Osaka sumo and made his debut in May 1824. Even though he rose to the rank of ozeki in Osaka sumo, he was unsatisfied and transferred to Edo sumo in November 1830. He subsequently joined the prestigious Urakaze stable. Initially wrestling under the shikona "Kurokumo Nagiemon" (黒雲 諾右エ門), he started his career at the bottom of the juryo division. In November 1836, he produced a 7-0-1draw record at the rank of juryo 1 and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1837.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Upon promotion to makuuchi, he was given the shikona "Noginosato Nagiemon" (濃錦里 諾右エ門). After four tournaments in the maegashira ranks, he was promoted directly to ozeki in March 1839, despite never wrestling at the san'yaku level or winning a championship.

### **Ozeki Career**

In his ozeki debut, he finished with a 2-4-4 record and was immediately demoted back down to sekiwake. Nevertheless, he produced a 6-1-3 record and was promoted back to ozeki in February 1840. Upon re-promotion, he was given the shikona "Shiranui Dakuemon" (不知火 諾右衛門 - also read as Shiranui Nagiemon). Furthermore he won his first and only championship with an 8-0-2 record in his first tournament back at ozeki.

### **Yokozuna Career**

He wasn't a particularly strong wrestler, but around the end of the Edo period the awarding of a yokozuna licence had less to do with ability and more to do with the influence of one's backers. Shiranui was simply lucky to have powerful patrons. The actual date he was awarded the title is obscure, but the date is officially recognized as being in November 1840. His name was not written on the banzuke for the next tournament in January 1841 and he was absent from the November 1841 tournament for unknown reasons. He was demoted to sekiwake in February 1842. At that time, yokozuna was not a rank but a title. He is the only former yokozuna to be demoted from the ozeki rank. In the top makuuchi division, Shiranui won 48 bouts and lost 15 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 76.2.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired from an active wrestler after the January 1844 tournament. He stayed in sumo as an elder after his retirement, and was known as Minato (湊). The name of the Shiranui yokozuna dohyo-iri (ring entering ceremony) came not from him, but from the 11th yokozuna Shiranui Koemon, whom he trained. He died on August 20, 1852, at the age of 52.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 81-26-65-5d-2a-1o/115 (20 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 48-15-65-3d-2a-1o/69 (14 basho)
* **Juryo:** 33-11-2d/46 (6 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championship (February 1840)

## **Shikona History**

* Kurokumo Nagiemon (1832.11 - 1836.11)
* Noginosato Nagiemon (1837.01 - 1839.11)
* Shiranui Nagiemon (1840.02 - 1844.01)

## **Gallery**

19th century woodblock print of Shiranui by Kunisada.
## **Sources**

* Shiranui Dakuemon Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shiranui Dakuemon Rikishi Information