Nanatsuumi Misao

Nanatsuumi Misao - 七ツ海 操 (born October 8, 1927 - December 24, 1994) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Iwai, Ibaraki. He made his debut in June 1947 and last wrestled for Tatsunami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1954. His highest rank was maegashira 12 and he retired in September 1959.

## **Early Life**

Noguchi was born in the village of Nanago (later merged into Iwai city) in Ibaraki prefecture. After graduating from elementary school, he worked at a local fire station before joining Tatsunami stable at the age of 19.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in June 1947 and was given the shikona "Nanatsuumi" (七ツ海). He won the sandanme yusho in September 1950 with a strong 12-3 record (back then all divisions wrestled the full fifteen days) and he was promoted to makushita for the following January 1951 tournament. In January 1952, he won the makushita yusho with a 12-3 record and followed with a 10-5 record at the top of makushita to earn a promotion to juryo for the September 1952 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Nanatsuumi could only manage a 7-8 record, but bounced back with four consecutive winning records to earn a promotion to makuuchi in January 1954.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Nanatsuumi posted a 9-6 record in his top division debut and followed with an 8-7 record to earn a promotion to a the rank of maegashira 12 in May 1954. He could only manage a 4-11 record in this tournament and this proved to be his highest rank. In the following September 1954 tournament, Nanatsuumi injured his cervical spine on the 7th day and subsequently withdrew from the tournament. He was demoted back down to juryo after four tournaments and he never managed to return back to the top division. He remained in juryo for the remaining four years of his career.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon falling down to makushita in September 1959, Nanatsuumi retired from sumo. After retiring, he opened up a chanko restaurant in Katsushika, Tokyo, called "Nanatsuumi" (七ツ海). He died on December 24, 1994, at the age of 67, and his eldest son and daughter (as of 2019) have since taken over his restaurant.

## **Fighting Style**

Nanatsuumi 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. He was also fond of employing komatasukui, or over thigh scooping body drop.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 326-332-15/657 (48 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 24-29-7/52 (4 basho)
* **Juryo:** 199-221/420 (28 basho)
* **Makushita:** 44-31-8/75 (6 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 40-35/75 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 13-11/24 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-1/6 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 1-4/5 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (January 1952)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (September 1950)

## **Shikona History**

* Noguchi Misao (1947.06 - 1947.11)
* Nanatsuumi Misao (1948.05 - 1959.09)

## **Gallery**

Nanatsuumi's Juryo promotion party (c. 1952)Nanatsuumi visits a Junior High School in his hometownNanatsuumi with his kesho-mawashiNanatsuumi's retirement ceremony (c. 1959)Nanatsuumi's kesho-mawashi on displayNanatsuumi's tegata
## **Sources**

* Nanatsuumi Misao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Nanatsuumi Misao Rikishi Information