Kainoyama Isamu

Kainoyama Isamu - 海乃山 勇 (born June 28, 1940 - July 5, 1997) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ryugasaki, Ibaraki. He made his debut in May 1956 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1961 and has six special prizes as well as five kinboshi. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in January 1970.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduating from junior high school, Irii joined Onogawa stable and made his professional debut in May 1956. Since he was a fan of the highly popular Rikidozan, he wanted to use the shikona "Kairikizan" (海力山), however, when the gyoji were writing up the banzuke, they accidentally wrote "Kainoyama" (海乃山) instead. Since correcting the mistake would be tedious, he kept the name. After winning the sandanme yusho in January 1958, he was promoted to makushita for the following March tournament. He won the makushita yusho in November 1958 with a perfect 8-0 record and was promoted to juryo four tournaments later in July 1979.

### **Juryo Career**

He was demoted after only one tournament in juryo and subsequently changed his shikona to "Shinoburyu" (信夫竜). He returned to the sekitori level in March 1960 and posted five consecutive winning records which earned him a promotion to makuuchi for the January 1961 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

He reverted back to the shikona Kainoyama in September 1961. In January 1963 he finished with a strong 12-3 record and was awarded the Technique prize. He followed with a 10-5 record at the rank of maegashira 1 and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to sekiwake for the May 1963 tournament and this was to be his highest rank. He held the rank of sekiwake on two separate occasions as well. In 1965, he transferred to Dewanoumi stable after his Onogawa stable shut down. In total Kainoyama accumulated six special prizes, five kinboshi, and one runner-up performance in November 1963.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In January 1970, Kainoyama pulled out on the eleventh day due to lumbar spondylolisthesis, which is a spinal condition that causes lower back pain. He announced his retirement after the tournament. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onogawa. However, his back injury hindered his ability to coach and he subsequently left the Sumo Association in September 1971.

After leaving the sumo world, he opened up a chanko restaurant in Osaka city, Osaka prefecture. He died on July 5, 1997, at the age of 57.

## **Fighting Style**

Kainoyama 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 tsukiotoshi (thrust down) and ketaguri (pulling inside ankle sweep).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 550-496-13/1044 (80 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 384-413-13/795 (54 basho)
* **Juryo:** 63-42/105 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 63-25/88 (11 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 23-9/32 (4 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 12-4/16 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-3/8 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (November 1958)
* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (January 1958)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Technique Prize (3), Fighting Spirit Prize (2), Outstanding Performance Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 5: (3) Taiho, (1) Kashiwado, (1) Tochinoumi

## **Shikona History**

* Irii Isamu (1956.05 - 1956.09)
* Kainoyama Isamu (1957.01 - 1959.07)
* Shinoburyu Masamune (1959.09 - 1961.01)
* Shinoburyu Isamu (1961.03 - 1961.07)
* Kainoyama Isamu (196.09 - 1964.01)
* Kainoyama Masatake (1964.03 - 1964.03)
* Kainoyama Isamu (1964.05 - 1970.01)

## **Gallery**

Kainoyama (right) wins his first of many sansho prizes (c. 1963)Kainoyama poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1967)Kainoyama serves as Sadanoyama's flag bearer (c. 1968)Kainoyama serves as Sadanoyama's sword bearer (c. 1968)Kainoyama loses to Wakanami (c. 1968)Kainoyama's chanko restaurant which he ran after retirement
## **Sources**

* Kainoyama Isamu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kainoyama Isamu Rikishi Information