Dairyugawa Kazuo

Dairyugawa Kazuo - 大竜川 一男 (born January 21, 1946) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kakogawa, Hyogo. He made his debut in January 1961 and last wrestled for Mihogaseki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1968 and has two special prizes. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in May 1979.

## **Early Life**

Wada was born on January 21, 1946, in Kakogawa, Hyogo. He began practicing sumo in elementary school and after graduating from Takasago Shiritsu Hoden Junior High School, he joined Mihogaseki stable and made his professional debut in January 1961.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1961 and was given the shikona "Masuwaka" (増若). He was promoted to sandanme in July 1972 and makushita in September 1963. In July 1864 he changed his shikona to "Dairyugawa" (大竜川). In July 1966 he produced a 6-1 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo in the following September 1966 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Dairyugawa's first juryo stint only lasted four tournaments and he was demoted back down to makushita in May 1967. Nevertheless, he returned to juryo in the following July 1967 tournament and posted three consecutive winning records. After two straight double-digit winning records, Dairyugawa was promoted to makuuchi in September 1968.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his second makuuchi tournament, Dairyugawa finished with a strong 10-5 record and was awarded his first Fighting Spirit prize. In September 1969 he finished with an 11-4 record and was awarded his second Fighting Spirit prize. Moreover he was promoted to his highest rank of maegashira 1 in the following November tournament, however, he could only finish the tournament with a 3-12 record. For the last ten years of his career, he bounced between makuuchi and juryo. His last makuuchi appearance was in November 1977 and he announced his retirement o the fifth day of the May 1979 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Kiyomigata. His son Mitsuhiro (born 1973) joined Mihogaseki stable in November 1991, but rose only as high as jonidan 43 and retired in January 1993. Kiyomigata reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in January 2011.

## **Controversy**

### **Yakuza Ties**

On May 27, 2010, Kiyomigata Oyakata (the former Dairyugawa) alongside Kise Oyakata (the former Higonoumi were punished for being implicated in the selling of tickets for last year's Nagoya basho to some 50 yakuza gang members of the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate. Luckily, Kiyomigata only escaped with a reprimand while Kise was demoted two ranks in the sumo hierarchy and force to close his stable.

## **Fighting Style**

Dairyugawa was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 684-684/1367 (111 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 162-228/390 (26 basho)
* **Juryo:** 385-355/739 (50 basho)
* **Makushita:** 80-53/133 (19 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 19-16/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 28-21/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 10-11/21 (3 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (2)

## **Shikona History**

* Wada Kazuo (1961.01 - 1961.01)
* Masuwaka Kazuo (1961.03 - 1964.05)
* Dairyugawa Kazuo (1964.07 - 1979.05)

## **Gallery**

Dairyugawa defeats Daiyu to win his first Sansho (c. 1968)Dairyugawa receives his second sansho prize (c. 1969)Dairyugawa poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Dairyugawa's retirement ceremony (c. 1979)Dairyugawa after retirement as Kiyomigata Oyakata (c. 1989)Kiyomigata is reprimanded after selling the yakuza sumo ticketsDairyugawa's tegata
## **Sources**

* Dairyugawa Kazuo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Dairyugawa Kazuo Rikishi Information