Tsurugamine Akio

Tsurugamine Akio - 鶴ヶ嶺 昭男 (born April 26, 1929 - May 29, 2006) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Aira, Kagoshima. He made his debut in June 1947 and wrestled for Izutsu stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 1953 and has fourteen special prizes as well as ten kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in July 1967.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Fukuzono was in the navy during World War II, but had an interest in joining sumo. He began his professional career in June 1947, recruited by a fellow Kagoshima Prefecture native, former maegashira Tsurugamine Michiyoshi, who had just retired and become Izutsu Oyakata. He began under his own surname of Fukuzono but in his first official tournament on the banzuke he switched to Kakureizan. He won the jonokuchi yusho or championship in this tournament. In November 1947 he followed Izutsu Oyakata in leaving Tokitsukaze stable to a newly re-established Izutsu stable. He was promoted to sandanme in October 1948 and makushita in May 1949. After three years in makushita, he was promoted to juryo in May 1952.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, he finished with an 8-7 record. After winning the juryo championship in September 1952 and following up with a 9–6 record in January 1953, he was promoted to the top makuuchidivision. To mark the occasion he adopted his stablemaster's old shikona of Tsurugamine.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He had an exceptionally long top division career, which lasted fourteen years from March 1953 to his retirement in July 1967 at the age of thirty eight. He fought in the top division for 77 tournaments and won 550 bouts there. Both were records at the time, although his makuuchi wins record was surpassed by Taiho (who had fought all of his bouts in the six tournaments per year system) in the following September 1967 tournament and his makuuchi tournaments record was surpassed by Takamiyama in November 1980. His best result was in January 1956 when he lost only one bout and took part in a playoff for the tournament championship with yokozuna Kagamisato. He was also runner-up in the July 1962 tournament. He earned ten kinboshi (gold stars) for defeating yokozuna, four over Tochinishiki, three over Wakanohana and three over Asashio. His highest rank was sekiwake, which he held twice in May 1956 and September 1962. He was also awarded 14 total special prizes throughout his career, with ten being the Technique prize which is still a record as of 2020.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Following his retirement from active competition Tsurugamine became an elder of the Sumo Association under the toshiyori name of Kimigahama, and set up his own Kimigahama stable. However, he really coveted the stock of his old Izutsu stable, but was unable to come to agreement with the widow of his old boss, who had died in March 1972. In 1977 he was able to purchase the stock from former yokozuna Kitanofuji and became head coach of the renamed Izutsu stable. He was well-known for insisting on intense training or keiko. His wife was the adopted daughter of the adopted daughter of the 25th yokozuna Nishinoumi II, who had founded Izutsu stable in 1909, and all three of his sons joined the stable as new recruits. Two of them, Sakahoko and Terao, emulated their father by having successful top division careers. He also oversaw the promotion of Kirishima to ozeki in 1990. In 1994 he reached the mandatory retirement age and passed on ownership of the stable to his middle son Sakahoko. Terao founded his own Shikoroyama stable in 2004. His oldest son, who used three different shikona in his career (Fukuzono, Kakureizan and Tsurunofuji) never got beyond the juryo division and did not qualify to become an elder. Instead he ran a chankonabe restaurant after his retirement in 1990.

### **Death**

He died on May 29, 2006, at a hospital in Beppu, Oita, due to sepsis. He was 77 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Tsurugamine was a light but extremely skilful wrestler. His ten sansho (special prizes) for Technique remain a record to this day. He specialized in morozashi, or getting a mawashi grip with both hands inside his opponent's. (This technique was also a favorite of his son Sakahoko.) His most common winning kimarite were yorikiri (force out), yoritaoshi (force out and down) and sotogake (outer leg trip).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 685-678-22/1358 (95 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 550-583-22/1128 (77 basho)
* **Juryo:** 38-22/60 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 74-61/135 (9 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 11-7/18 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 4-2/6 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-1/6 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-2/5 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (September 1952)
* 1 **Jonokuchi** Championship (November 1947)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (10), Fighting Spirit Prize (2), Outstanding Performance Prize (2)
* **Kinboshi:** 10: (4) Tochinishiki, (3) Wakanohana I, (3) Asashio
* **Record:** Tied for **4th** most special prizes (14 special prizes)
* **Record:** Tied for **5th** most gold stars (10 gold stars)

## **Shikona History**

* Fukuzono Akio (1947.06 - 1947.06)
* Kakureizan Akio (1947.11 - 1953.01)
* Tsurugamine Akio (1953.03 - 1956.09)
* Tsurugamine Tetsuo (1957.01 - 1957.05)
* Tsurugamine Akio (1957.09 - 1967.07)

## **Gallery**

Tsurugamine defeats Yokozuna Wakanohana (c. 1958)Tsurugamine battles DewanishikiTsurugamine prepares for his upcoming matchTsurugamine with his kidsTsurugamine poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Tsurugamine announces his retirement (c. 1967)Tsurugamine's retirement ceremony (c. 1967)Tsurugamine after retirement as Izutsu Oyakata (c. 1967)All of Tsurugamine's children became sekitori (c. 1984)A plate containing Tsurugamine's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tsurugamine Akio Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tsurugamine Akio Rikishi Information