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was a Japanese professional
sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a '' rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ('' dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by ...
wrestler from Kikuchi, Higo Province. He was the sport's 11th ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
''. Although the name of the style of the ''yokozunas in-ring ceremony is named after him, the fact that he himself practiced this style is highly debated.


Early life and career

Born , he later changed his surname to . He was born in March 1825 (in now
Kumamoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 () and has a geographic area of . Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, Miyaza ...
). His grandfather was an '' ōzeki'' named Aramaki, who was well known in the neighborhood.
In the fall of 1846, he went to
Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...
to join Minato stable, because the stablemaster (former ''yokozuna'' Shiranui Dakuemon) was also from Kumamoto and powerful within the Osaka Sumo Association. In 1847, he was given the ''
shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Edo period, where they were used as a means to attract customers and hide the identities of the '' rikishi''. Like standard Japanese names, a ''shikona'' ...
'', or ring name, . and started his professional debut in Osaka sumo. His stablemaster realised his potential, and in 1849, he transferred to Sakaigawa stable in
Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...
-sumo, where he started using the ''shikona'' . Shiranui was then recruited to wrestle for the
Hosokawa clan The is a Japanese Samurai kin group or clan. Ancestors # Emperor Jimmu # Emperor Suizei # Emperor Annei # Emperor Itoku # Emperor Kōshō # Emperor Kōan # Emperor Kōrei # Emperor Kōgen # Emperor Kaika # Emperor Sujin # Emperor Su ...
. He reached the top ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' division in November 1856. He was given the ring name , which was the combination of the name of his former master in Osaka and the name of a Kansei era '' ōzeki'' that the Hosokawa lord liked.


''Yokozuna''

He was promoted to '' ōzeki'' in March 1862, but had to withdraw from the 1863 tournament due to an event called the 'Koyanagi murder' (the murder of ''maegashira'' ). In October 1863, he was awarded a ''yokozuna'' licence by the . Shiranui became a ''yokozuna'' at the age of 38, even though his record as an ''ōzeki'' had not been particularly strong. The granting of the licence was more due to his popularity with the public and long years of service, and the fact that he was close to the Yoshida, which awarded the licences. His ring-entering performances were so spectacular that a '' nishiki-e'' woodblock print of him entering the ring was soon published and sold very well. After his promotion, he did not decline much, and left Edo in November 1869. He became a ringside promoter in Osaka, where he remained until July 1872. His record after his license was 63 wins, 16 losses, 5 holds, 2 draws, and 40 rests. In the top ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' division, Shiranui won 119 bouts and lost 35 bouts, recording a winning percentage of 77.3. After retiring from the ring completely, he founded his own stable (under the name ) and led the Osaka Sumo Association as its chairman. Shiranui died in 1879. His grave is located in Ōtsu, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto.


''Yokozuna'' in-ring ceremony

The name of one style of ''yokozuna dohyō-iri'' (the yokozuna ring-entering ceremony) came from him. His ritual style was said to be beautiful, and his ceremony was always a highlight for tournament crowds, sometimes more than the bouts themselves. He continued to perform it for three years after his retirement. However it is unproven that he actually performed what is now called the Shiranui style. In fact, he is considered by most sumo historians today to be the organizer of the Unryū style. There is a picture of him performing the ceremony holding his arm to his chest, which indicates an Unryū rather than Shiranui style. The 22nd Yokozuna Tachiyama, who was credited as perfecting the Shiranui style (with both arms held out), said his ''dohyō-iri'' was based on
Unryū Kyūkichi was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Yanagawa, Chikugo Province. He was the sport's 10th '' yokozuna''. Career He was born in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, but would later change his name to . He lost his parents and grandmother in 1833. He made his debut ...
's style. In addition, ''yokozuna''
Unryū Kyūkichi was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Yanagawa, Chikugo Province. He was the sport's 10th '' yokozuna''. Career He was born in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, but would later change his name to . He lost his parents and grandmother in 1833. He made his debut ...
, who is said to have developed the Unryū style, is often represented on nishiki-e woodblock prints with his arms expanded, like the current Shiranui style.


Fighting style

Although his performance was not particularly outstanding, he gradually rose in the ranks. Shiranui never won many major victories, but he rose steadily in the ranks and annoyed his opponents with his skill in the right-handed grip. He was more known for his technique than his strength, he was an expert at leg grabs, once downing Ryōgoku Kajinosuke I, himself an expert on the technique, with one clean move.


Top division record

*''The actual time the tournaments were held during the year in this period often varied.'' ''*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.''


See also

*
List of yokozuna This is a list of all sumo wrestlers who have reached the sport's highest rank of ''yokozuna''. It was not recorded on the ''banzuke'' until 1890 and was not officially recognised as sumo's highest rank until 1909. Until then, ''yokozuna'' was mer ...
*
List of past sumo wrestlers This is a list of prominent past wrestlers (either retired or deceased) in the sport of professional sumo. They are listed in order of the year and tournament month that they made their professional debuts. The information listed below was gleaned ...
*
Glossary of sumo terms The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...


References


External links


The 11th Yokozuna Shiranui Koemon


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shiranui, Koemon 1825 births 1879 deaths Japanese sumo wrestlers Sumo people from Kumamoto Prefecture Yokozuna 19th-century wrestlers