Kiyonomori Masao

Kiyonomori Masao - 清ノ森 政夫 (born April 8, 1935 - April 20, 2019) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Omori, Akita. He made his debut in January 1953 and wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1959. His highest rank was maegashira 9 and he retired in May 1967.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

At the age of 17, Sasaki joined Isegahama stable and made his professional debut in January 1953. Wrestling under the shikona "Kiyonomori" (清ノ森), he was promoted to sandanme in September 1953 and makushita in September 1954. In March 1957 he posted a 6-2 record at the rank of makushita 5 and was promoted to juryo for the May 1957 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Kiyonomori finished with an 8-7 record and his slim, muscular build meant he was popular with female fans. After a year and a half in juryo, In November 1958, Kiyonomori finished with a 10-5 record and followed with a 11-4 record in January 1959 to earn a promotion to makuuchi in March 1959.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Kiyonomori was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 19 tournaments, but he was unable to establish himself, only reaching as high as maegashira 9 in May 1960. From 1962 to 1963, he briefly wrestled under his stablemaster's old shikona "Kiyosegawa" (清勢川), before reverting back to Kiyonomori. He spent majority of his time in juryo and won two championships. His first juryo yusho in May 1961 was notable because he defeated the eventual makuuchi yusho winner Maegashira 13 Sadanoyama. This is the only time that a juryo yusho winner defeated a makuuchi yusho winner in the same tournament. He won his second juryo yusho in May 1965 with a 13-2 record. After falling down to makushita in May 1967 he retired from sumo.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association and took charge of Kise stable from his father-in-law Katsuragawa. He produced komusubi Aobayama in November 1975 and juryo Tengoyama in November 1981. He reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in April 2000.

### **Death**

He died of pneumonia in April 2019 at the age of 84.

## **Fighting Style**

Kiyonomori 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 uwatenage (overarm throw), yorikiri (force out), and katasukashi (under shoulder swing down).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 519-504-7-1d/1024 (78 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 115-170/285 (19 basho)
* **Juryo:** 322-277-1d/600 (40 basho)
* **Makushita:** 50-38-7/88 (12 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 21-11/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 9-7/16 (2 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (May 1961)
	+ 2nd (May 1965)

## **Shikona History**

* Sasaki Masao (1953.01 - 1953.03)
* Kiyonomori Masao (1953.05 - 1962.03)
* Kiyosegawa Masao (1962.05 - 1963.11)
* Kiyonomori Masao (1964.01 - 1967.05)

## **Gallery**

Kiyonomori awaits his upcoming match in the unsalaried ranksKiyonomori wins his first Juryo Yusho (c. 1961)Kiyonomori poses with his kesho-mawashiKiyonomori prepares for his upcoming matchKiyonomori after retirement as Kise Oyakata (c. 1999)
## **Sources**

* Kiyonomori Masao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kiyonomori Masao Rikishi Information