Shimizugawa Akio

Shimizugawa Akio - 清水川 明於 (born August 13, 1925 - February 5, 1979) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Akashi, Hyogo. He made his debut in May 1940 and last wrestled for Oitekaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1947 and has three special prizes as well as five kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in September 1958.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

At the age of 14, Hokura joined Oitekaze stable led by former ozeki Shimizugawa. He made his professional debut in May 1940 and was given the shikona "Hokonishiki" (鉾錦). He was promoted to sandanme in May 1942 and makushita in May 1943. He briefly served in the military during his time in makushita and was promoted to juryo in June 1947. Upon promotion to juryo he was given his stablemaster's shikona, "Shimizugawa" (清水川), as he was Oitekaze stable's first sekitori. In his juryo debut, Shimizugawa finished with a dominant 8-2 record and was promoted directly to makuuchi for the following November 1947 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Shimizugawa established himself in the top makuuchi division and was ranked there for 11 years. He earned a total of five kinboshi, defeating yokozuna's Terukuni, Azumafuji, Chiyonoyama, Kagamisato, and Yoshibayama. He also earned a total of three special prizes (two Fighting Spirit prizes and one Outstanding Performance prize). He was promoted to komusubi in January 1951 and held the rank on three separate occasions. He was unable to reach sekiwake primarily because he was the only sekitori from his stable at the time and many of the top rikishi belonged to bigger and more influential stables. In the January 1958 tournament, Shimizugawa was ranked at komusubi and in this tournament, he defeated yokozuna's Kagamisato and Yoshibayama. However, he lost on the final day to finish with a 7-8 record and was unable to capitalize on a sekiwake promotion. Demoralized and suffering from injuries, Shimizugawa shortly retired from sumo in September 1958.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, Shimizugawa remained in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder under the name Magaki. He initially worked as a coach at Oitekaze stable before branching out and establishing Magaki stable in March 1959. However, he was unable to produce any sekitori and the stable closed down in February 1975 with all personnel transferring to Isegahama stable. He also worked as a part-time sumo commentator and was praised for his skillful analyzing. In 1977 he was appointed as a ringside judge, but due to his declining health, he was only able to serve as a ringside judge for two tournaments.

### **Death**

Shimizugawa died on February 5, 1979, at a hospital in Komae, Tokyo, due to liver cirrhosis. He was 53 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Shimizugawa 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. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 336-328-20/660 (54 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 284-297-20/577 (41 basho)
* **Juryo:** 8-2/10 (1 basho)
* **Makushita:** 22-11/33 (6 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 10-6/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-10/16 (2 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Sansho:** Fighting Spirit Prize (2), Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 5: (1) Terukuni, (1) Azumafuji, (1) Chiyonoyama, (1) Kagamisato, (1) Yoshibayama

## **Shikona History**

* Hokoura Mitsuo (1940.05 - 1941.01)
* Hokonishiki Mitsuo (1941.05 - 1946.11)
* Shimizugawa Mitsuo (1947.06 - 1952.05)
* Shimizugawa Akio (1952.09 - 1958.09)

## **Sources**

* Shimizugawa Akio Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shimizugawa Akio Rikishi Information