Shiranui Koemon

Shiranui Koemon - 不知火 光右衛門 (born March 3, 1825 - February 24, 1879) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Jinnai, Higo. He made his debut in November 1850 and wrestled for Sakaigawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1856 and has three top division championships. He was the 11th yokozuna and he retired in November 1869.

## **Early Life**

Minematsu Harano was born the second son of a farmer in the village of Jinnai in Higo Province (modern Ozu, Kumamoto). Because his grandfather was an amateur sumo wrestler, Harano also participated in local amateur tournaments and became well known in his area by the age of 16. Due to his popularity, he was subsequently recruited for professional sumo.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He entered Osaka in the autumn of 1846. His coach was Minato-oyakata, former yokozuna Shiranui Dakuemon, who was also from Kumamoto and powerful within the Osaka organisation. In May 1847, he made his professional debut in Osaka sumo. His stablemaster realised his potential, and in 1849, he transferred to Sakaigawa stable in Edo sumo. He made his debut in November 1850 using the shikona name Tono Minegoro (殿 峯五郎), and reached the top makuuchi division in November 1856.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Upon promotion to makuuchi, he changed his shikona to Shiranui in honor of his stablemaster, the 8th Yokozuna Shiranui Dakuemon. He won the equivalent of his first tournament championship in February 1860 from the komusubi rank, emerging undefeated with eight wins (though this was before the championship system established in 1909). After a couple tournaments ranked as sekiwake, he was promoted to ozeki in March 1862.

### **Yokozuna Career**

He was awarded a yokozuna licence in October 1863. He was more known for his technique than his strength, and was feared especially for his right-hand technique. He was an expert at leg grabs, once downing Ryogoku Kajinosuke I, himself an expert on the technique, with one clean move.

Shiranui became a yokozuna at the age of 38, even though his record as an ozeki had not been particularly strong. The granting of the licence was more due to his popularity with the public and long years of service, and the fact that he was close to the House of Yoshida Tsukasa, which awarded the licences.

The name of one style of yokozuna dohyo-iri (the yokozuna ring-entering ceremony) came from him. His ritual style was said to be beautiful, and his ceremony was always a highlight for tournament crowds, sometimes more than the bouts themselves. He continued to perform it for three years after his retirement. However it is unproven that he actually performed what is now called the Shiranui style. In fact, he is considered by most sumo historians today to be the organizer of the Unryu style. There is a picture of him performing the ceremony holding his arm to his chest, which indicates an Unryu rather than Shiranui style. In addition, the 22nd Yokozuna Tachiyama, who was credited as perfecting the Shiranui style (with both arms held out), said his dohyo-iri was based on Unryu Kyukichi's style.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In the top makuuchi division, Shiranui won 119 bouts and lost 35 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 77.3. He retired in November 1869 at the age of 44, and returned to his roots in Osaka sumo to lead the organization until his death in 1879.

## **Fighting Style**

He was more known for his technique than his strength, and was feared especially for his right-hand technique. He was an expert at leg grabs, once downing Ryogoku Kajinosuke I, himself an expert on the technique, with one clean move.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 131-38-75-15draws-11holds/195 (30 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 119-35-75-15draws-9holds/178 (27 basho)
* **Juryo:** 12-3-2holds/17 (3 basho)

### **Championships**

* 3 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championships
	+ 1st (February 1860)
	+ 2nd (April 1864)
	+ 3rd (October 1864)

## **Shikona History**

* Tono Minegoro (1850.11 - 1854.02)
* Shingari Katsugoro (1854.11 - 1856.11)
* Shiranui Mitsuemon (1857.01 - 1868.06)
* Shiranui Koemon (1868.11 - 1869.11)

## **Gallery**

Shiranui performs the yokozuna dohyo-iri (c. 1869)
## **Sources**

* Shiranui Koemon Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shiranui Koemon Rikishi Information