Iwakaze Kakutaro

Iwakaze Kakutaro - 岩風 角太郎 (born January 22, 1934 - April 30, 1988) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Edogawa, Tokyo. He made his debut in May 1952 and last wrestled for Wakamatsu stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1956 and has four special prizes as well as six kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in September 1965.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Okamoto was born in Edogawa, Tokyo, and his parents were involved in the rebar industry. At the age of 18, he joined Wakamatsu stable and made his professional debut in May 1952. Initially wrestling under his surname, he was given the shikona "Iwakaze" (岩風) in January 1954. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1953 and makushita in March 1954. In March 1955 he posted a 5-3 record at the rank of makushita 2 and was promoted to juryo in May 1955.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Iwakaze finished with a 9-6 record and followed with an 8-7 record in September 1955. In January 1956, he finished with an 11-4 record and defeated Onoura in a playoff to win the juryo yusho. He followed with an 11-4 record in March and was promoted to makuuchi in May 1956 after only four tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Iwakaze finished with a 9-6 record in his first top division tournament. In January 1958 he defeated Yokozuna Yoshibayama and Chiyonoyama to earn his first and second career kinboshi. In July 1959 he defeated Yokozuna Wakanohana I to earn his third kinboshi and earned the Outstanding Performance prize.

In January 1960 he defeated Yokozuna Wakanohana I again on the first day to earn his fourth career kinboshi. He went on to earn another two kinboshi against Yokozuna Tochinoumi in his later career. In July 1960 he was runner-up to Wakanohana I with a 12-3 record and earned the Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to the rank of komusubi for the following September 1960 tournament where he finished with an 8-7 record. He following with a 10-5 record in November 1960 and was promoted to sekiwake in January 1961. Iwakaze was ranked in san'yaku for seven consecutive tournaments. He returned to the san'yaku level in July 1963 after posting a 12-3 record in the previous May tournament.

Due to his struggled with diabetes, he eventually fell down to juryo in July 1965 and he subsequently retired from sumo in September 1965 to avoid an inevitable demotion to makushita.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retiring from sumo, Iwakaze did not acquire elder stock as he had no interest in coaching and left the Japan Sumo Association. After retiring from sumo he helped manage a coffee shop with his wife in Adachi, Tokyo, but the shop ultimately failed and it later closed down. He spent the later years of his life collecting curbside garbage with a single truck.

### **Death**

He died at a hospital in Chiyoda, Tokyo on April 30, 1988 due to heart failure. He was 54 years old.

## **Fighting Style**

Iwakaze 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.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 483-478/961 (70 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 374-406/780 (52 basho)
* **Juryo:** 47-43/90 (6 basho)
* **Makushita:** 26-14/40 (5 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 28-12/40 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (January 1956)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Outstanding Performance Prize (3), Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 6: (2) Wakanohana I, (2) Chiyonoyama, (1) Chiyonoyama, (1) Yoshibayama

## **Shikona History**

* Okamoto Yoshikazu (1952.05 - 1953.09)
* Iwakaze Kakutaro (1954.01 - 1965.09)

## **Gallery**

Iwakaze with his kesho-mawashiIwakaze prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1959)Iwakaze loses to Yusho winner Wakamisugi (c. 1960)Iwakaze's tegata
## **Sources**

* Iwakaze Kakutaro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Iwakaze Kakutaro Rikishi Information