Surugaumi Mitsuo

Surugaumi Mitsuo - 駿河海 光夫 (born January 1, 1920 - November 24, 2010) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shizuoka City, Shizuoka. He made his debut in January 1938 and last wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1943. His highest rank was maegashira 14 and he retired in November 1945.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Sugiyama initially joined the Kansai Sumo Assocition which was set up by former sekiwake Tenryu. Upon the closure of the Kansai Sumo Association in 1937, Sugiyama transferred to the Japan Sumo Association and joined Dewanoumi stable. He made his debut in January 1938 under the shikona "Aoiryu" (葵龍) and due to his previous professional sumo experience he made his debut at the makushita division. In May 1939 he was given the new shikona "Surugaumi" (駿河海) and was promoted to juryo in January 1942. In his first tournament as a sekitori, Surugaumi won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record. He followed with a 14-1 and claimed his second consecutive juryo yusho and was promoted to makuuchi for the following January 1943 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Surugaumi struggled in makuuchi mainly due to a knee injury and he was one ranked in the top division for a total of four tournaments, reaching as high as maegashira 14 in June 1945. He retired from sumo in November 1945 and never managed a winning record during his time in the top division.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, Surugaumi owned a small restaurant. One day in 1953 former sekiwake Rikidozan, who had become the biggest professional wrestling star in Japan, approached Surugaumi and requested that he try out wrestling. Surugaumi initially did not want to wrestle due to his knee injury, but later accepted the request and began his training.

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

He wrestled for Rikidozan's Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) and made his debut in February 1954 where he defeated Akira Nagasawa. He wrestled under the ring name "Mitsuo Surugaumi" and was active in the tag team scene, often partnering up with Rikidozan. On October 24, 1956, he became the first wrestler to win the Japanese Junior Heavyweight Championship. However, he left wrestling all together in 1959 due to a falling out with Rikidozan.

### **Death**

Surugaumi died on November 24, 2010, at the age of 90 due to bowel obstruction. At the time, he was the oldest-lived Japanese pro wrestler.

## **Fighting Style**

Surugaumi was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who preferred 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 uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 94-69-14-1d/162 (17 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 13-19-14-1d/31 (4 basho)
* **Juryo:** 45-20/65 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 36-30/66 (8 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (January 1942)
	+ 2nd (May 1942)

## **Shikona History**

* Aoiryu (1938.01 - 1939.01)
* Surugaumi Mitsuo (1939.05 - 1945.11)

## **Gallery**

Surugaumi poses with his kesho-mawashiSurugaumi during his time as a professional wrestler
## **Sources**

* Surugaumi Mitsuo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Surugaumi Mitsuo Rikishi Information