Kitanofuji Katsuaki

北 の 富士 勝 昭
Kitanofuji Katsuaki

Personal data
real name	Takezawa Katsuaki
Born	March 28, 1942
place of birth	Bihoro, Hokkaido Prefecture
size	1.85 cm
Weight	135 kg
Career
Heya	Dewanoumi - Kokonoe
Career record	592-294-62 (makuuchi)
debut	January 1957
Highest rank	Yokozuna (January 1970)
Tournament victories	10 (Makuuchi) 1 (Juryo)
resignation	July 1974

Kitanofuji Katsuaki ( Japanese 北 の 富士 勝 昭 ; born March 28, 1942 in Bihoro , Hokkaidō as Takezawa Katsuaki ( 竹 澤 勝 昭 )) is a former sumo wrestler and the 52nd yokozuna .

Kitanofuji began his professional career in January 1957 as the wrestler of the eminent Heya Dewanoumi-beya. He won the honbasho the juryo -Division in November 1963, fifteen wins and no defeat - a result that was reached in the juryo previously only twice. His first tournament in the Makuuchi Division, the first division of the Japanese professional sumo, he finished with thirteen wins, which is still the best result of a newcomer in the top division. As a result, he was promoted from the 10th maegashira to komusubi . However, he received a bitter make-koshi in the next tournament . Kitanofuji, however, was able to successfully rise again and reaffirmed his claim to the Sekiwake rank, even though he had to temporarily give it up several times.

In September 1966 Kitanofuji first appeared as Ōzeki on the banzuke (ranking). Shortly thereafter, Tamanoumi also reached this rank, who at that time still fought under the Shikona (wrestling name) Tamanoshima and was to combine intimate competition with the Kitanofuji in the following years.

When the former yokozuna Chiyonoyama (1926-1977) left the Dewanoumi-beya in 1967 and founded the Kokonoe-beya, Kitanofuji, who was Dewanoumi's Heyagashira (senior wrestler) at the time, went with him.

At that time Taiho dominated the division, and only in March 1967 Kitanofuji had won a first tournament of makuuchi. A subsequent success, however, remained, and so Kitanofuji Ōzeki remained until he achieved sufficient performance to get the yokozuna title with a near-win behind Tamanoumi in September 1969 and two wins in November and January. Tamanoumi received this honor at the same time.

This was followed by the short era of the two yokozuna appointed at the same time, who now usually made the tournament wins among themselves. It ended with Tamanoumi's sudden death in October 1971.

The following year Kitanofuji had a bad time as an athlete. He only took full part in one of the first four tournaments, and did not even take part in Nagoya basho because of a finger injury. At the same time, a photo appeared in the press showing him and "girlfriends" during a secret stay in Hawaii . There was speculation about his imminent resignation.

The assumptions turned out to be unfounded, and the association did not force Kitanofuji to abdicate. Instead, the yokozuna reported back in the fall with a tournament win without losing a single one. In March 1973 Kitanofuji finally won his tenth and final basho in the makuuchi division and resigned as a yokozuna in the summer of 32 years.

After his active career, Kitanofuji acquired the kabu (share) izutsu. In 1977, after Chiyonoyama's death, he took over his stable as Kokonoe - Oyakata . Under his aegis, the two yokozuna Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi outgrew the heya . Chiyonofuji became his successor in 1992. Kitanofuji took over his Jimmaku share: first in April under the name Jimmaku Junki ( 陣 幕 純 樹 ) and from September as Jimmaku Katsuaki ( 陣 幕 克昭 ). After the events surrounding the elections in the Sumo Association (NSK) in 1998, in which Takadagawa-Oyakata took his place on the board of directors of the association, Kitanofuji left the NSK completely.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "Kitanofuji Criticized For Hawaii Junket"  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. - Mainichi Daily News, Thursday July 27, 1972  
2. ^ "Oddities & Scandals: Takadagawa Ante Portas" - The Oyakata Gallery

Web links

• Details the Japanese Sumoverband (Engl.)

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . So Kitanofuji is the family name, Katsuaki the first name.