Fusanishiki Katsuhiko

Fusanishiki Katsuhiko - 房錦 勝比古 (born January 3, 1936 - July 21, 1993) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba. He made his debut in January 1952 and wrestled for Wakamatsu stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1957 and has five special prizes as well as six kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in January 1967.

## **Early Life**

Sakura was born in the town of Minami-Gyotoku (later absorbed into Ichikawa City) in Chiba prefecture. After World War II, there was limited opportunity to play sports, so Sakura would often run with his friends. When he attended junior high school, baseball was a popular sport which he also played as well. He was later recruited into Wakamatsu stable by the father of a referee who also belonged in the stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in January 1952 and was initially given the shikona "Kozakura" (小櫻) before switching to "Fusanishiki" (房錦) in January 1954. He was promoted to sandanme in March 1953 and makushita in September 1954. After eleven consecutive winning records he was promoted to juryo in May 1956.

### **Juryo Career**

Fusanishiki posted three straight 9-6 records from his juryo debut and in his fourth tournament he won the juryo yusho with an impressive 13-2 record. He was promoted to makuuchi for the following May 1957 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his first tournament in makuuchi, he finished with a strong 11-4 record and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. In the following September 1957 tournament, he defeated Yokozuna Kagamisato to earn his first career kinboshi. In total Fusanishiki earned another five kinboshi: two against Chiyonoyama, one against Wakanohana I, one against Taiho, and one against Kashiwado.

In May 1959 he posted a 9-6 record at the rank of maegashira 1 and was awarded the Technique prize. He was promoted to sekiwake for the following July 1969 tournament and managed a 9-6 record, however, he followed with a 2-13 record and was demoted back down to the maegashira ranks. From November 1960 to March 1961, Fusanishiki went on a strong run, winning three consecutive special prizes and was promoted back to sekiwake in May 1961. However, he could only manage a 5-10 record in the May tournament. He remained in the maegashira ranks for majority of his later career.

Due to a knee and a hip injury, he was demoted back down to juryo in November 1965 and he never managed to return back to the top division. In January 1967 he posted a 3-12 record at the rank of juryo 14 and ultimately retired after the tournament to avoid an inevitable demotion to makushita.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He married the daughter of his stable master, ex-maegashira Shachinosato. He was head coach at Wakamatsu stable from 1979 until 1990, when he left the Sumo Association because of poor health. Former ozeki Asashio Taro IV took over as Wakamatsu's head coach in March 1990.

### **Death**

After leaving the sumo world, he lived in a medical treatment center. He died on July 21, 1993, at the age of 57 due to peptic ulcer disease.

## **Fighting Style**

Fusanishiki was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out). He was fond of employing inashi, or ducking and moving diagonally back from the opponent.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 514-533-11/1044 (79 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 352-391-7/741 (50 basho)
* **Juryo:** 88-88-4/175 (12 basho)
* **Makushita:** 34-22/56 (7 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 26-22/48 (6 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 10-6/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Outstanding Performance Prize (2), Technique Prize (2), Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 6: (2) Chiyonoyama, (1) Taiho, (1) Wakanohana I, (1) Kashiwado, (1) Kagamisato

## **Shikona History**

* Kozakura Masakatsu (1952.01 - 1952.09)
* Kozakura Katsuhiko (1953.01 - 1953.09)
* Fusanishiki Katsuhiko (1954.01 - 1967.01)

## **Gallery**

Fusanishiki with his kesho-mawashiFusanishiki prepares for his upcoming matchFusanishiki during the Makuuchi dohyo-iriFusanishiki after retirement as Wakamatsu Oyakata (c. 1985)Fusanishiki's tegata
## **Sources**

* Fusanishiki Katsuhiko Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Fusanishiki Katsuhiko Rikishi Information