Naruyama Akira

Naruyama Akira - 成山 明 (born November 27, 1931 - May 8, 1978) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sumoto, Hyogo. He made his debut in October 1948 and last wrestled for Onogawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1953 and has four special prizes as well as six kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1962.

## **Early Life**

Akira Naruyama was born on November 27, 1931, in the village of Yura (currently Sumoto City) in Hyogo prefecture. He volunteered for the Imperial Japanese Army's youth aviation unit and he left after the Second World War had ended. After leaving, he worked in the fishing industry with his family, but was recruited into professional sumo by his father's cousin, Onogawa Oyakata (former maegashira Kinkazan).

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He subsequently joined Onogawa stable and made his professional debut in October 1948, wrestling under the shikona "Onokawa" (小野若). Unusually, he reverted back to his surname in 1951 and continued to wrestle under his real name. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1950 and makushita in September 1951. He was promoted to juryo in January 1951.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Naruyama won his first nine matches which was the most consecutive wins from the first day of a juryo debutant (the record was tied 55 years later by Shotenro). Naruyama went on to claim the juryo yusho with a 12-3 record. He followed with two more winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in September 1953.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Naruyama had a strong top division debut as he was runner-up to Yokozuna Azumafuji with a 12-3 record and earned the Technique prize. Two tournaments later in March 1954, he was runner-up to ozeki Mitsuneyama with an 11-4 record. In September 1954, he defeated Yokozuna Kagamisato and Azumafuji to earn his first and second kinboshi; he went on to earn a total of six kinboshi. In January 1956, he posted an 8-7 record at the rank of maegashira 1 and was awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. He was also promoted to komusubi for the following March 1956 tournament, however, he could only manage a 3-12 record at this rank. He remained in the maegashira ranks for majority of his later career and went on to achieve two more Technique prizes.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Towards his later career, he began suffering from diabetes and ultimately retired form sumo in May 1962. After retiring, he ran a restaurant in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

### **Death**

He died on May 8, 1978, at a hospital in Minato, Tokyo, due to a heart attack. He was 46 years old.

## **Personal Life**

His son Akihide Naruyama (born 1963) was also a professional sumo wrestler. He joined Dewanoumi stable in March 1978 and also wrestled under the surname Naruyama. He rose as high as makushita 2 and even wrestled multiple juryo matches, but was unable capitalize on a juryo promotion. He retired from sumo in May 1987 and currently manages a restaurant called "Chanko Naruyama" (ちゃんこ 成山) in Tokyo.

## **Fighting Style**

Naruyama 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 yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 454-433/887 (61 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 261-294/555 (37 basho)
* **Juryo:** 89-61/150 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 36-24/60 (4 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 42-33/75 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 22-20/42 (3 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 4-1/5 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (Janaury 1953)
	+ 2nd (May 1953)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (3), Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 6: (2) Kagamisato, (2) Yoshibayama, (1) Wakanohana I, (1) Azumafuji

## **Shikona History**

* Naruyama Akira (1948.10 - 1948.10)
* Onowaka Akira (1949.01 - 1951.01)
* Naruyama Akira (1951.05 - 1960.01)
* Naruyama Jun (1960.03 - 1961.09)
* Naruyama Akira (1961.11 - 1962.05)

## **Gallery**

Naruyama with his kesho-mawashiNaruyama defeats future Yokozuna AsashioNaruyama defeats Yokozuna Wakanohana (c. 1959)
## **Sources**

* Naruyama Akira Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Naruyama Akira Rikishi Information