Aonosato Sakari

Aonosato Sakari - 青ノ里 盛 (born November 13, 1935 - May 16, 2008) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kuraishi, Aomori. He made his debut in March 1953 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1959 and has two special prizes as well as five kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in March 1969.

## **Early Life**

Ogasawara was born in the Kuraishi, Aomori, to a family of fruit farmers. After graduating from a local junior high school, he engaged in the family business. However, he was recruited into professional sumo by the 42nd Yokozuna Kagamisato. Ogasawara was at first reluctant to join sumo, but since his father was a former makushita wrestler, he decided to move to Tokyo and join Tokitsukaze stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in March 1953 and was given the shikona "Aonosato" (青ノ里). He was promoted to sandanme in March 1954 and makushita in September 1955. In May 1958, he posted a 6-2 record at the rank of makushita 1 and was promoted to juryo for the July 1958 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Aonosato won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record. He followed with a 9-6 record in September 1958. In his third juryo tournament he posted a 14-1 record and won his second juryo yusho. In addition, he was promoted to makuuchi for the following January 1959 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Aonosato was ranked in the top division for a total of 60 tournaments. In January 1962, he defeated yokozuna's Kashiwado and Wakanohana I to earn his first and second career kinboshi. He was subsequently awarded the Outstanding Performance prize as he finished the tournament with an 8-7 record. In March 1963, he posted an 8-7 record at the rank of komusubi and was promoted to sekiwake for the following May 1963 tournament. However, he could only manage a 3-12 record in the May tournament and this was his only tournament ranked at sekiwake. In November 1964 he finished with a 9-6 record, including a win over Yokozuna Kashiwado, and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He was demoted back down to juryo in November 1968 and retired from sumo two tournaments later in March 1969.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Hatachiyama. In 1988 he took over as head coach at Tatsutagawa stable from former yokozuna Kagamisato and became Tatsutagawa-oyakata. Two months prior to reaching the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age of 65 in November 2000, Tatsutagawa stable was shut down and the remaining wrestlers transferred to Michinoku stable.

### **Death**

He died of sepsis on May 16, 2008, at the age of 72.

## **Personal Life**

His son Moriyuki was born in 1970 and also became a sumo wrestler, reaching a highest rank of makushita 42 under the ring name of Fusanosato. His father was also a former makushita wrestler and his great-grandfather participated in amateur sumo.

## **Fighting Style**

Aonosato 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 yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing kotenage (armlock throw) and uwatenage (overarm throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 557-584-10/1140 (88 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 408-492/900 (60 basho)
* **Juryo:** 45-20-10/64 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 62-42/104 (13 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 27-21/48 (6 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 11-5/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (July 1958)
	+ 2nd (November 1958)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1), Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 5: (2) Kashiwado, (1) Taiho, (1) Wakanohana I, (1) Tochinoumi

## **Shikona History**

* Ogasawara Sakari (1953.03 - 1954.03)
* Aonosato Sakari (1954.05 - 1969.03)

## **Gallery**

An unsalaried Aonosato trains with Yokozuna KagamisatoAonosato during his career in Juryo (c. 1958)Aonosato wins his second Juryo Yusho (c. 1958)Aonosato poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Aonosato after retirement as Tatsutagawa Oyakata (c. 1985)
## **Sources**

* Aonosato Sakari Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Aonosato Sakari Rikishi Information