Hirokawa Taizo

Hirokawa Taizo - 廣川 泰三 (born May 28, 1937 - June 19, 1989) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yokosuka, Kanagawa. He made his debut in March 1953 and last wrestled for Miyagino stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1962 and has one special prize as well as one kinboshi. His highest rank was komusubi and he retired in January 1969.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduating from Yokosuka Shiritsu Iriyamazu Junior High School, he joined Takashima stable and made his professional debut in March 1953. Initially wrestling under the shikona "Taizan" (泰山), he was promoted to sandanme in March 1954 and makushita in March 1955. In 1958 he transferred to Yoshibayama Dojo (later renamed Miyagino stable) and he changed his shikona to "Hirokawa" (廣川) in 1960. Troubled by a hip injury, he did not reach juryo until July 1961 after eight years in the unsalaried ranks.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, he posted a solid 9-6 record, but followed with three successive 7-8 records. He bounced back with two consecutive double-digit winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in July 1962.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Hirokawa finished with a strong 10-5 record in his top division debut and was awarded his first and only special prize (Fighting Spirit prize). In March 1964 he produced an 8-7 record at the rank of maegashira 1 and was promoted to komusubi for the May 1964 tournament. In his san'yaku debut he finished with a better than expected 7-8 record, however, this proved to be his only tournament ranked at the san'yaku level. In the following July 1964 tournament, he defeated Yokozuna Tochinoumi to earths first and only kinboshi. In March 1966, Hirokawa finished with an 11-4 record and was runner-up to Yokozuna Taiho's 13-2 performance. His last makuuchi appearance was in March 1968 and he announced his retirement after the January 1969 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition, he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Oshiogawa. He later acquired the Azumazeki name in 1971 and worked as a coach for Miyagino stable. He took over Miyagino stable in 1977 after the death of the stablemaster, the 43rd yokozuna Yoshibayama. He oversaw the makuuchi promotions for Chikubayama and Koryu.

### **Death**

He died on June 19, 1989, at the age of 52 due to tongue cancer.

## **Fighting Style**

Hirokawa was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).

## **Career**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 501-488-19/988 (87 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 218-251-11/468 (32 basho)
* **Juryo:** 107-103/210 (14 basho)
* **Makushita:** 138-113-8/251 (33 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 21-11/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 14-10/24 (3 basho)
* **Shinjo:** 3-0/3 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** (1) Tochinoumi

## **Shikona History**

* Yamamura Taizo (1953.03 - 1953.03)
* Taizan (1953.05 - 1959.01)
* Obayama (1959.03 - 1960.05)
* Hirokawa Taizo (1960.07 - 1969.01)

## **Gallery**

Hirokawa poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Hirokawa after retirement as Miyagino Oyakata (c. 1986)
## **Sources**

* Hirokawa Taizo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Hirokawa Taizo Rikishi Information