Maedagawa Katsuro

Maedagawa Katsuro - 前田川 克郎 (born February 9, 1939 - November 4, 1998) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Esashi, Iwate. He made his debut in September 1952 and wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1960 and has 3 special prizes as well as 1 kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in May 1967.

## **Early Life**

Katsuro Takahashi was born in Esashi, Iwate, on February 9, 1939. From an early age he took part in amateur sumo wrestling and in 1952, during his second year in junior high school, he moved to Tokyo at the age of 13 and joined Takasago stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

From his first tournament in September 1952 till the the ring of 1954, he simultaneously attended junior high school and sumo wrestled. He was given the shikona "Maedagawa" (前田川). Due to his young age and small build, he initially struggled and even lost all six matches in maezumo (pre-sumo). Nevertheless, as he got older he began to put on more weight and was promoted to makushita by January 1956. In January 1960 he posted a 7-1 record at the rank of makushita 7 and was promoted to juryo for the March 1960 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Maedagawa finished with an 8-7 record. He followed with two additional 9-6 records. In September 1960, he produced a strong 12-3 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing the playoff to Arakiyama. Nevertheless, he was promoted to makuuchi for the November 1960 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Maedagawa finished with a solid 9-6 record in his top division debut. In his third makuuchi tournament in March 1961, he produced a 12-3 record and was runner-up to Asashio's 13-2 performance. In addition, he was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize and he was promoted to sekiwake two tournaments later in July 1961. In his san'yaku debut, he finished with a better than expected 7-8 record. In May 1964 he defeated yokozuna Taiho to earn his first and only kinboshi. In September 1964 he finished with a 9-6 record and was awarded the Technique prize. In May 1965 he finished with an 11-4 record and was runner-up to Sadanoyama's 14-1 record, as well as awarded his second Fighting Spirit prize. However, this was his last notable performance as he followed with three consecutive losing records and was demoted back down to juryo in January 1966.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After falling down to makushita in May 1967, he announced his retirement after the tournament. After retiring from sumo, he left the Japan Sumo Association and was employed at a supermarket in Suginami, Tokyo. He later returned to his hometown and was employed at the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives.

### **Death**

He died on November 4, 1998, at a hospital in Mizusawa, Iwate, due to lung cancer. He was 59 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Maedagawa 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 oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 445-480/924 (79 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 204-261/464 (31 basho)
* **Juryo:** 95-85/180 (12 basho)
* **Makushita:** 98-85/183 (23 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 20-12/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 26-30/56 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 2-7/9 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (2), Technique Prize (1)
* **KInboshi:** (1) Taiho

## **Shikona History**

* Takahashi Katsuro (1952.09 - 1953.01)
* Maedagawa Katsuro (1953.03 - 1958.11)
* Kiyonishiki Katsuro (1959.01 - 1959.01)
* Maedagawa Katsuro (1959.03 - 1963.05)
* Maedagawa Katsuo (1963.07 - 1963.07)
* Maedagawa Katsu (1963.09 - 1964.11)
* Maedagawa Katsuro (1965.01 - 1965.03)
* Maedagawa Katsu (1965.05 - 1967.05)

## **Gallery**

Maedagawa (c. 1961)Maedagawa poses with his kesho-mawashi
## **Sources**

* Maedagawa Katsuro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Maedagawa Katsuro Rikishi Information