Shinobuyama Harusada

Shinobuyama Harusada - 信夫山 治貞 (born March 21, 1925 - September 2, 1977) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hobara, Fukushima. He made his debut in May 1940 and wrestled for Onogawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1950 and has eight special prizes as well as seven kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in September 1960.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Born in Hobara, Fukushima, Honma joined Onogawa stable and made his professional debut in May 1940. He won the sandanme yusho in May 1944 and was promoted to makushita in November 1944, however, he was drafted by the Imperial Japanese Army shortly after. Honma was stationed in the Korean Peninsula, however, he was placed in a Soviet Camp after losing his battle. He later escaped and fled to Seoul under an Alias and he managed to return to Japan through a salvage ship. He returned to sumo in November 1946 and was given the shikona "Azumayama" (吾妻山). He was promoted to juryo a year later in November 1947.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Azumayama finished with a 3-8 record and was demoted back down to makushita. He returned to juryo in October 1948, but could only manage a 2-9 record and was demoted back down to makushita. He was promoted back to juryo again in May 1949, but scored a poor 5-10 record. Due to the poor showings, he was given the shikona "Shinobuyama" (信夫山) and he immediately won the makushita yusho and was promoted to juryo for the fourth time in January 1950. In his return, he posted two strong double-digit winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in September 1950.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Shinobuyama finished with a strong 11-4 record in his first top division debut. In January 1954, he finished with a 10-5 record and was awarded the Technique prize. He would go on to win the Technique prize on six other occasions as he had a very versatile fighting style. He also earned one Fighting Spirit and Outstanding performance prize each. His kinboshi were earned against five different yokozuna: Azumafuji, Yoshibayama (twice), Kagamisato (twice), Wakanohana I, and Asashio. He was promoted to komusubi in January 1955, and held the rank for four consecutive tournaments. In May 1958, he returned to komusubi and posted a 10-5 record which boosted him up to sekiwake in July 1958. He was able to maintain his rank for three consecutive tournaments before falling back down to the maegashira ranks in January 1959. Due to injuries and a herniated disc, he was demoted down to juryo in July 1960 and he subsequently retired in September 1960.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Takenawa He later acquired the Yamahibiki name, but left the sumo world in September 1965.

### **Death**

He died on September 2, 1977, at a hospital in Tokyo due to a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 52 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Shinobuyama preferred to fight on the opponent's mawashi, and his favored grip was (somewhat unusually) morozashi, or double hand inside. His most common winning kimarite was yorikiri, a straightforward force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 403-392-20/792 (65 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 308-322-15/627 (43 basho)
* **Juryo:** 31-36/67 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 32-13-5/45 (6 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 17-12/29 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 11-5/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (May 1944)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (October 1948)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (6), Fighting Spirit Prize (1), Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 7: (2) Kagamisato, (2) Yoshibayama, (1) Wakanohana I, (1) Azumafuji, (1) Asashio

## **Shikona History**

* Honma Sakae (1940.05 - 1945.11)
* Azumayama Sakae (1946.11 - 1949.01)
* Honma Sakae (1949.05 - 1949.05)
* Shinobuyama Harusada (1949.10 - 1960.09)

## **Gallery**

Shinobuyama poses with his kesho-mawashiShinobuyama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Shinobuyama Harusada Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shinobuyama Harusada Rikishi Information