Oginohana Masaaki

Oginohana Masaaki - 小城ノ花 正昭 (born November 29, 1935 - December 16, 2006) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ogi, Saga. He made his debut in January 1952 and last wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1957 and has two special prizes as well as three kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in May 1967.

## **Early Life**

Masaaki Motomura was born in the town of Mikatsuki (later merged into Ogi city) in Saga prefecture to farmers. After graduating from Ogi City Mikatsuki Junior High School, he worked on his family's farm. Since his father was a big sumo fan, the young Motomura participated in amateur sumo tournaments and was later recruited into Dewanoumi stable at the age of 16.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in January 1952 and was given the shikona "Oginohana" (小城ノ花). He was promoted to sandanme in September 1952 and makushita in May 1955. In March 1957 he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 8-0 record at the rank of makushita 8 and was promoted to juryo in May 1957.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Oginohana finished with a strong 12-3 record. He followed with another 12-3 record in September 1957 and was promoted to makuuchi in November 1957 after only two tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Oginohana spent the first three years of his makuuchi year mainly in the lower maegashira ranks. In September 1960 he defeated Yokozuna Asashio to earn his first kinboshi and finished with 9-6 record. He was subsequently the Outstanding Performance prize and was promoted to komusubi for the following November 1960 tournament. Oginohana managed a 7-8 record in his san'yaku debut, but was demoted back down to the maegashira ranks. In November 1961 he defeated Asashio again to earn his second kinboshi. In September 1962, he posted a 10-5 record at the rank of maegashira 4 and was promoted to sekiwake for the November 1962 tournament. In his sekiwake debut, he finished with a 9-6 record and was awarded the Technique prize. He followed with an 8-7 record, but was demoted after he posted a 4-11 record in May 1963. He remained in the maegashira ranks for the majority of his later career.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In May 1967, he fell back down to makushita and subsequently retired from the sport. After retiring, he remained in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder under the name Takasaki. He left the sumo world upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

### **Death**

He died on December 16, 2006, at the age of 71 due to liver cancer.

## **Personal Life**

His two sons Akikazu and Yasutoshi were also successful professional sumo wrestlers. They both joined Dewanoumi stable and Akikazu inherited his father's shikona and made it to maegashira 2 while Yasutoshi took the shikona Oginishiki and rose to komusubi.

## **Fighting Style**

Oginohana 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.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 524-522-9/1044 (81 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 387-422-1/807 (54 basho)
* **Juryo:** 44-31/75 (5 basho)
* **Makushita:** 43-20-8/63 (9 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 42-46/88 (11 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (March 1957)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Outstanding Performance Prize (1), Technique Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 3: (2) Asashio, (1) Kashiwado

## **Gallery**

Oginohana with his kesho-mawashiOginohana (c. 1959)Oginohana after retirement as Takasaki Oyakata (c. 1989)Oginohana with his son, the second Oginohana (c. 1989)Oginohana's tegata
## **Sources**

* Oginohana Masaaki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Oginohana Masaaki Rikishi Information