Dewanishiki Tadao

Dewanishiki Tadao - 出羽錦 忠雄 (born July 15, 1925 - January 1, 2005) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sumida, Tokyo. He made his debut in May 1940 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in November 1947 and has four special prizes as well as ten kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in September 1964.

## **Early Life**

Tadao Kokura was born in Tokyo's Minamikatsushika District (currently Sumida Ward) on July 15, 1925. During his first year of high school, Kokura was invited by sekiwake Ryogoku to join professional sumo. Right after passing the initial physical exam for sumo, his father passed away and sekiwake Ryogoku served as his father figure for majority of Kokura's sumo career.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1940 and initially wrestled under his surname Kokura. In January 1944, he won the sandanme yusho with a 7-1 record and was promoted to makushita for the following May 1944 tournament. However, right before reaching juryo in November 1944, Kokura enlisted in the military and joined the anti-aircraft corps. After demobilization, he returned to sumo in November 1945 and was promoted to juryo in November 1946. Upon promotion to juryo, he was given the shikona "Dewanishiki" (出羽錦). He saw success in juryo, leading to a 9-1 record in June 1947 to capture the juryo title. He was then promoted to makuuchi for the following November 1947 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Dewanishiki earned a share of the jun-yusho (runner-up) in only his first tournament in makuuchi with a 9-2 record. He continued on and earned his first kinboshi in October 1949, defeating yokozuna Maedayama Eigoro. In May 1950, he achieved the rank of komusubi. He achieved his highest career rank of sekiwake in May 1956, but had a 3-9-3 record which dropped him back to maegashira level. He achieved the rank of sekiwake twice more in January 1960 and September 1962, but again dropped down to the maegashira ranks, both times after a single tournament. He won his second Outstanding Performance Prize in 1961, 14 years after his first in 1947. He earned his tenth and final kinboshi in March 1963, defeating yokozuna Taiho Koki on Day 4 of the tournament. He then retired in September 1964 after a 6-9 make-koshi record. As of 2017 only Akinoshima (16), Takamiyama and Tochinonada (12), and Tosanoumi (11) have earned more career kinboshi.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, he remained in sumo as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, working as a coach at Dewanoumi stable under the name Tagonoura Oyakata. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in 1990.

### **Death**

Dewanishiki died at 5:47 PM on January 1, 2005, at his home in Setagaya, Tokyo, due to pancreatic cancer. He was 79 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Dewanishiki 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 yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing yoritaoshi (crush out), shitatenage (overarm throw), and sukuinage (beltless arm throw).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 595-576-45-3d/1167 (90 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 542-556-40-3d/1094 (77 basho)
* **Juryo:** 18-5/23 (2 basho)
* **Makushita:** 9-1-5/10 (3 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 7-1/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 14-10/24 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (June 1947)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (January 1944)

### **Achievements**

* **Sansho:** Outstanding Performance Prizes (3), Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 10: (2) Taiho, (2) Wakanohana I, (2) Asashio, (2) Kagamisato, (1) Haguroyama, (1) Maedayama

## **Shikona History**

* Kokura Tadao (1940.05 - 1945.11)
* Dewanishiki Tadao (1946.11 - 1964.09)

## **Sources**

* Dewanishiki Tadao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Dewanishiki Tadao Rikishi Information