Wakanohana Kanji I
| Wakanohana Kanji | |
|---|---|
| 若乃花 幹士 | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Katsuji Hanada March 16, 1928 Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | September 1, 2010 (aged 82) Tokyo, Japan |
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 105 kg (231 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Nishonoseki, Hanakago |
| Current rank | Yokozuna |
| Record | 593-253-70-4 draws |
| Debut | November, 1946 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (January, 1958) |
| Retired | May, 1962 |
| Championships | 10 (Makuuchi) 1 (Sandanme) 1 (Jonidan) |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance (2) Fighting Spirit (2) Technique (1) |
| Gold Stars | 6 Haguroyama (2) Chiyonoyama (2) Azumafuji (2) |
| * Up to date as of August 2012. | |
Wakanohana Kanji I (若乃花 幹士 Wakanohana Kanji?, March 16, 1928 – September 1, 2010) was a sumo wrestler, the sport's 45th yokozuna (the highest-ranking position).
Wakanohana's younger brother (by twenty-two years) was the late former ōzeki Takanohana Kenshi and he was the uncle of Takanohana Kōji and Wakanohana Masaru. He won ten top division yūshō or tournament championships during his career and at a fighting weight of around 100 kg was one of the lightest yokozuna ever. He had a long-standing rivalry with and was one of the most popular wrestlers of the 1950s. After his retirement in 1962 he established Futagoyama stable and was also head of the Japan Sumo Association from 1988 until 1992.
He was born in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture and moved to Hokkaidō as a child. After working as a stevedore, he was scouted by the maegashira Onoumi, joining Nishonoseki stable in November 1946. He was trained harshly by Rikidōzan in Nishonoseki stable, but he reportedly bit Rikidōzan's leg in retaliation for his training. Onoumi became head coach of Shibatayama stable after his retirement in May 1952, and Wakanohana followed him to the new stable. It was renamed Hanakago stable in September 1953.
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