Tsurugamine Michiyoshi

Tsurugamine Michiyoshi - 鶴ヶ嶺 道芳 (born January 17, 1912 - March 18, 1972) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nakatane, Kagoshima. He made his debut in May 1931 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1937 and has 2 kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 2 and he retired in June 1947.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Michiyoshi Shimoie joined Izutsu stable in May 1931 and made his professional debut in May 1931 under the shikona "Tanegashima" (種子ヶ嶌). The Tanegashima ring name had been used by the 25th Yokozuna Nishinoumi who also came from Kagoshima prefecture. He was promoted to sandanme in February 1932 and makushita in January 1933. Upon promotion to juryo in January 1934, he changed his shikona to "Hoshikabuto" (星甲) and he was promoted to makuuchi in May 1937.

### **Makuuchi Career**

After one tournament in makuuchi, he changed his shikona to "Tsurugamine" (鶴ヶ嶺). He was ranked in the top division for a total of 20 tournaments, reaching as high as maegashira 2 in May 1942. He was unable to reach the san'yaku ranks mainly due to his weight as he weighed near 100 kg (220 Ib) in his peak. Both of his kinboshi came against yokozuna Minanogawa, where he defeated him in the May 1940 and January 1942 tournaments. In 1944, his stablemaster died, and he subsequently transferred to Futabayama Dojo (later renamed Tokitsukaze stable). He later retired from sumo in June 1947 due to injuries.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, he remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Izutsu Oyakata. He briefly worked as a coach for Tokitsukaze stable before re-establishing Izutsu stable in November 1947. He oversaw the promotion of many top division wrestlers, including sekiwake Tsurugamine, Hoshikabuto, Daiyu, and Nishikinada.

### **Death**

He died on March 18, 1972, due to encephalomalacia at Hara Sanshin Hospital in Fukuoka City. He was 60 years old.

## **Family**

Tsurugamine's younger brother Tokuhisa Shomoie was also a sumo wrestler who wrestled under the shikona Satsumanada. He reached juryo in January 1942, but was only ranked there for one tournament. In addition, his son Yoshihisa served as editor-in-chief of "Sumo", a magazine published by Baseball Magazine.

## **Fighting Style**

Tsurugamine 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 were sotogake (outside leg trip) and yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 181-196-24/375 (36 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 99-139-24/236 (20 basho)
* **Juryo:** 43-34/77 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 14-8/22 (2 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 25-15/40 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 0-0/0 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Tanegashima (1931.05 - 1933.05)
* Hoshikabuto Michiyoshi (1934.01 - 1937.05)
* Tsurugamine Michiyoshi (1938.01 - 1947.06)

## **Gallery**

Tsurugamine poses with his kesho-mawashiTsurugamine with his younger brother Satsumanada (c. 1942)Tsurugamine after retirement as Izutsu Oyakata
## **Sources**

* Tsurugamine Michiyoshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tsurugamine Michiyoshi Rikishi Information