Wakanaruto Kiyomi

Wakanaruto Kiyomi - 若鳴門 清海 (born February 7, 1939 - April 18, 2011) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mihara, Hyogo. He made his debut in January 1955 and last wrestled for Kasugano stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1963. His highest rank was maegashira 6 and he retired in May 1970.

## **Early Life**

Since junior high school, Iuchi had been sumo wrestling and he was very successful with many comparing his sumo to be at the same level of an ozeki. However, he stepped on a waiting needle at his home and pierced his right big toe. He received an operation and was able to successfully remove the needle from his toe. He returned to work on his family's farm, but his toe had not healed yet and he developed tetanus. As a result, he had to amputate his right big toe and he eventually gave up on sumo wrestling. He later attended Awaji Mihara High School where he was a member of the track and field club before transferring to the sumo club. He late dropped out of high school and joined Kasugano stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in January 1955, wrestling under his surname Iuchi. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1956 and makushita in March 1957. In November 1957 he changed his shikona to "Wakanaruto" (若鳴門). In September 1961 he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record at the rank of makushita 13 and was promoted to juryo for the following November 1961 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Wakanaruto finished with a 7-8 record but luckily suffered no loss in rank. In July 1962 he finished with a strong 11-4 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing to future yokozuna Kotozakura in a playoff. Nevertheless, he followed with two more winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1963.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Wakanaruto was ranked in the top division for a total of 20 tournaments. He never managed to produce a significant result with his highest rank being maegashira 6. He was demoted back down to juryo on many separate instances but would return to makuuchi. His last makuuchi appearance was in March 1969. After a 2-13 record in May 1970, he announced his retirement after the tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Sendagawa, coaching at Kasugano stable. He also worked as an instructor for the sumo training school. In February 2004 he reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age of 65.

### **Death**

He died at a hospital in Ichikawa, Chiba, on April 18, 2011, at the age of 72 due to heart failure.

## **Fighting Style**

Wakanaruto was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the chest, and uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 536-511-6-1d-1a/1049 (88 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 134-166/300 (20 basho)
* **Juryo:** 248-232/480 (32 basho)
* **Makushita:** 110-96-1d-1a/208 (27 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 27-13/40 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 14-4-6/18 (3 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (September 1961)

## **Shikona History**

* Iuchi Tokuo (1955.01 - 1957.09)
* Wakanaruto Kiyomi (1957.11 - 1970.05)

## **Gallery**

Wakanaruto (right) serves as Tochinoumi's dew sweeper (c. 1964)Wakanaruto poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Wakanaruto prepares for his upcoming matchWakanaruto's retirement ceremony pamphlet (c. 1970)Wakanaruto after retirement as Sendagawa Oyakata (c. 1976)
## **Sources**

* Wakanaruto Kiyomi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakanaruto Kiyomi Rikishi Information