Hitachiyama Taniemon
| Hitachiyama Taniemon | |
|---|---|
| 常陸山 谷右衞門 | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Tani Ichige January 19, 1874 Mito, Ibaragi, Japan |
| Died | June 19, 1922 (aged 48) |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 146 kg (322 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Dewanoumi |
| Record | 150-15-131 22draws-2holds(Makuuchi) |
| Debut | June, 1892 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (June, 1903) |
| Retired | May, 1914 |
| Championships | 1 (Makuuchi, official) 7 (Makuuchi, unofficial) |
| * Up to date as of September 2007. | |
Hitachiyama Taniemon (常陸山 谷右衞門, January 19, 1874 – June 19, 1922) was a sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 19th yokozuna from 1903 till 1914. His great rivalry with Umegatani Tōtarō II created the "Ume-Hitachi Era" and did much to popularise sumo. He is remembered as much for his exploits in promoting the sport as for his strength on the dohyō. In his later years as head coach of Dewanoumi stable he trained hundreds of wrestlers, including three yokozuna. Many consider him the most honorable yokozuna in sumo history, which earned him the nickname "Kakusei" (角聖), or "sumo saint".
Hitachiyama was born as Tani Ichige, on January 19, 1874, to a samurai family which belonged to the Mito Domain. His family was dismissed by the Meiji restoration authorities and was ruined financially. He moved to Tokyo and became dependent on his uncle. He attempted to enter Waseda University where his uncle was employed. At around this time, however, his uncle observed that he was able to lift a rock weighing 58 kan, or 217.5 kg (480 lb). His uncle advised him to become a sumo wrestler. At that time, sumo wasn't seen as a sport of much regard, so his father opposed the idea. Despite his father's protestation, he joined Dewanoumi stable in 1890.
He made his professional debut in June 1892. However, he fell in love with his head coach's niece; and when he was refused permission to wed her, he ran away from Tokyo sumo in the summer of 1894. He moved to Nagoya sumo and then Osaka sumo. He returned to Tokyo sumo in the spring of 1896. He had become much stronger during his absence and won 32 consecutive bouts upon his return. In January 1899, he won a championship at his first tournament in the top makuuchi division. In January 1901 he was promoted to ōzeki. He fought against fellow ōzeki Umegatani Tōtarō II on the final day of May 1903 tournament. He defeated Umegatani and his own promotion to yokozuna was confirmed. Hitachiyama, however, insisted that his rival be promoted as well. Hitachiyama got his wish and he and Umegatani were promoted to yokozuna together in June 1903. With Ōzutsu Man'emon also holding the rank, it was the first occasion that three yokozuna were active at the same time.
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