Otayama Ichiro

Otayama Ichiro - 大田山 一朗 (born May 3, 1924 - November 11, 1999) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ota, Tokyo. He made his debut in January 1940 and wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1957. His highest rank was maegashira 20 and he retired in May 1959.

## **Early Life**

After graduating from elementary school, he worked at the Hitachi Aircraft Tachikawa Plant Substation. In June 1939, he was recruited into Takasago stable by ozeki Maedayama.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in January 1940 and was given the shikona "Maedagawa" (前田川). In November 1944 he was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army for military service. He returned to sumo in November 1945 and was promoted to makushita in June 1946. He changed his shikona to "Iwateyama" (岩手山) in January 1949 before changing it again to "Otayama" (大田山) in May 1950. In September 1950 he won the makushita yusho and was promoted to juryo two tournaments later in September 1951.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Otayama finished with a 9-6 record. He initially struggled to produce strong results and was stuck in juryo for six years. In September 1956 he won the juryo yusho with a strong 12-3 record and was promoted to makuuchi four tournaments later in September 1957.

### **Makuuchi Career**

At the time of his top division debut, Otayama was already 33 years old and was very popular because he had been serving as the bow-twirler to mark the end of the tournament day since May 1954, and he would continue to perform the bow-twirling ceremony all the way to his retirement in May 1959. However, he struggled in makuuchi and was ranked in the top division for two tournaments. He remained in juryo for two more years before retiring from sumo in May 1959 at the age of 35.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Jinmaku. He later acquired the Nishikido name and reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in May 1989. During his time in the association, he also opened up a chanko restraunt in Yokohama called "Chanko Otayama" (ちゃんこ 大田山).

### **Death**

He died on November 11, 1999, at a hospital Shizuoka Prefecture due to pneumonia. He was 75 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Otayama 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.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 347-366-9-1d/713 (58 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 10-20/30 (2 basho)
* **Juryo:** 228-247-4-1d/475 (32 basho)
* **Makushita:** 58-49/107 (9 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 35-31-5/66 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 13-19/32 (4 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 1956)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (September 1950)

## **Shikona History**

* Fujizawa Ichiro (1940.01 - 1940.05)
* Maedagawa Ichiro (1941.01 - 1948.10)
* Iwateyama Ichiro (1949.01 - 1950.01)
* Otayama Ichiro (1950.05 - 1959.05)

## **Gallery**

Otayama with his kesho-mawashiTrading card of Otayama serving as a bow twirlerOtayama after retirement as Nishikido Oyakata (c. 1976)Otayama's restaurant, which he ran after retirementOtayama's tegata
## **Sources**

* Otayama Ichiro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Otayama Ichiro Rikishi Information