Onoura Kazuhiro

Onoura Kazuhiro - 大ノ浦 一廣 (born October 21, 1925 - March 26, 1987) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Noshiro, Akita. He made his debut in November 1947 and last wrestled for Hanakago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1956. His highest rank was maegashira 16 and he retired in May 1960.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Mizuki participated in amateur sumo tournaments prior to joining Nishonoseki stable in 1947. He made his professional debut in November 1947 and was given the shikona "Onoura" (大ノ浦). In May 1949, he won the sandanme yusho with a 13-2 record (back then all divisions wrestled the full fifteen days) and was promoted to makushita in the following October 1949 tournament. After four tournaments in makushita, he was promoted to juryo in January 1951.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Onoura finished with an 8-7 record. However, in September 1952, he suffered an injury and was demoted back down to makushita. In 1952, he transferred to recently opened Hanakago stable which was established by his stablemate Onoumi. He did not return to juryo until September 1955 where he posted a strong 10-5 record. In the following January 1956 tournament, he finished with an 11-4 record, but missed out on the championship after losing to future sekiwake Iwakaze in the playoff. Nevertheless, he followed with two more winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in September 1956.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Onoura was ranked in makuuchi for six consecutive tournaments, reaching as high as maegashira 16 in September 1957. He was demoted back down to juryo in January 1958 and he never returned to the top division. Onoura remained in juryo for two years before falling down to makushita in May 1960 where he ultimately retired from the sport.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Futagoyama. He later changed his elder name to Otowayama, but left the sumo world in 1963 as he was only borrowing the stock.

After leaving the sumo world, he returned to his hometown and worked at his brother's business before engaging in the landscaping industry.

He died on March 26, 1987, at the age of 61.

## **Fighting Style**

Onoura 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 were yorikiri (force out) and uwatenage (overarm throw). He also regularly employed nimaigeri (ankle kicking twisting down).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 317-321-19/636 (51 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 39-51/90 (6 basho)
* **Juryo:** 166-183-11/347 (24 basho)
* **Makushita:** 79-76-8/155 (16 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 19-8/27 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 9-3/12 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-0/5 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Onoura (1947.11 - 1948.05)
* Noshiroumi (1948.10 - 1950.05)
* Onoura (1950.09 - 1953.01)
* Mizuki (1953.03 - 1954.01)
* Onoura (1954.03 - 1954.09)
* Hayakaze (1955.01 - 1955.09)
* Onoura Kazuhiro (1956.01 - 1957.11)
* Onoura (1958.01 - 1960.03)
* Mizuki (1960.05 - 1960.05)

## **Sources**

* Onoura Kazuhiro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Onoura Kazuhiro Rikishi Information