Okido Moriemon

Okido Moriemon - 大木戸 森右衛門 (born November 2, 1878 - November 7, 1930) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uozaki, Hyogo. He made his debut in September 1896 for Osaka sumo and wrestled for Minato stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1903 and has ten top division championships. He was the 23rd yokozuna and he retired in January 1914.

## **Early Life**

Mitsuzo Uchida was born in the village of Uozaki (modern day Higashinada ward, Kobe) in Hyogo prefecture on November 2, 1878. Due to his strong build, he participated in local child sumo tournaments and easily won. While working at a port as a laborer, he was introduced to Minato oyakata by a sumo wrestler from Osaka sumo who he met in Sino-Japanese war. He subsequently joined Minato stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in September 1896, wrestling for the Osaka Sumo Association. He was given the ring name "Okido Heihachi" (大城戸 平八). Upon reaching sandanme in October 1898, he was given the shikona "Okido Moriemon" (大木戸 森右衛門). He reached juryo in June 1902 and was promoted directly to makuuchi one tournament later in January 1903.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In only his third top division tournament in January 1904, while ranked as komusubi, he finished with the best record which was equivalent of the makuuchi yusho (Osaka sumo did not award official championships). He followed with another yusho-equivalent performance and was promoted to ozeki in January 1905.

### **Ozeki Career**

In his ozeki debut, Okido finished with a 9-0-1 record which was equivalent of winning his third championship. Between January 1908 and May 1909, he recorded 28 consecutive wins without a single draw or hold, a rarity at the time. At this time the Osaka Sumo Association attempted to promote him to yokozuna, but Okido's friendship with Tokyo sumo's Hitachiyama, who was not well liked in Osaka, derailed this.

### **Yokozuna Career**

In January 1910, he was finally promoted to yokozuna by the Osaka Sumo Association, but without the agreement of Tokyo sumo association and the house of Yoshida Tsukasa. The house of Yoshida became very angry and the Osaka Sumo Association apologized to the house. He was awarded a yokozuna license officially by the Tokyo association in December 1912. He produced a total of ten yusho-equivalent records which makes him the most dominant wrestler in the Osaka Sumo Association.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After suffering a cerebral hemorrhage, he retired from active sumo in January 1914. After retiring he remained in the Osaka Sumo Association as an elder under the name Minato. He took over Minato stable in 1914, but due to his poor health, he struggled to manage the stable and it shut down two years later in June 1916. He subsequently left the sumo world all together after the stable closure. In his later years he ran a tavern and a tobacco shop.

### **Death**

He died on November 7, 1930, at the age of 52 due to a stroke.

## **Personal Life**

He is the only yokozuna to spend his whole active career at Osaka sumo. Yokozuna Wakashima and Miyagiyama began his career at Tokyo sumo, before moving to Osaka sumo. Yokozuna Onishiki began his career at Kyoto sumo before transitioning to Osaka sumo two years later.

Although he was married in his active career, he divorced several times.

## **Fighting Style**

Okido 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). He was also fond of employing tsuri, or lifting techniques.

## **Record**

### **Championships**

* 10 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championships (Osaka Sumo)
	+ 1st (January 1904)
	+ 2nd (May 1904)
	+ 3rd (January 1905)
	+ 4th (February 1906)
	+ 5th (May 1906)
	+ 6th (June 1908)
	+ 7th (January 1909)
	+ 8th (May 1909)
	+ 9th (May 1910)
	+ 10th (February 1911)

## **Shikona History**

* Okido Heihachi (1896.09 - ?)
* Okido Moriemon (1898.10 - 1914.01)

## **Gallery**

Okido Moriemon - (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)
## **Sources**

* Okido Moriemon Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Okido Moriemon Rikishi Information