Tanikaze Kajinosuke

Tanikaze Kajinosuke - 谷風 梶之助 (born September 8, 1750 - February 27, 1795) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kasuminome, Mutsu. He made his debut in April 1769 and last wrestled for Isenoumi stable. He achieved the equivalent of 21 top division championships. He was the 4th yokozuna and he died while as an active wrestler in February 1795.

## **Early Life**

Yashiro Kaneko was born the eldest son of farmers in the village of Kasuminome in Mutsu province's MIyagi district (now part of Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai). Prior to joining professional sumo, he worked at a sake brewery in the village of Shirakawa in modern day Gifu prefecture.

## **Career**

### **Makuuchi Career**

He made his debut in sumo in 1769 when he was 19. With a height of 189 cm and a weight of 169 kg, he was extremely large in comparison with most Japanese men of his era. In this period, local men with a large physique but often little to no sumo background were asked to enter sumo tournaments. They would debut as kanban or "guest" ozeki and in most cases their "careers" were short-lived. This is how Tanikaze, due to his size, debuted in 1769. He chose to stay active in sumo however, and would eventually be promoted to a true ozeki outright in March 1781. From October 1777 until February 1786, he lost only one bout. This was to Onogawa in February 1782. He recorded the longest run of consecutive victories in sumo bouts at that time, with 63. This record remained unbroken for about 150 years, until Futabayama in 1938.

### **Yokozuna Career**

On November 19, 1789, he became one of the first two sumo wrestlers to be allowed to perform a yokozuna dohyo-iri (a special ring-entrance ceremony for the yokozuna alone, rather than entering as part of a parade of the top ranked wrestlers). Both he and Onogawa were granted a special so-called yokozuna license simultaneously in that year. Officially he is recorded as being the 4th yokozuna in sumo history. However, as the first three (see list of yokozuna), if indeed they existed at all, were awarded the title posthumously, he can be said to be one of the first two real holders of the title.

## **Death**

He was still an active wrestler when he died at the age of 44 of influenza. He was on another winning streak of 35 bouts at the time of his death. He won the equivalent of 21 top division championships (the yusho system would not be introduced until 1909). In the top makuuchi division, Tanikaze won 258 bouts and lost only 14 bouts, achieving a winning percentage of 94.9.

## **Personal Life**

He had a younger brother, Dategaseki Moriemon (1756-1807), who was also a sumo wrestler and reached the top division himself in 1791. They were the second pair of brothers in sumo history to both reach makuuchi.

Tanikaze was a very popular rikishi. Unlike other wrestlers of his day, many nishikie (woodblock print based) portraits and images of him participating in bouts still remain.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 258-14-112-16draws-16holds-5no results/309 (49 basho)

### **Championships**

* 21 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1772)
	+ 2nd (April 1774)
	+ 3rd (March 1775)
	+ 4th (October 1776)
	+ 5th (October 1777)
	+ 6th (March 1778)
	+ 7th (March 1779)
	+ 8th (October 1779)
	+ 9th (March 1780)
	+ 10th (October 1780)
	+ 11th (March 1781)
	+ 12th (October 1781)
	+ 13th (October 1782)
	+ 14th (March 1783)
	+ 15th (November 1783)
	+ 16th (March 1784)
	+ 17th (March 1786)
	+ 18th (April 1788)
	+ 19th (March 1792)
	+ 20th (November 1792)
	+ 21st (March 1793)

### **Achievements**

* **Record:** Tied for **2nd** most consecutive wins (63 consecutive wins)
* **Record:** Tied for **3rd** best all-time top division win ratios (94.9%)

## **Shikona History**

* Dategaseki Moriemon (1769.04 - 1776.01)
* Tanikaze Kajinosuke (1776.10 - 17794.11)

## **Gallery**

Tanikaze (left) prepares to battle his rival Onogawa (right)
## **Sources**

* Tanikaze Kajinosuke Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tanikaze Kajinosuke Rikishi Information