Onoumi Hisamitsu

Onoumi Hisamitsu - 大ノ海 久光 (born March 20, 1916 - September 20, 1981) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ikawa, Akita. He made his debut in January 1937 and wrestled for Nishonoseki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1944. His highest rank was maegashira 3 and he retired in May 1952.

## **Early Life**

Hisamitsu Kudo was born on March 20, 1916, in the village of Ikawa in Akita prefecture. His grandfather served in the village council and his three uncles were strong local amateur sumo wrestlers. Kudo was later adopted by one of the uncles. He later joined the 17th Infantry Regiment in Akita. During his time in the military, Kudo won a sumo tournament and was awarded a trophy from Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu himself. Due to this, word began to spread in the sumo community that there was a strong wrestler from Akita prefecture and Kudo received invitations to join Izutsu stable and Dewanoumi stable. However, yokozuna Tamanishiki of Nishonoseki stable directly appealed to the captain of Kudo's infantry division and Kudo was subsequently discharged.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Kudo joined Nishonoseki stable and made his professional debut in January 1937 at the age of 20. Initially wrestling under the shikona "Wakanohana" (若ノ花), he was promoted to sandanme in May 1938 and makushita in May 1939. He was given the new shikona "Onoumi" (大ノ海) and was promoted to juryo in January 1943. After four tournaments in juryo, Onoumi was promoted to makuuchi in November 1944.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Onoumi was ranked in the top division for 16 consecutive tournaments, reaching as high as maegashira 3 in January 1950. His stablemaster, former sekiwake Tamanoumi, encouraged Onoumi to recruit wrestlers. Onoumi agreed and began heavily recruiting many wrestlers and training them as his own despite being an active wrestler. In 1946, Onoumi travelled to Muroran, Hokkaido, and recruited the future yokozuna Wakanohana I. In 1951 he took part in an exhibition tournament in Los Angeles, the first visit by professional sumo wrestlers to the United States since World War II, alongside Yakatayama, Fujitayama and retired former yokozuna Maedayama. During his stay in the US, Onoumi became acquainted with Western culture and was even recruited by the American Wrestling Association. He later returned to Japan and retired from sumo in May 1952.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After his retirement from active competition in 1952 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Hanakago and established the Hanakago stable, taking Wakanohana with him. He oversaw Wakanohana's promotion to yokozuna in January 1958. Hanakago was a highly successful stablemaster, producing over 20 sekitori, including ozeki Kaiketsu and yokozuna Wajima.

### **Death**

Shortly after reaching the mandatory retirement age, Onoumi died on September 20, 1961, at the age of 65 due to pancreatic cancer. Wajima, who had married his daughter, inherited his Hanakago stable.

## **Personal Life**

After marrying, Onoumi changed his surname from Kudo to Nakajima. His son, Katsuji Nakajima (born November 22, 1968), joined Hanakago stable in January 1967 and wrestled under his father's shikona Onoumi. His highest rank was makushita 23 and he retired in March 1971.

## **Fighting Style**

Onoumi as 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.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 172-174-6-3d/348 (35 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 88-108-2-3d/198 (16 basho)
* **Juryo:** 36-34/70 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 30-22-4/52 (7 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 8-6/14 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Wakanohana (1937.01 - 1941.05)
* Onoumi Hisamitsu (1942.01 - 1952.05)

## **Sources**

* Onoumi Hisamitsu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Onoumi Hisamitsu Rikishi Information