Sakaigawa Namiemon

Sakaigawa Namiemon - 境川 浪右衛門 (born April 8, 1841 - September 16, 1887) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Katsushika District, Shimosa. He made his debut in November 1857 and wrestled for Sakaigawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in April 1864 and has five top division championships. He was the 14th yokozuna and he retired in January 1881.

## **Early Life**

He was born Udagawa Masakichi (宇田川 政吉), later changed his surname to Ichikawa (市川), and then finally changed his given name to Namiemon. He was raised in Katsushika District in Shimosa Province (modern day Ichikawa, Chiba) and his parents were in the salt industry. At the age of 13, while visiting a liquor store called "Konishiya" (小西屋), he lifted sake barrels with ease and was subsequently recruited into Sakaigawa stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in November 1857 and was given the shikona "Konishikawa" (小西川) which was derived from the name of the liquor store where he was recruited from. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1858 and after several years in the unsalaried ranks, he was promoted to juryo in March 1866. Upon promotion to the sekitori level, he was given the shikona "Masuizan Daishiro" (増位山 大四郎). After two tournaments in the juryo division, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division in April 1867.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He won the equivalent of his first tournament championship in June 1868 from the maegashira ranks, emerging undefeated with eight wins (though this was before the championship system established in 1909). He was promoted to ozeki (then sumo's highest rank) in April 1870 after winning two tournaments in a row from the rank of sekiwake.

### **Ozeki Career**

Following his promotion, he changed his ring surname to Sakaigawa, and shortly after its given name to Namiemon. The Sakaigawa name had previously been used by another wrestler from the same stable, who had been an ozeki from 1857 to 1861. In his ozeki debut, Sakaigawa won the equivalent of his fourth championship. In November 1871, Sakaigawa won his fifth and final championship.

### **Yokozuna Career**

Sakaigawa was initially given a yokozuna licence by the Osaka based House of Gojo in February 1876. He was admitted as a yokozuna by the House of Yoshida Tsukasa in February 1877. At that time, the Meiji Restoration was confusing the sumo world. Many sumo wrestlers were promoted to nominal yokozuna and the worth of the title yokozuna became very diluted as a result. Among them, later on, Sakaigawa became the only yokozuna admitted officially.

Sakaigawa retired in January 1881. In the top makuuchi division, he won 118 bouts and lost 23 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 83.7. However, he also recorded 71 draws because he often let his opponent attack first. He was nicknamed the "Meiji era Tanikaze".

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, he remained in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder. Since he married the daughter of his stablemaster, he inherited Sakaigawa stable upon his retirement. He died on September 16, 1887, whilst an active coach at the age of 46.

## **Fighting Style**

Sakaigawa 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 as well as a morozashi (double hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). He was also fond of employing tsuri, or lifting techniques.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 130-26-63-73d-6a/235 (30 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 118-23-63-71d-5a/217 (28 basho)
* **Juryo:** 12-3-2d-1a/18 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 5 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championships
	+ 1st (June 1868)
	+ 2nd (March 1869)
	+ 3rd (November 1869)
	+ 4th (March 1870)
	+ 5th (November 1871)

## **Shikona History**

* Konishikawa (1857.11 - 1865.11)
* Masuizan Daishiro (1866.03 - 1869.11)
* Sakaigawa Daishiro (1870.04 - 1870.04)
* Sakaigawa Namiemon (1870.11 - 1881.01)

## **Gallery**

A photograph of Sakaigawa during his active career
## **Sources**

* Sakaigawa Namiemon Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Sakaigawa Namiemon Rikishi Information