Asashio Taro (born 1864)

## Asashio Taro

Asashio Taro - 朝汐 太郎 (born November 28, 1864 - August 26, 1920) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uwa District, Iyo. He made his debut in January 1890 and wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1890 and has two top division championships. His highest rank was ozeki and he retired in January 1908.

## **Early Life**

Tarokichi Masuhara was born the eldest son of Kanjuro Masuhara in Uwa District, Iyo Province (currently Yawatahama, Ehime). He was known for his strength since he was a child and was able to easily lift an 18 liter keg of sake at the age of 7. He later worked for the Japanese wax industry, however, he preferred sumo wrestling over work. When he had free time, Masuhara would slam his hands at a pillar to practice teppo and would also take part in amateur sumo. He would at times get reprimanded by his boss due to his enthusiasm for sumo.

## **Career**

### **Osaka Sumo Career**

in 1881, at the age of 17, Masuhara was invited by sumo wrestler Asaarashi to join Osaka sumo. He subsequently joined Oshiogawa stable and made his debut in 1883 under the shikona "Asashio" (朝汐). However, he was not satisified with Osaka sumo and subsequently moved to Tokyo.

### **Early Career**

In 1889, he was invited by Takasago stable to join Tokyo sumo which he did. He made his debut in January 1890 at the juryo division and was still using the Asashio ring name. He was promoted to makuuchi in May 1890 after only one tournament in juryo. He was promoted to sekiwake in January 1893 and was ranked there for 11 consecutive tournaments (5 years) until his promotion to ozeki in May 1898.

### **Ozeki Career**

Asashio was ranked as an ozeki for five years (ten tournaments) until his demotion in May 1903. Official championships were not recorded until 1909, but he won the equivalent of two championships: one in May 1894 and one in May 1898. After his demotion he remained in the san'yaku and upper maegashira ranks until his retirement in January 1908 at the age of 43.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, he remained in the sumo world as an elder under the name Sanoyama. He established Sanoyama stable, but the stable did not last very long and he later worked as a coach for Takasago stable. He died on August 25, 1920, at the age of 55.

## **Personal Life**

In 1900, he participated in a local tour at Ehime prefecture, and an event was held at his hometown of Yawatahama. At the time there was a river flowing near the venue and spectators had to bypass the river to watch the sumo wrestling. Asashio took this into consideration and built a dobashi bridge overnight with local merchants. The bridge was later named "Asashio Bridge" (朝汐橋). Although, the bridge and the river are now gone, monuments relating to the bridge still remain.

After losing his ozeki rank, Asashio remained in the lower ranks for another five years. To commerate his many years in sumo after losing his ozeki rank, he was offered a one day yokozuna license by the House of Yoshida Tsukasa in December 1904. In 1905 he performed the yokozuna dohyo iri for his first and only time.

Three other sumo wrestlers assumed the "Asashio Taro" (朝汐 太郎) ring name and they all made it to ozeki or higher. The second Asashio Taro (born Chokichi Komota) made it to ozeki and was recruited by the first Asashio Taro. The third Asashio Taro (born Fumitoshi Yonekawa) was the 46th yokozuna and won a total of five championships. The fourth Asashio Taro (born Suehiro Nagaoka) made it to ozeki as well. The "Asashio Taro" shikona is considered one of the most prestigous shikona in Takasago stable history.

## **Fighting Style**

Asashio was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He was fond of employing yori (forcing) techniques and uwatenage (overarm throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 144-78-103-32draws-12holds/266 (37 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 138-76-103-31draws-12holds/257 (36 basho)
* **Juryo:** 6-2-1draws/9 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championships
	+ 1st (May 1894)
	+ 2nd (May 1898)

## **Gallery**

Asashio Taro poses with his kesho-mawashi
## **Sources**

* Asashio Taro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Asashio Taro Rikishi Information