Otachi Danemon

Otachi Danemon - 大起 男右エ門 (born October 6, 1923 - January 31, 1970) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Iizuka, Fukuoka. He made his debut in May 1938 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1946 and has two kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1958.

## **Early Life**

Danjiro Yamamoto was born in the town of Honami (currently Iizuka city) in Fukuoka prefecture on October 6, 1923. In elementary school, Yamamoto won a sumo tournament in Kaho District, Fukuoka, and was invited to join Dewanoumi stable by komusubi Kyushuzan.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

At the age of 14, he made his professional debut in May 1938 and initially wrestled under his surname. He won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 8-0 record in January 1941 and was promoted to sandanme in May 1941. After only one tournament in sandanme, Yamamoto was promoted to makushita in January 1942. Upon promotion to makushita, he was given the shikona "Honamiyama" (穂波山) which was derived from his hometown of Honami. Honamiyama was promoted to juryo in June 1945 and reached makuuchi two tournaments later in November 1946.

### **Makuuchi Career**

After a couple mediocre results, he was given the new shikona "Otachi" (大起) in January 1949. After the shikona change, Otachi rose to the upper-maegashira ranks and he even defeated Yokozuna Maedayama in October 1949 to earn his first kinboshi. In March 1953, Otachi defeated newly promoted Yokozuna Kagamisato (this was Kagamisato's first loss as a yokozuna) to earn his second kinboshi. He rose to the rank of komusubi in March 1955, but finished with a 5-10 record and was unable to return to the san'yaku ranks. Towards his later career, Otachi had multiple health issues such as heart disease, hepatitis, nephritis, etc. and he retired from sumo in May 1958 after a 20 year career.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Otachi remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, working as a coach at Dewanoumi stable under the name Sakaigawa Oyakata.

### **Death**

Otachi died on January 31, 1970, at The Fraternity Memorial Hospital in Sumida, Tokyo, due to heart failure. He was 46 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Otachi was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who preferred 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. Due to his large size, he was also well known for sabaori, or forward force down, a kimarite that has virtually disappeared from professional sumo today. Weighing 180 kg (397 Ib), Otachi was the largest wrestler in the top division of his time and standing at 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in), he was also one of the tallest. However, because of this Otachi struggled with knee injuries and found it difficult to battle fast-paced wrestlers.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 328-350-22-1d/677 (57 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 265-306-22-1d/570 (41 basho)
* **Juryo:** 12-5/17 (2 basho)
* **Makushita:** 27-23/50 (7 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 15-9/24 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-4/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (January 1941)

### **Achievements**

* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Maedayama, (1) Kagamisato

## **Shikona History**

* Yamamoto Danjiro (1938.05 - 1942.01)
* Honamiyama Danjiro (1942.05 - 1948.10)
* Otachi Danemon (1949.01 - 1958.05)

## **Gallery**

Otachi poses with his kesho-mawashiRare footage of Otachi wrestling a sumo match (c. 1950)
## **Sources**

* Otachi Danemon Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Otachi Danemon Rikishi Information