Hajimayama Masanobu

Hajimayama Masanobu - 羽嶋山 昌乃武 (born April 23, 1922 - June 13, 2011) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hashima, Gifu. He made his debut in May 1939 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in June 1945 and has one special prize as well as five kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in May 1959.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

At the age of 17, Yamauchi joined Dewanoumi stable and made his professional debut in May 1939. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1941 and makushita in May 1942. Upon promotion to makushita, he was given the shikona "Hajimayama" (羽嶋山) and was promoted to juryo in May 1943. Hajimayama was promoted to makuuchi three tournaments later in June 1945.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his top division debut, Hajimayama finished with a poor 1-6 record and was demoted back down to juryo. He returned to makuuchi in November 1946 after winning the juryo yusho in the previous November 1945 tournament. He briefly wrestled under the shikona "Gifunishiki" (岐阜錦) from October 1948 to January 1949, but quickly reverted back to Hajimayama after a run of losing records. Right after the shikona change, Hajimayama finished with a strong 13-2 record at the rank of maegashira 17, but missed out on the yusho after losing to stablemate ozeki Masuiyama in a playoff. Nevertheless, he was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. Hajimayama also earned a total of five kinboshi, defeating the likes of Azumafuji, Kagamisato, and Haguroyama. Hajimayama was promoted to komusubi in January 1950, but finished with a poor 4-11 record. He returned to the rank of komusubi in January 1956 and finished with a 9-6 record. He was promoted to sekiwake in March 1956, but finished with a 7-8 record. This proved to be his only tournament ranked as a sekiwake. He retired in May 1959 at the age of 37 due to knee injuries.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, working as a coach at Dewanoumi stable under the name Matsugane Oyakata. He also worked as a ringside judge during official tournaments. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in 1987.

### **Death**

Hajimayama died at 8:38 PM on June 13, 2011, at a hospital in Minato, Tokyo, due to a heart attack. He was 89 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Hajimayama was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who preferred 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 uwatenage, or overarm throw. He was also fond of employing yaguranage, or inner thigh throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 375-349-76/720 (61 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 307-315-69/618 (48 basho)
* **Juryo:** 24-14-7/38 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 18-6/24 (3 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 14-10/24 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (November 1945)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 5: (2) Azumafuji, (2) Kagamisato, (1) Haguroyama

## **Shikona History**

* Yamauchi Masanobu (1939.05 - 1942.01)
* Hajimayama Masanobu (1942.05 - 1948.05)
* Gifunishiki Masanobu (1948.10 - 1949.01)
* Hajimayama Masanobu (1949.05 - 1959.05)

## **Sources**

* Hajimayama Masanobu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Hajimayama Masanobu Rikishi Information