Hananokuni Akihiro

Last updated

Hananokuni Akihiro
花ノ国 明宏
Personal information
BornAkihiro Noguchi
(1959-10-15) 15 October 1959 (age 64)
Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight146 kg (322 lb)
Career
Stable HanakagoHanaregoma
Record605-593-21
DebutMarch, 1975
Highest rankMaegashira 1 (November, 1989)
RetiredNovember, 1994
Championships 1 (Makushita)
Special Prizes Fighting Spirit (1)
Gold Stars 1 (Hokutoumi)
* Up to date as of Sep. 2012.

Hananokuni Akihiro (born 15 October 1959 as Akihiro Noguchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan.

Contents

Career

He made his professional debut in March 1975, joining Hanakago stable. He joined Hanaregoma stable when Hanakago was wound up in 1985. After many years in the lower ranks he finally reached the makuuchi or top division in March 1988 at the age of 28. His best result in a tournament came in September 1988 when he won eleven bouts, defeated ōzeki Konishiki and received the Fighting Spirit Award. [1] He defeated yokozuna Hokutoumi in September 1989 to earn his only kinboshi . Chiyonofuji defeated him in March 1990 to become the first wrestler to win 1000 career bouts. His highest rank was maegashira 1. His last appearance in the top division came in November 1992 and he spent the last two years of his career back in the jūryō and makushita divisions.

Retirement from sumo

Upon his retirement in November 1994 he was unable to obtain elder stock and become a member of the Japan Sumo Association. However, he was able to remain in sumo by becoming a wakaimonogashira , a kind of record keeper and odd job man which is a salaried role within the Sumo Association. He can often be seen assisting with the presentation of prizes to the yūshō winner at the conclusion of tournaments. He is attached to Shibatayama stable.

Fighting style

Hananokuni′s favoured kimarite or techniques included yori taoshi (force out and down), uwatenage (overarm throw) and shitatedashinage (pulling inner arm throw. [1] He used a migi yotsu grip on the mawashi , with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent′s arms. [1]

Career record

Hananokuni Akihiro [2]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March
Haru basho, Osaka
May
Natsu basho, Tokyo
July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September
Aki basho, Tokyo
November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1975x(Maezumo)EastJonokuchi#4
43
 
EastJonidan#89
25
 
WestJonidan#109
52
 
WestJonidan#70
52
 
1976WestJonidan#42
25
 
WestJonidan#64
25
 
WestJonidan#81
52
 
EastJonidan#37
34
 
WestJonidan#54
61
 
EastSandanme#85
322
 
1977EastJonidan#10
25
 
WestJonidan#34
52
 
EastSandanme#80
25
 
EastJonidan#13
52
 
WestSandanme#75
43
 
EastSandanme#59
34
 
1978WestSandanme#69
52
 
EastSandanme#38
52
 
WestSandanme#4
52
 
EastMakushita#46
43
 
EastMakushita#36
43
 
EastMakushita#29
43
 
1979WestMakushita#22
34
 
WestMakushita#29
25
 
WestMakushita#52
43
 
EastMakushita#44
52
 
EastMakushita#24
43
 
EastMakushita#18
34
 
1980EastMakushita#28
52
 
EastMakushita#18
43
 
EastMakushita#13
43
 
EastMakushita#9
25
 
WestMakushita#23
34
 
WestMakushita#32
43
 
1981EastMakushita#9
25
 
WestMakushita#23
34
 
WestMakushita#32
43
 
EastMakushita#9
25
 
WestMakushita#23
34
 
WestMakushita#32
43
 
1982WestMakushita#35
25
 
EastMakushita#54
52
 
WestMakushita#35
43
 
EastMakushita#28
52
 
EastMakushita#15
52
 
WestMakushita#9
52
 
1983WestMakushita#2
43
 
WestMakushita#1
52
 
WestJūryō#12
411
 
EastMakushita#8
43
 
WestMakushita#5
43
 
WestMakushita#3
52
 
1984WestJūryō#11
96
 
EastJūryō#6
87
 
EastJūryō#6
78
 
EastJūryō#8
510
 
EastMakushita#2
25
 
WestMakushita#16
34
 
1985WestMakushita#25
43
 
EastMakushita#15
70
Champion

 
EastJūryō#13
78
 
WestMakushita#1
43
 
WestJūryō#12
87
 
EastJūryō#10
510
 
1986WestMakushita#1
43
 
EastMakushita#1
16
 
EastMakushita#25
43
 
WestMakushita#18
61
 
EastMakushita#5
43
 
WestMakushita#2
34
 
1987 WestMakushita#5
61P
 
WestJūryō#12
96
 
EastJūryō#7
96
 
EastJūryō#4
96
 
WestJūryō#1
87
 
EastJūryō#1
69
 
1988 WestJūryō#4
105
 
EastMaegashira#14
96
 
EastMaegashira#9
87
 
WestMaegashira#3
510
 
WestMaegashira#9
114
F
WestMaegashira#2
69
 
1989 EastMaegashira#5
87
 
EastMaegashira#2
510
 
EastMaegashira#7
87
 
EastMaegashira#3
78
 
EastMaegashira#4
87
EastMaegashira#1
411
 
1990 EastMaegashira#7
87
 
WestMaegashira#3
510
 
EastMaegashira#6
87
 
EastMaegashira#2
411
 
EastMaegashira#11
105
 
EastMaegashira#3
510
 
1991 WestMaegashira#8
87
 
EastMaegashira#4
69
 
EastMaegashira#10
87
 
WestMaegashira#6
1212
 
EastJūryō#2
87
 
WestJūryō#1
78
 
1992 EastJūryō#4
96
 
WestMaegashira#16
69
 
WestJūryō#3
96
 
EastMaegashira#16
69
 
EastJūryō#2
87
 
WestMaegashira#15
510
 
1993 EastJūryō#6
78
 
EastJūryō#8
87
 
WestJūryō#6
87
 
WestJūryō#4
510
 
WestJūryō#9
78
 
EastJūryō#12
87
 
1994 WestJūryō#7
267
 
WestMakushita#10
43
 
EastMakushita#5
43
 
WestMakushita#3
25
 
WestMakushita#15
16
 

Retired
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi Jūryō Makushita Sandanme Jonidan Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks:  Yokozuna Ōzeki Sekiwake Komusubi Maegashira

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Patmore, Angela (1990). The Giants of Sumo. MacDonald & Co. p. 99. ISBN   0356181200.
  2. "Hananokuni Akihiro Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 7 September 2012.