Kuninobori Kunio

Kuninobori Kunio - 國登 國生 (born April 18, 1925 - October 3, 1995) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Itabashi, Tokyo. He made his debut in May 1940 and last wrestled for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in October 1948 and has three special prizes as well as four kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in May 1961.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Kogawa was recruited into Takasago stable by Sanoyama Oyakata (former maegashira Asahibiki). He joined Takasago stable in March 1940 and made his professional debut in May 1940 under the shikona "Kuninobori" (國登). He was promoted to sandanme in May 1942 and makushita in May 1943. From March to November 1945, Kuninobori served in the military before returning to sumo in 1946. He was promoted to juryo in November 1947.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Kuninobori won the juryo yusho with a strong 10-1 record. In the following tournament, Kuninobori won his second consecutive juryo yusho and was promoted to makuuchi for the October 1948 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In only his second top division tournament, Kuninobori was aiming for the makuuchi yusho and he would have won the yusho if he finished with an 11-2 record, but he lost on the final day to finish with a 10-3 record. His senior stablemate, Yokozuna Azumafuji finished with a 10-2-1draw record and subsequently was awarded the yusho. Nevertheless, Kuninobori was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He would go on to win two more special prizes throughout his career. Kuninobori also earned four kinboshi throughout his career. He was promoted to komusubi in January 1954, but could only finish with a 6-9 record. He returned to the rank once more in May 1954, but finished with a 5-10 record. After this he wrestled mainly in the lower-maegashira ranks before falling back down to juryo in September 1959. Struggling with diabetes and injuries, Kuninobori retired from sumo in May 1961.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, Kuninobori remained in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder under the name Sanoyama. He branched off from Takasago stable and re-established Sanoyama stable in June 1961. He took juryo wrestler Kurikeyama and oversaw his promotion to the makuuchi division. However, the stable closed down in February 1964 with all personnel transferring back to Takasago stable. Kuninobori worked as a coach for Takasago stable until April 1990 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

### **Death**

Kuninobori died on October 3, 1995, at a hospital in Kamo District, Shizuoka, due to liver cancer. He was 70 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Kuninobori was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right 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 utchari, or backward pivot throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 432-427-56-1d/852 (70 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 292-311-50-1d/597 (44 basho)
* **Juryo:** 93-88-6/180 (13 basho)
* **Makushita:** 24-16/40 (7 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 10-6/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 6-2/8 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 2-1/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1947)
	+ 2nd (May 1948)

### **Achievements**

* **Sansho:** Outstanding Performance Prize (2), Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 4: (2) Kagamisato, (1) Terukuni, (1) Chiyonoyama

## **Gallery**

Kuninobori poses with his kesho-mawashiKuninobori's tegata
## **Sources**

* Kuninobori Kunio Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kuninobori Kunio Rikishi Information