Fukunosato Ushinosuke

Fukunosato Ushinosuke - 福ノ里 牛之助 (born December 3, 1923 - September 16, 1995) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. He made his debut in May 1940 and last wrestled for Miyagino stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1953. His highest rank was maegashira 13 and he retired in September 1959.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He moved to Tokyo and joined Miyagino stable, led by the 24th yokozuna Otori, and made his professional debut in May 1940. Wrestling under the shikona "Fukunosato" (福ノ里), he was promoted to sandanme in May 1942 and makushita in May 1943. In June 1945 he was drafted by the Imperial Japanese Army for military service and did not return to sumo until November 1946. In his return he posted a 6-1 record and was promoted to juryo in the following June 1947 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Fukunosato finished with a 5-5 record as they did not wrestle the full fifteen days until 1949. In May 1949, he was given the shikona "Ushiwakamaru" (牛若丸), but quickly reverted back to Fukunosato for the following October 1949 tournament. After six years in juryo, he was promoted to makuuchi in May 1953.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Fukunosato posted two consecutive winning records from his top division debut and was promoted to maegashira 13 in Janaury 1954. However, he struggled and followed with three consecutive losing records which sent him back down to juryo. In 1956, he transferred to Takashima stable after the death of his stablemaster. Shortly after in 1957, he transferred to recently established Yoshibayama Dojo (later renamed Miyagino stable). He returned to makuuchi in May 1958, but finished with a losing record. He retired from sumo in November 1959 to avoid an inevitable demotion back down to makushita.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, he managed a plastic factory in Tokyo. He died in September 1995 at the age of 71.

## **Personal Life**

* He married the daughter of his stablemaster (the 24th yokozuna Otori). His grandson Akira Tanaka was a professional baseball player who played collegiate for Hosei University, and professionally for the Orix Buffaloes and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional baseball league. In addition, his nephew is actor Sakae Takita (Fukunosato's wife and Takita's parents are cousins).

## **Fighting Style**

Fukunosato was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was uchigake, or inside leg trip.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 377-391-1/767 (60 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 57-78/135 (9 basho)
* **Juryo:** 274-291-1/564 (39 basho)
* **Makushita:** 20-13/33 (6 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 12-4/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 7-1/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Fukunosato Ushinosuke (1940.05 - 1949.01)
* Ushiwakamaru Ushinosuke (1949.05 - 1949.05)
* Fukunosato Ushinosuke (1949.10 - 1959.09)

## **Sources**

* Fukunosato Ushinosuke Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Fukunosato Ushinosuke Rikishi Information