Rikishi of Old The 4th Yokozuna Tanikaze Kajinosuke (1750 - 1795): Part 2

by Joe Kuroda

Last issue saw coverage of legion of fans eagerly waited Onogawa was subsequently given a Tanikaze’s incredible winning for their encounter and not only of “kimake” (literally: a run, which Hakuho recently ensured a sell out on the day they mental loss). managed to equal. This issue faced each other but helped usher covers the conclusion of the career in an unprecedented sumo boom. This tournament is considered to of the great Tanikaze, still revered The Tanikaze-Onogawa Era is be historic in other noteworthy by older Japanese sumo fans known as the first golden age of aspects. It was the first time a today. Ozumo, taking Ozumo to the “yokozuna” performed their height of popularity and to ceremonial dohyo-iri in front of a Tanikaze was already 31 years old national prominence for the first supreme head of state or dignitary. when he was beaten by 23 year old time in its history. The musubi winner Tanikaze was Onogawa but their illustrious given a yumi (bow) by the shogun battles had just begun. At the time Shortly after receiving their and he became the first of his encounter against Tanikaze, yokozuna licenses, Onogawa and ever to twirl the yumi on the dohyo Onogawa was ranked Makushita Tanikaze participated in an (currently performed by a Ni-dan and was virtually unknown historic tournament attended by Yumitori rikishi on behalf of the in Edo. Today we never see an the 11th Tokugawa Shogun, Ienari Musubi-no-ichiban winner). ozeki facing a Makushita rikishi Tokugawa on June 11, 1791. Tanikaze also participated in but in this era there were fewer Presiding over the most well another tournament staged for the rikishi, not all of whom known and strongest rikishi of the Tokugawa Shogunate and again participated in every basho as they day was Oikaze Yoshida of the had the honour of performing the often had a commitment to attend House of Yoshida Tsukasa. This yumitori ceremony on that to their benefactors (regional was the culmination of his lifetime occasion. lords) back home. work of attempting to bring much needed respectability to, and inject On the dohyo Tanikaze was Onogawa had already proven his high spiritual values into, Ozumo reported to be a sore loser as, strength in Kyoto and Osaka from a carnival like atmosphere when he lost, he was known to Sumo, and possessed a high level often associated with Ozumo in issue a mono-ii himself but off of ability. His reputation shot up the Edo era. dohyo he was such a warm hearted after his win against the previously man that there was even a story of invincible Tanikaze and he backed If there was a headline in the day’s him intentionally losing to a up his claims to greatness by sports pages, it may have been the rikishi who had a sick mother and displaying superb technically legendary Raiden Tame-emon giving her the kensho money as skilled sumo. losing his first “public” bout to well as doing shiko in front of her Jinmaku Shimanosuke (the third to make her well. More than likely There was no doubt that Onogawa Oshiogawa oyakata) or Onogawa such a story was made up in the was a worthy opponent of losing to Tanikaze in the Musubi- day of Edo where the people loved Tanikaze and was just about the no-ichiban by a “matta” even such stories of gentle giants. only opponent Tanikaze could ever before the bout began. A rather lose to. Tanikaze had a better controversial call was made by the Around 1784 a cold then record against Onogawa in Edo gyoji, Oikaze Yoshida, handing out commonly known as “Tani-kaze” Sumo with a career record of six the loss to Onogawa for refusing to (“kaze” in Japanese means either a wins, three losses, three draws jump out of tachiai by calling for a wind or cold) was spreading (“wake”), two holds (“azukari”) matta. Despite pleading from around Edo and Tanikaze himself and three no contests others including the Tokugawa was even heard to utter, “it’s (“mushobu”), but in Kyoto and Shogun, Oikaze refused to budge impossible to get me down on the Osaka their wins were more saying, “both had their breathing dohyo. But if you really want to see equally divided. Every basho, a matched and were ready to go”. me lying down, come see me when

Sumo Fan Magazine 1 Issue 34 © SFM December 2010 I have a cold.” During a flu custom would take hold. The documented by the 12th Yokozuna epidemic of 1795, despite feeling yokozuna tradition was far from Jinmaku Kyugoro as he etched the effects of general ill health, well established, still new to the their on the Yokozuna Tanikaze was on another winning people's mind as it was considered Monument he erected in the streak of 35 bouts when he to be just another innovation. grounds of Tomioka Hachimangu succumbed to the illness on in Tokyo. February 27, passing away as an But a precedent or two did begin active ozeki at 44 years old. Some to emerge. Tanikaze and Onogawa When the 69th Yokozuna Hakuho still believe Tanikaze died of were awarded the yokozuna Sho defeated his opponent on day “Tani-kaze” cold due to the name license at the same time. As far as 1 of the 2010 Kyushu Basho, he confusion. they were concerned they were tied the consecutive win record set both yokozuna, not even caring by this long forgotten 4th When Tanikaze passed away there who was the first and who was the Yokozuna, Tanikaze Kajinosuke. were only two known yokozuna second. Onogawa was eight years In doing so, Hakuho helped and there was no ordered list of younger than Tanikaze but with highlight the great yokozuna. Actually at the time Tanikaze’s death, his reign began accomplishments of great even the House of Yoshida to be counted as ahead of yokozuna in the nascent era of Tsukasa was not even certain the Onogawa’s, by way of the tradition Ozumo as we know it today.

Tanikaze Kajinosuke Born in: Wakabayashi, Sendai Born on: September 8th, 1750 Real name: Yoshiro Kaneko Shikona: Hidenoyama, Dategaseki, Tanikaze Dohyo debut: 1769 April Final basho: 1794 November Highest rank: Yokozuna Number of upper division basho: 49 258 wins, 14 losses, 6 draws, 16 holds, 5 no Makuuchi record: contests Winning percentage: 94.90% Number of yusho equivalent: 21 Height: 189 cm Weight: 160 kg Favorite techniques: Yori Date of death: February 27th 1795

Sumo Fan Magazine 2 Issue 34 © SFM December 2010