Onishiki Ittetsu

Onishiki Ittetsu - 大錦 一徹 (born September 11, 1953) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hamochi, Niigata. He made his debut in May 1968 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1973 and has three special prizes as well as eight kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in January 1988.

## **Early Life**

When he was in junior high school, Obori was recruited for professional sumo by the managing director of a miso factory near his parent's house, and he subsequently joined Dewanoumi stable, making his debut in May 1968 at the age of 14.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially competed under his surname and he won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in March 1969. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1969 and makushita in November 1970. In March 1973, he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 2 and was promoted to juryo in May 1973 at the age of 19.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament ranked as a sekitori, he won the juryo yusho with a strong 11-4 record. He followed with an impressive 10-5 record and was promoted to makuuchi in September 1973 after only two tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Prior to his makuuchi debut, he was given the shikona or fighting name Onishiki, after a great wrestler from his Dewanoumi stable, the 26th yokozuna Onishiki Uichiro. Just two tournaments later he became the first wrestler in sumo history to win all three sansho or special prizes, for Fighting Spirit, Technique and Outstanding Performance, in his debut top division tournament. He was also runner–up in this basho and earned his first kinboshi or gold star by defeating yokozuna Kotozakura. He was promoted straight to komusubi, which was to be his highest rank, but he suffered a serious back injury and scored only 3–12. He never made the rank again. As well his back problem he also suffered from knee problems and diabetes, and spent the rest of his career moving up and down the ranks of the two salaried divisions. He was to win seven more kinboshi, but he was also demoted to juryo on a number of occasions, where he picked up three more juryo championships. He only fell to the third makushita division once during this period though. In this tournament in May 1979 at makushita 1 he posted a perfect 7-0 record, took the championship, and also handed Itai his first defeat in professional sumo, ending a consecutive winning streak from debut which was a record at that time. In September 1982 he became the first wrestler to immediately follow a win by default (over Koboyama) with a loss by default. He retired in January 1988 rather than face demotion to the makushita division again.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Onishiki remained in sumo as a toshiyori or elder, and was known as Yamashina Oyakata. He worked as a coach at Dewanoumi stable and as a member of the Japan Sumo Association′s board of directors, holding the Special Executive position. He retired from the Sumo Association in September 2018 after turning 65 years of age.

## **Fighting Style**

Onishiki was a yotsu sumo specialist who favoured hidari yotsu, or a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponent′s mawashi. His favorite kimarite or techniques were yorikiri (force out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 750-745-28/1490 (119 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 348-428-19/773 (53 basho)
* **Juryo:** 287-233-5/518 (35 basho)
* **Makushita:** 67-45/112 (16 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 33-30/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 10-7-4/17 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 4 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (May 1973)
	+ 2nd (July 1977)
	+ 3rd (March 1980)
	+ 4th (January 1984)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (May 1979)
* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (March 1969)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1), Outstanding Performance Prize (1), Technique Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 8: (3) Wakanohana II, (2) Wajima, (1) Chiyonofuji, (1) Kotozakura, (1) Futahaguro

## **Shikona History**

* Ohori Morio (1968.05 - 1973.03)
* Ohori Mitsuhiro (1973.05 - 1973.07)
* Onishiki Mitsuhiro (1973.09 - 1977.07)
* Onishiki Ittetsu (1977.09 - 1988.01)

## **Gallery**

Onishiki beats Yokozuna Kotozakura in his Makuuchi debut (c. 1973)Onishiki awarded all three sansho prizes (c. 1973)Onishiki after promotion to Komusubi (c. 1973)Onishiki poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Onishiki prepares for his upcoming matchOnishiki's retirement ceremony (c. 1988)Onishiki after retirement as Yamashina Oyakata (c. 2018)Onishiki's tegata
## **Sources**

* Onishiki Ittetsu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Onishiki Ittetsu Rikishi Information