Itsutsushima Narao

Itsutsushima Narao - 五ツ嶋 奈良男 (born December 22, 1912 - May 6, 1973) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Narao, Nagasaki. He made his debut in May 1930 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 1936 and has one kinboshi. His highest rank was ozeki and he retired in January 1942.

## **Early Life**

Isaichi Kanesaki was born in the village of Narao (modern day Shin-Kamigoto) in Nagasaki prefecture. He worked as a fisherman, but also participated in amateur sumo. One day, a recently retired former yokozuna Tsunenohana came to Nagasaki and recruited Kanesaki to Dewanoumi stable.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in May 1930 and initially wrestled under his surname Kanesaki. Upon promotion to makushita in May 1932, he was given the new shikona "Hishutake" (肥州嶽). After two years in makushita, he was promoted to juryo in May 1934.

### **Juryo Career**

In his first tournament as a sekitori, he finished with a 6-5 record. In May 1935 he was given the new shikona "Itsutsushima" (五ツ嶋) and was promoted to makuuchi in May 1936 after a total of four tournaments in juryo.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Itsutsushima was able to establish himself in the top division, but wrestled mainly in the maegashira ranks. His breakout tournament came in January 1940 where he defeated yokozuna Futabayama to earn his first and only kinboshi. Furthermore, he finished with an 11-4 record and was promoted to sekiwake in May 1940. In his san'yaku debut, he finished with a 13-2, defeating yokozuna Futabayama once more, and was runner-up to Akinoumi's 14-1 performance. He was promoted to ozeki for the following January 1941 tournament.

### **Ozeki Career**

In his ozeki debut, Itsutsushima withdrew from the tournament on the 10th day due knee injuries. He finished with a 5-5-5 record and was kadoban after only his first tournament. In the following tournament, Itsutsushima got off to a strong start, finishing with a 7-2 record after the end of the ninth day. However, he went on to lose his final six matches to finish with a 7-8 record as his knee was still bothering him. He was subsequently demoted back down to sekiwake in January 1942 where he ultimatley announced his retirement without wrestling a match. Itsutsushima was the first wrestler to be demoted from ozeki after only two tournaments with Musoyama and Takakeisho following later. However, Musoyama and Takakeisho regained their ozeki rank, while Itsutsushima did not.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After retiring from sumo, Itsutsushima left the sumo world completely and returned to his hometown where he ran a kamaboko factory. He later returned to Tokyo again and managed a furniture store, a chanko restaurant called "Midori" (みどり), and a hotel. He died on May 6, 1973, at the age of 60.

## **Fighting Style**

Itsutushima 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 yoritaoshi (force out), makiotoshi (twist down), tsuridashi (lift out), and hatakikomi (slap down).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 171-113-20/283 (30 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 86-58-20/143 (12 basho)
* **Juryo:** 26-18/44 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 29-25/54 (5 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 13-5/18 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 8-4/12 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 9-3/12 (2 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Kanesaki Isaichi (1930.05 - 1932.03)
* Hishutake Narao (1932.05 - 1935.01)
* Itsutsushima Narao (1935.05 - 1942.01)

## **Gallery**

Itsutsushima Narao - (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Itsutsushima's tegata
## **Sources**

* Itsutsushima Narao Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Itsutsushima Narao Rikishi Information