Wakanoumi Masateru (born 1931)

## Wakanoumi Masateru

Wakanoumi Masateru - 若ノ海 周治 (born February 2, 1931 - May 3, 1999) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ikawa, Akita. He made his debut in October 1949 and wrestled for Hanakago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1955 and has three special prizes as well as six kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in November 1963.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He joined Nishonoseki stable (he later transferred to newly established Hanakago stable in 1953) at the age of 18 and made his professional debut in October 1949. He initially wrestled under the shikona "Nanshuzan" (南秋山), before changing it to "Wakanoumi" (若ノ海) in 1951. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1951 and makushita in September 1952. In his makushita debut, Wakanoumi won the yusho with a strong 13-2 record (back then all divisions fought the full fifteen days). After four more winning records, he was promoted to juryo in January 1954.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Wakanoumi finished with a 9-6 record. In May 1954 he won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record. Two tournaments later in January 1955, he posted an 11-4 record at the rank of juryo 3 and was promoted to makuuchi in March 1955.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Wakanoumi posted a strong 11-4 record in his first top division tournament and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He followed with another 11-4 record in May 1955 and was awarded his second successive Fighting Spirit prize. In the following September 1955 tournament, he could only manage a 4-11 record, but still defeated Yokozuna Yoshibayama to earn his first kinboshi. He went on to achieve another five kinboshi in his career: defeating Kagamisato and Tochinishiki twice, and once against Asashio. He briefly wrestled under the prestigious "Araiwa Kamenosuke" (荒岩 亀之助) in 1957 and was promoted to the rank of komusubi in November 1957 where he could only manage five wins. He later reverted back to Wakanoumi in 1958. His best performance came in November 1959 where he posted a 12-3 record and was runner-up to Wakahaguro's 13-2 record. He was awarded the Technique prize and re-promoted back to komusubi in January 1960. He posted an 8-7 record in his return to komusubi, but was unable to progress to sekiwake. He pulled out on the eighth day of the November 1963 tournament after only accumulating 2 wins and cited acute nephritis as the reason for withdrawal. This made demotion to juryo inevitable and he retired after the tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Otowayama. He worked as a coach for Hanakago stable (later Hanaregoma stable) and reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in February 1996.

### **Death**

He died on May 3, 1999, at the age of 68 due to worsening diabetes.

## **Fighting Style**

Wakanoumi 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 (force out). He was also fond of employing uwatenage (overarm throw) and kakenage (hooking inner thigh throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 482-451-21-1d/930 (67 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 335-368-16-1d/700 (48 basho)
* **Juryo:** 50-25/75 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 37-17/54 (5 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 32-24-5/56 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 16-14/30 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 12-3/15 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (May 1954)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (September 1952)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Sprit Prize (2), Technique Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 6: (2) Tochinishiki, (2) Kagamisato, (1) Asashio, (1) Yoshibayama

## **Shikona History**

* Nanshuzan (1949.10 - 1951.01)
* Wakanoumi Shuji (1951.05 - 1956.09)
* Araiwa Shuji (1957.01 - 1957.01)
* Araiwa Kamenosuke (1957.03 - 1958.03)
* Wakanoumi Masateru (1958.05 - 1958.09)
* Wakanoumi Terumasa (1958.11 - 1958.11)
* Wakanoumi Masateru (1959.01 - 1963.11)

## **Gallery**

Wakanoumi with his kesho-mawashiWakanoumi after promotion to Juryo (c. 1954)Wakanoumi after retirement as Otowayama Oyakata (c. 1968)Wakanoumi's tegata
## **Sources**

* Wakanoumi Masateru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakanoumi Masateru Rikishi Information