Misogidori Eiji

Misogidori Eiji - 禊鳳 英二 (born December 10, 1943) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kikonai, Hokkaido. He made his debut in January 1961 and wrestled for Kokonoe stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1966 and has 1 special prize as well as 2 kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 2 and he retired in September 1969.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Sasaki made his professional debut in January 1961, wrestling for Dewanoumi stable. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1962 and makushita in November 1963. In July 1965 he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 5 and was promoted to juryo for the following September 1965 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

At the time of his juryo debut, he was still wrestling under his surname Sasaki but he later changed his shikona to "Misogidori" (禊鳳) by his third tournament in juryo. In July 1966, while ranked at juryo 2, he finished with an impressive 13-2 record, but missed out on the yusho after losing to future ozeki Maenoyama in the playoff. Nevertheless, he was promoted to makuuchi for the following September 1966 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his makuuchi debut, Misogidori finished with an outstanding 12-3 record and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to maegashira 2 for the following November 1966 tournament where he defeated Yokozuna Kashiwado on the first day, Ozeki Yutakayama on the second day, and Yokozuna Tochinoumi on the third day. However, he went on to finish with a 4-11 record.

He transferred to the newly established Kokonoe stable in January 1967. In May 1968 he suffered an injury to his right hip and subsequently fell down to juryo in September 1968. He returned to makuuchi in March 1969, however, he injured his left thigh in May 1969 and was demoted back down to juryo.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Due to his left thigh and right hip injury, Misogidori struggled and produced a disastrous 2-13 record in July 1969 which sent him back down to makushita in September 1969. He ultimately announced his retirement after the tournament at the young age of 25. After retiring he managed chanko restaurants in Tanabe, Wakayama, and Hakodate, Hokkaido, before becoming a salaryman.

## **Fighting Style**

Misogidori 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 sotogake, or outside leg trip.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 274-249-32-1d/522 (53 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 88-109-13/195 (14 basho)
* **Juryo:** 80-69-1d/150 (10 basho)
* **Makushita:** 50-27-7/77 (12 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 32-31/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 19-11-12/30 (6 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 2: (1) Kashiwado, (1) Tochinoumi

## **Shikona History**

* Sasaki Eiji (1961.01 - 1965.11)
* Misogidori Eiji (1966.01 - 1968.01)
* Misogidori Yuji (1968.03 - 1969.09)

## **Gallery**

Misogidori poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Misogidori serves as Kitanofuji's flag bearer (c. 1967)Misogidori with stablemate, future Yokozuna Kitanofuji
## **Sources**

* Misogidori Eiji Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Misogidori Eiji Rikishi Information