Wakanoumi Masateru (born 1945)

## Wakanoumi Masateru

Wakanoumi Masateru - 若ノ海 正照 (born October 25, 1945 - March 31, 1995) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ohasama, Iwate. He made his debut in May 1961 and last wrestled for Hanakago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1972. His highest rank was maegashira 2 and he retired in January 1978.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduating from Uchikawame Junior High School, he joined Hanakago stable and made his professional debut in May 1961. He initially wrestled under the shikona "Wakaiwate" (若岩手) before reverting back to his surname in March 1964. He later adopted the shikona "Hakuryu" (迫龍) in May 1966. In November 1970, he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 5 and was promoted to juryo in January 1971.

### **Juryo Career**

Upon reaching the elite sekitori ranks, he was given the "Wakanoumi Masateru" shikona which belonged to komusubi Wakanoumi Masateru I. However, he had an inauspicious juryo debut, winning only two of his fifteen matches. After briefly returning to his family name of Matsuda he earned four consecutive winning record in the makushita division to return to juryo in November 1971. He won the juryo division yusho or championship in May 1972 with a 12–3 record.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He reached the top makuuchi division in July 1972, after 11 years and two months in sumo and 67 tournaments after his professional debut. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He never managed double-digit wins in a top division tournament, and did not earn any special prizes or gold stars. However, he did defeat ozeki Takanohana in March 1974. After suffering a dislocated ankle in the summer tour of 1977 he missed the September 1977 tournament and was demoted back to juryo.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition in January 1978 he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Otake and worked at Taiho stable (the Otake name was owned by Taiho). He left the Sumo Association in May 1992, when the Otake elder stock was needed by the retiring Ozutsu. After leaving sumo he ran a chankonabe restaurant in Tokyo's Koto ward and in 1993 appeared semi-regularly as a sumo trainer in the Hirari daytime drama series featured on NHK's Asadora.

### **Death**

He died of heart failure in a Shibuya hospital on March 31, 1995 at the age of 49. He is buried in a temple in Hanamaki, Iwate.

## **Personal Life**

Two of his sons were sumo wrestlers - former makushita Kachimori (born 1977) of Isenoumi stable and former jonidan Wakashoho (born 1980) of the Taiho stable. Kachimori now runs a chanko bowl restaurant.

## **Fighting Style**

He was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, and his most common winning techniques were yorikiri (force out), uwatenage (overarm throw) and tsuridashi (lift out). He preferred a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) grip on his opponent's mawashi.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 493-488-16/981 (100 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 144-171-15/315 (22 basho)
* **Juryo:** 120-120/240 (16 basho)
* **Makushita:** 151-121-1/272 (39 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 38-32/70 (10 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 30-33/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 10-11/21 (3 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Matsuda Akio (1961.05 - 1961.05)
* Wakaiwate Akio (1961.07 - 1964.01)
* Matsuda Akio (1964.03 - 1966.03)
* Hakuryu Akio (1966.05 - 1970.05)
* Matsuda Akio (1970.07 - 1970.11)
* Wakanoumi Akio (1971.01 - 1971.01)
* Matsuda Akio (1971.03 - 1971.03)
* Wakanoumi Masateru (1971.05 - 1971.05)
* Wakanoumi Akio (1971.07 - 1971.07)
* Wakanoumi Masateru (1971.09 - 1978.01)

## **Gallery**

Wakanoumi's first tournament in Juryo (c. 1971)Wakanoumi after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1972)Wakanoumi poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Wakanoumi prepares for his upcoming matchWakanoumi's retirement ceremony pamphlet (c. 1978)Wakanoumi after retirement as Otake Oyakata (c. 1986)
## **Sources**

* Wakanoumi Masateru Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakanoumi Masateru Rikishi Information