Fujitayama Tadayoshi

Fujitayama Tadayoshi - 藤田山 忠義 (born February 11, 1924 - May 9, 1969) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tagawa, Fukuoka. He made his debut in January 1939 and wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1947. His highest rank was maegashira 12 and he retired in September 1954.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Fujita joined Takasago stable and made his professional debut in January 1939. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1940 and makushita in January 1942. Upon promotion to makushita, he was given the shikona "Fujitayama" (藤田山). He reached the juryo division in May 1944 and had not produced a single losing record at the time. He was promoted to makuuchi in November 1947.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Fujitayama was ranked in the top division for a total of 14 tournaments, reaching as high as maegashira 12 in May 1949. In 1951, Fujitayama travelled to the United States alongside wrestlers Onoumi and Yakatayama as well as his stablemaster Takasago (the 39th yokozuna Maedayama). This was the first sumo tour to the United States after WWII. The group was scheduled to leave on June 30, 1951, but since the tour was so popular, their contracts were extended. After the contract extension, they started their tour at Hawaii and travelled all over the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Miami. In the end, Takasago returned to Japan on November 7th, Yakatayama on December 31, and Fujitayama and Onoumi on January 9, 1952. At this time, Fujitayama had been demoted down to juryo as he had missed the previous tournament due to the tour. Nevertheless, Fujitayama won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record in his first tournament back and was promoted back to makuuchi in May 1952. Fujitayama had very thin hair and the tokoyama, or hairdressers, could not tie a proper oichomage.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In 1953 Fujitayama began to struggle due to injuries and was demoted down to makushita in January 1954. He ultimately retired from sumo in September 1954. After leaving the sumo world, Fujitayama became a professional wrestler and an actor.

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Fujitayama had already been involved with professional wrestling during his tour in the United States. He worked for the Japan Wrestling Association (JWA) and wrestled under the ring name "Tadayoshi Fujitayama". His wrestling career only lasted from June 1955 to May 1956.

### **Post Wrestling Career**

After his wrestling career, Fujitayama worked as a ring announcer. Fujitayama also worked as an actor and appeared in movies such as *The Lower Depths* (1957) and *The Wind-of-Youth Group Crosses the Mountain Pass* (1961). He died on May 9, 1969, at the age of 45.

## **Fighting Style**

Fujitayama was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was tsukidashi, or thrust out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 189-197-57/381 (40 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 73-100-23/170 (14 basho)
* **Juryo:** 64-61-10/123 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 26-22-24/48 (9 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 14-10/24 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (January 1952)

## **Shikona History**

* Fujita Tadayoshi (1939.01 - 1941.05)
* Fujitayama Tadayoshi (1942.01 - 1948.05)
* Fujitayama Kenzo (1948.10 - 1949.05)
* Fujita Tadayoshi (1949.10 - 1949.10)
* Fujitayama Tadayoshi (1950.01 - 1950.01)
* Fujita Tadayoshi (1950.05 - 1951.05)
* Fujitayama Tadayoshi (1951.09 - 1954.09)

## **Sources**

* Fujitayama Tadayoshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Fujitayama Tadayoshi Rikishi Information