Oiteyama Hirokuni

Oiteyama Hirokuni - 追風山 裕邦 (born June 16, 1938 - January 2, 2014) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Goshogawara, Aomori. He made his debut in May 1953 and last wrestled for Tatsunami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1960. His highest rank was maegashira 6 and he retired in May 1969.

## **Early Life**

Yamaguchi was born the youngest of five siblings in the village of Kase (later incorporated into the city of Goshogawara) in Aomori prefecture. He participated in many sumo tournaments as a child which caught the eye of makushita wrestler Shimizuiwa who wrestled for Oitekaze stable and also came from the same Kitatsugaru district. Yamaguchi subsequently joined Oitekaze stable while still attending junior high school.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1953 and was given the shikona "Kiyozakura" (清櫻). He was promoted to sandanme in January 1955 and makushita in January 1956. He changed his shikona to "Oiteyama" (追風山) in September 1958. In the following November 1958 tournament, he posted a 7-1 record at the rank of makushita 3 and was promoted to juryo for the following January 1959 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Oiteyama finished with a strong 12-3 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing to Wakasugiyama in the playoff. In March 1960, he posted an 11-4 record at the rank of juryo 5 and was promoted to makuuchi in May 1960.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Oiteyama was ranked in the top division for a total of 17 tournaments, but he was unable to establish himself at the top level and spent majority of his career in juryo (46 tournaments in juryo). His highest rank was maegashira 6 which he earned in November 1962. In November 1964 he won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record. In January 1965, his Oitekaze stable closed down, so he transferred to Tatsunami stable. His last makuuchi appearance was in January 1967 and he announced his retirement in May 1969.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He initially worked as a coach for Tatsunami stable before transferring to Tomozuna stable in August 1997. He later transferred to the newly stablished Oitekaze stable in October 1998. He reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age of 65 in June 2003.

### **Death**

After leaving the sumo world, he lived in Saitama prefecture, but died suddenly on January 2, 2014, due to cardiac arrest. He was 75 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Oiteyama 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, or force out. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 577-545-18/1121 (88 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 107-133-15/240 (17 basho)
* **Juryo:** 358-331-1/688 (46 basho)
* **Makushita:** 71-47-2/118 (15 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 21-11/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 18-14/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 2-6/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 0-3/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (November 1964)

## **Shikona History**

* Yamaguchi Mitsugu (1953.05 - 1953.05)
* Kiyozakura Mitsugu (1953.09 - 1958.07)
* Oiteyama Mitsugu (1958.09 - 1960.03)
* Oiteyama Torajiro (1960.05 - 1961.11)
* Oiteyama Mitsugu (1962.01 - 1965.09)
* Oiteyama Hirokuni (1965.11 - 1969.05)

## **Gallery**

Oiteyama during his career in Juryo (c. 1959)Oiteyama poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Oiteyama after retirement as Nakagawa Oyakata (c. 1986)
## **Sources**

* Oiteyama Hirokuni Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Oiteyama Hirokuni Rikishi Information