Asasegawa Kenji

Asasegawa Kenji - 淺瀬川 健次 (born May 4, 1942 - September 22, 2017) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Naniwa-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. He made his debut in May 1957 and last wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1964 and has one special prize as well as four kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in May 1971.

## **Early Life**

Kenji Kameyama was born on May 4, 1942, in Kawachinagano, Osaka. His parents ran a restaurant in Osaka City and he was the second son of the family. While attending junior high school, he was recruited into Araiso stable (later renamed Isegahama stable) by komusubi Wakasegawa.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1957 wrestling under his surname Kameyama. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1959 and subsequently changed his shikona to "Wakanomine" (若乃峯). He was promoted to makushita in May 1960 and in November 1961 he changed his shikona to "Asasegawa" (淺瀬川). In May 1962 he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and followed with two more winning records which earned him a spot in the salaried juryo division for the November 1962 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Kameyama finished with an 8-7 record and was able to establish himself in the juryo division. In May 1963 he produced a 12-3 record and followed with an 11-4 record in July but was denied promotion to makuuchi due to unlucky banzuke placement. Nevertheless, he eventually reached makuuchi in March 1964.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Asasegawa was ranked in the top division for a total of 29 tournaments. He never managed to reach the san'yaku level with his highest rank being maegashira 1. However, he did manage to defeat the yokozuna on four separate occasions. He defeated Yokozuna Kashiwado twice, first in November 1964 and second in March 1966. He defeated Yokozuna Sadanoyama in January 1966 and Yokozuna Taiho in March 1967. In March 1966 he was awarded his first and only special prize (Technique prize). His last makuuchi appearance was in July 1970 and he announced his retirement after the May 1971 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Urakaze. He left the Association in January 1975. After leaving the sumo world, he opened up a restaurant called "Chanko Asasegawa" (ちゃんこ 浅瀬川) in the Hongo District of Tokyo's Bunkyo ward.

### **Death**

He died in Sayama, Saitama, in September 22, 2017, due to heart failure. He was 75 years old.

## **Personal Life**

His son Takeya (born 1978) joined Asahiyama stable and made his professional debut in March 1994. During an interview during his initial physical recruitment test, he told reporters that his goal was to make san'yaku as his father never made it there. He inherited the "Asasegawa" shikona, but he never managed pass the sandanme division with his highest rank being sandanme 14. He announced his retirement after the January 2006 tournament.

His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on October 3, 1971, at the Kuramae Kokugikan. Yokozuna Tamanoumi appeared as one of the any guests, however, this was his last public appearance as he passed away eight days later.

## **Fighting Style**

Asasegawa was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 493-471-19/963 (84 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 188-236-11/423 (29 basho)
* **Juryo:** 166-134/300 (21 basho)
* **Makushita:** 43-35/78 (11 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 56-34-8/90 (13 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 35-29/64 (8 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (May 1964)
	+ 2nd (March 1969)
* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (May 1962)
	+ 2nd (January 1968)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 4: (2) Kashiwado, (1) Taiho, (1) Sadanoyama

## **Shikona History**

* Kameyama Kenji (1957.05 - 1959.03)
* Wakanomine (1959.05 - 1961.09)
* Asasegawa Kenji (1961.11 - 1967.11)
* Asasegawa Takeya (1968.01 - 1971.05)

## **Gallery**

Asasegawa poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Asasegawa pushes out Yokozuna Taiho (c. 1967)Asasegawa's tegata
## **Sources**

* Asasegawa Kenji Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Asasegawa Kenji Rikishi Information