Miyanishiki Hiroshi

Miyanishiki Hiroshi - 宮錦 浩 (born May 30, 1927 - July 6, 1992) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Miyako, Iwate. He made his debut in May 1942 and wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1952 and has one special prize as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in November 1959.

## **Early Life**

Hiroshi Nosawa was born in Miyako, Iwate, and his parents ran a shop which sold rice and sake. He was recruited by the 29th Yokozuna Miyagiyama and subsequently joined Takasago stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1942 and initially wrestled under the shikona "Hayajime" (早地峯) before switching to "Miyanishiki" (宮錦) which is derived from his hometown of Miyako. He won the jonidan yusho in November 1946 and was promoted to makushita one year later in November 1947. After four consecutive winning records, he was promoted to juryo in January 1951.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, he finished with an 8-7 record. He followed with a 9-6 and a 10-5 record and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1952 after a total of three tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Miyanishiki could only manage a 5-10 record in his top division debut and was demoted back down to juryo. He returned to makuuchi in January 1954 and posted four consecutive winning records. In September 1954, while ranked at maegashira 5, he defeated yokozuna Kagamisato to earn his first kinboshi and he finished with an 8-7 record to earn the Fighting Spirit prize as well. In addition, he was promoted to komusubi for the following January 1955 tournament, however, he finished with a disastrous 1-14 record in his lone san'yaku tournament. After this, he was ranked mainly in the lower maegashira ranks and he eventually fell down to juryo in September 1959. He retired from sumo in the following November 1959 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Shibatayama. He worked as a ringside judge and reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in May 1992.

### **Death**

He was the first oyakata born in the Showa Era (1926-1989) to successfully reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. However, shortly after leaving the sumo world, he fell ill and one month later in July 1992, he died of heart failure at a hospital in Yokohama. He was 65 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Miyanishiki 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:** 353-360-10/712 (58 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 192-228/420 (28 basho)
* **Juryo:** 76-64-10/139 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 53-46/99 (8 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 11-10/21 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 16-9/25 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (November 1946)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** (1) Kagamisato

## **Shikona History**

* Hayajimine Hiroshi (1942.05 - 1945.11)
* Miyanishiki Hiroshi (1946.11 - 1959.11)

## **Sources**

* Miyanishiki Hiroshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Miyanishiki Hiroshi Rikishi Information