Matsunobori Shigeo

Matsunobori Shigeo - 松登 晟郎 (born July 20, 1924 - April 21, 1986) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Matsudo, Chiba. He made his debut in January 1941 and wrestled for Oyama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1951 and has three special prizes as well as two kinboshi. His highest rank was ozeki and he retired in November 1961.

## **Early Life**

By the time he was in the third grade of elementary school, Nagai already weighed 60 kg (132 Ib), and when he graduated from elementary school, Sekiwake Takanobori asked him to join professional sumo. He initially refused, but once Takanobori opened up Oyama stable, Nagai accepted the offer.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in January 1941 and was given the shikona "Matsunobori" (松登) which is derived from his hometown Matsudo. In November 1944, he was drafted by the Imperial Japanese Army for military service and did not return to sumo until November 1945. By the time he returned, his room was damaged by the bombing of Tokyo, but after the war he continued to practice by staying at Azumafuji's home, which was behind the Ekoin Temple. In December 1948, he returned back to his hometown without permission from his stablemaster as he wanted to visit his parents and see how their restaurant was doing. He was later persuaded to come back and he posted an 8-4 record in January 1949 which earned him a promotion to juryo in May 1949.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Matsunobori finished with a strong 10-5 record. After two years in juryo, he was promoted to makuuchi in September 1951.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Matsunobori posted a 10-5 record in his top division debut. In September 1952 he defeated Haguroyama to earn his first kinboshi and since he finished this tournament with a 9-6 record, he was promoted to komusubi for the following January 1953 tournament. He was promoted to sekiwake in September 1953, but could only manage a 6-9 record. In January 1954, he defeated Chiyonoyama to earn his second kinboshi and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize as he finished with an 11-4 record. He was promoted to sekiwake in the following March 1954 tournament, and he remained at the rank for seven consecutive tournaments. In May 1954, he defeated two yokozuna's and was awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. In September 1955, he finished runner-up to Kagamisato with a 13-2 record and was awarded his second Outstanding Performance prize. Even though he had only accumulated 32 wins, which was short of the 33 win benchmark, he was still promoted to ozeki (alongside Wakanohana) as there was only one ozeki at the time.

### **Ozeki Career**

Matsunobori began suffering from diabetes and leg injuries by the time of his ozeki promotion, so he struggled and was never a contender for the championship. He posted a poor 5-10 record in his ozeki debut. He sat out of the January 1958 tournament due to diabetes and followed with a 6-9 record. Back then the standards of ozeki demotion was posting three consecutive losing records, not two, so he was able to save his rank. However, from July to November 1958, he produced three consecutive losing records and was demoted. He remained in the maegashira ranks for majority of his later career.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired in November 1961, and in his role as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association he became the head of Oyama stable in January 1962 upon the death of his old stablemaster, ex-sekiwake Takanobori. He produced one sekitori, the maegashira Daihi, who retired in 1983. Shortly after Oyama's death in April 1986 the stable was wound up and its two remaining wrestlers retired.

### **Death**

On April 21, 1986, he suffered an anaphylactic shock to a local anesthetic during a cataract surgery and died suddenly. He was 61 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Matsunobori 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 yorikiri (force out), followed by oshidashi (push out). He also regularly employed tsuridashi, or lift out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 469-442-29/910 (72 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 358-353-24/710 (49 basho)
* **Juryo:** 60-45/105 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 24-18/42 (6 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 6-7-5/13 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 17-12/29 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 0-3/3 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Outstanding Performance Prize (2), Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Haguroyama, (1) Chiyonoyama

## **Shikona History**

* Nagai Fukutaro (1941.01 - 1942.05)
* Matsunobori Fukutaro (1943.01 - 1956.05)
* Matsunobori Shigeo (1956.09 - 1961.11)

## **Gallery**

Matsunobori Shigeo - (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Matsunobori's tegata
## **Sources**

* Matsunobori Shigeo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Matsunobori Shigeo Rikishi Information