Udagawa Katsutaro

Udagawa Katsutaro - 宇多川 勝太郎 (born December 3, 1939 - July 24, 1989) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Adachi, Tokyo. He made his debut in September 1954 and last wrestled for Miyagino stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1960. His highest rank was maegashira 3 and he retired in July 1967.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

During his third year of junior high school, Udagawa was recruited by a butcher who was from the same neighborhood. The butcher was an acquaintance of the 43rd Yokozuna Yoshibayama and Udagawa subsequently joined his Takashima stable. He made his debut in September 1954 and wrestled under his surname Udagawa, which he unusually kept for the remainder of his career. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1956 and makushita in May 1957. He had a close relationship with his senior stablemate and he joined Yoshibayama Dojo (later renamed Miyagino stable) in March 1958. In March 1959, he posted a 6-2 record at the rank of makushita 2 and was promoted to juryo in May 1959.

### **Juryo Career**

At the time of his juryo promotion, Udagawa was only 19 years old. In his first tournament as a sekitori, Udagawa finished with a strong 10-5 record. In September 1959, he won the juryo yusho with a superb 14-1 record and followed with a 10-5 record to earn promotion to makuuchi for the January 1960 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Udagawa was ranked in the top division for a total of 31 tournaments, however, he never managed to defeat a yokozuna, earn a special prize, or reach the san'yaku level. His highest rank was maegashira 3 which he earned in January 1962; he defeated ozeki Kitabayama on the first day but could only manage a 5-10 record at this rank. In July 1962, he defeated ozeki's Sadanoyama and Kotogahama. His last makuuchi appearance was in July 1965 and he announced his retirement after the July 1967 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under a series of different names, since he didn't own a toshiyori-kabu of his own. He left the Sumo Association in October 1977.

After leaving the sumo world, he opened up a chanko restaurant, but it closed after six years due to his declining health. he died on July 24, 1989, at the age of 49.

## **Fighting Style**

Udagawa 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:** 447-443-15/890 (72 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 207-258/465 (31 basho)
* **Juryo:** 131-124/255 (17 basho)
* **Makushita:** 59-29-14/88 (13 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 28-12/40 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 20-19-1/39 (5 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 1959)

## **Shikona History**

* Udagawa Katsutaro (1954.09 - 1963.01)
* Udagawa Shugo (1963.03 - 1964.01)
* Udagawa Toshio (1964.03 - 1964.07)
* Udagawa Katsutaro (1964.09 - 1965.05)
* Udagawa Raizo (1965.07 - 1966.09)
* Udagawa Katsutaro (1966.11 - 1967.07)

## **Sources**

* Udagawa Katsutaro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Udagawa Katsutaro Rikishi Information