Onobori Mitsuhiro

Onobori Mitsuhiro - 大昇 充宏 (born August 1, 1925 - March 1, 2009) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Karuizawa, Nagano. He made his debut in January 1941 and wrestled for Kasugayama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1951 and has one special prize as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in January 1957.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He joined Kasugayama stable in 1941, recruited by the 14th Kasugayama Oyakata, ex-sekiwake Fujinokawa. However the stable shut down in 1947 and he was transferred to Tatsunami stable. In 1955 the stable was revived by ex-ozeki Nayoroiwa and he once again became a member of Kasugayama stable. Initially wrestling under the shikona "Fujikawa" (藤川), he later changed his shikona to "Shinshu" (信州) upon reaching makushita in November 1946. He won the makushita yusho in October 1948 and was promoted to juryo for the following Janaury 1949 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Onobori finished with a 7-6 record. He was given the shikona "Onobori" (大昇) in the following May 1949 tournament, and he subsequently won the juryo yusho as well. In September 1950, he posted a 12-3 record at the rank of juryo 3 and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1951.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He reached the top makuuchi division in 1951 and in just his second tournament in the division he had his greatest success, finishing runner-up to Chiyonoyama in May 1951 with a 12–3 record and winning the Fighting Spirit prize. In January 1955 he defeated yokozuna Tochinishiki to earn his only kinboshi, or gold star. Although he scored ten wins against five losses from maegashira 5 in this tournament, there was no sanyaku position open for him and he was ranked at maegashira 1 on the banzuke in the following tournament in March 1955. He scored only two wins against thirteen losses, and this was to be his highest rank. After 21 top division tournaments he was demoted to the juryo division after the May 1956 tournament. He did not compete on the dohyo again, officially retiring in January 1957.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Onobori remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, working as a coach at his old stable under a variety of elder names. In January 1971 he became head coach of Kasugayama stable following the death of ex-Nayoroiwa. He raised Kasugafuji, who also reached the rank of maegashira 1. Onobori was a director of the Sumo Association for four years from 1982, and an auditor from 1986. One of his nieces married Asahifuji in 1988. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in 1990, and Kasugayama stable was wound up and absorbed into Ajigawa stable (although it was later revived by Kasugafuji upon his own retirement).

### **Death**

Onobori died in Tokyo in March 2009 at the age of 83, from pneumonia.

## **Fighting Style**

Onobori 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 yoritaoshi, or frontal crush out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 235-233-20/468 (45 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 138-159-18/297 (21 basho)
* **Juryo:** 51-37/88 (8 basho)
* **Makushita:** 17-11-2/28 (5 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 12-11/23 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 12-12/24 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (May 1949)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (October 1948)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** (1) Tochinishiki

## **Shikona History**

* Fujikawa (1941.01 - 1945.11)
* Shinshu Yoshimi (1946.11 - 1947.11)
* Shinshu Takeshi (1948.05 - 1949.01)
* Onobori Mitsuhiro (1949.05 - 1957.01)

## **Sources**

* Onobori Mitsuhiro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Onobori Mitsuhiro Rikishi Information