Shionishiki Yoshiaki

Shionishiki Yoshiaki - 潮錦 義秋 (born September 25, 1924 - June 24, 2005) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Jonan, Kumamoto. He made his debut in January 1941 and last wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1952 and has one special prize as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in November 1961.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Born in Jonan, Kumamoto, he joined Arashio stable (later transferred to Futabayama Dojo which was later renamed Tokitsukaze stable) and made his professional debut in January 1941. Initially wrestling under his surname Murakami, he adopted the shikona "Shionishiki" (潮錦) in May 1944. He was promoted to makushita in November 1944, however, in June 1945 he was drafted by the Imperial Japanese Army for military service. He returned to sumo in November 1946 and was promoted to juryo in October 1948.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Shionishiki finished with a 6-5 record. In May 1951 he posted an 11-4 record and was promoted to the rank of juryo 2 in September 1951. In this tournament he won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1952.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Shionishiki sprained his left ankle in his top division debut and had to withdraw on the 14th day; luckily, he had achieved seven wins already and was not in danger of demotion. In May 1959, while ranked at maegashira 4, he defeated newly promoted yokozuna Asashio to earn his first kinboshi and he finished with a 9-6 record which won the Outstanding Performance prize. In addition, he was promoted to komusubi for the following July 1959 tournament. At the time of his san'yaku debut, he was 34 years and 9 months, and the 18 years it took him to reach the san'yaku ranks is still a record. He struggled and posted a 3-12 record in his lone san'yaku tournament. He was fell back down to juryo in September 1961 and subsequently retired from the sport in the following November 1961 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Shikihide. He worked as a ringside judge and reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in September 1989.

He died on June 24, 2005, at the age of 80.

## **Fighting Style**

Shionishiki 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 uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 445-475-10-1d/919 (72 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 317-371-1-1d/688 (46 basho)
* **Juryo:** 79-71-9/149 (12 basho)
* **Makushita:** 17-12/29 (6 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 20-17/37 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 1951)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** (1) Asashio

## **Shikona History**

* Murakami Yoshiaki (1941.01 - 1944.01)
* Shionishiki Yoshiaki (1944.05 - 1961.11)

## **Sources**

* Shionishiki Yoshiaki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shionishiki Yoshiaki Rikishi Information