Kimenzan Tanigoro

Kimenzan Tanigoro - 鬼面山 谷五郎 (born 1826 - September 7, 1871) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Washizu, Mino. He made his debut in February 1852 and wrestled for Takekuma stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1857 and has seven top division championships. He was the 13th yokozuna and he retired in November 1870.

## **Early Life**

He was born Shin'ichi Tanaka (田中 新一) in the village of Washizu in Mino Province (modern day Yoro, Gifu) to a farmer. He was recruited for professional sumo due to his immense strength.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Already in his mid-twenties, he joined Takekuma stable and made his professional debut in February 1852 in the second highest juryo division. He initially wrestled under the shikona "Hamahikari" (濱碇) before changing it to "Yatakayama" (弥高山) in February 1853. After four years, he was promoted to makuuchi in January 1857.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Upon promotion to makuuchi, he was given the shikona "Kimenzan Tanigoro" (鬼面山 谷五郎) which had already been used by two rikishi (a komusubi and an ozeki). He was employed by the Tokushima Domain. He won the equivalent of his first tournament championship in January 1858 from the maegashira ranks, emerging undefeated with eight wins (though this was before the championship system established in 1909). After three years ranked as komusubi consecutively, he was promoted to sekiwake in November 1862. He was ranked as sekiwake for another three years before earning his ozeki promotion in November 1865. At the time of his ozeki promotion, he was ranked at the san'yaku level for a little over six years (13 consecutive tournaments) and was already 39 years old.

### **Ozeki Career**

He was promoted to ozeki in November 1865. However, he was unenrolled in the November 1866 banzuke. It was reportedly because he had a quarrel with sumo elders. He was subsequently regulated back down to komusubi for two tournaments before returning to ozeki in June 1868.

### **Yokozuna Career**

He was awarded a yokozuna license in February 1869. He became a yokozuna at the age of 43, the oldest ever. At the time of his yokozuna promotion, he had already won the equivalent of seven top division championships (his last coming in November 1868 at the age of 42), however, due to his old age he was unable to serve as a yokozuna for a long time and retired shortly after in November 1870. In the top makuuchi division, he won 143 bouts and lost 24 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 85.6.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring, he remained in the Japan Sumo Association as an elder and was allowed to temporarily use his ring name from his active career as his elder name which is a privilege only for yokozuna. Less than a year after retiring, he died on September 7, 1871, at the age of 45. His grave can be found in Sayama, Saitama. There is a monument to him in Yoro, Gifu.

## **Fighting Style**

Kimenzan 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). He was fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Makuuchi:** 143-24-62-16d-8a/191 (27 basho)

### **Championships**

* 7 Unofficial **Makuuchi** Championships
	+ 1st (January 1858)
	+ 2nd (January 1859)
	+ 3rd (October 1860)
	+ 4th (July 1863)
	+ 5th (November 1863)
	+ 6th (March 1866)
	+ 7th (November 1868)

## **Shikona History**

* Hamahikari (1852.02 - 1852.11)
* Yatakayama (1853.03 - 1856.11)
* Kimenzan Tanigoro (1857.01 - 1870.11)

## **Sources**

* Kimenzan Tanigoro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kimenzan Tanigoro Rikishi Information