Asahifuji, an unrecognized yokozuna

[Tony 16]

Asahifuji, the 63rd yokozuna of sumo'history, was a great rikishi, but I find, unrecognized.

Before his yokozuna's promotion, he stayed ozeki during 17 basho. In 1987 and 1988, he produced very good sumo and had a difficult year in 1989. Despite this fact, he became yokozuna in july 1990. But, injuries forced him to retire after only 9 basho as yokozuna.

He won 4 yusho and developped a spectacular yotsu-zumo.

And you, what do you think about him ?

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Well I have been gathering information about yokozuna and written little articles of them in Finnish. As it is healthy to each and everyone of us to be exposed to written Finnish occasionally no matter what is one's native tongue I will copy-paste my Asahifuji-article in Finnish and then translate the essence of it :-Q

Asahifuji Seiya

189cm pitk

[Zentoryu 154]

Now here was the very definition of a great Ozeki.

It's too bad his Yokozuna career was cut short by injuries.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

If I am not mistaken, Asahifuji is originally from Aomori so maybe our Aomori-lady Amanogawa would have more to tell about this guy!?

[Rijicho 6]

Maybe Rijicho could move this thread to Ozumo discussions as it would fit better there?

Actually I'm not sure any more about the definition of this particular subforum compared to others, most notably the one you mention. I will ponder about this issue when devising the reformed forum later this autumn.

For now I'll keep this thread here.

[Tony 16]

Yes, Asahifuji is born in Aomori-ken. He's son of a fisherman.

[Chiyozakura 163]

Ok, let me add my two Euro cents...

I found this info in the book "The Giants of Sumo" from Angela Patmore, published in England in 1989.

His nickname in Japan was "Tsugaru Namako", translated as Sea Slug...when he was promoted to Ozeki he asked at the press for a new nickname, and then offered "Sea Prince". In the whole book he is called "The Slug" though, so I guess that his wish did not come through...at the time of writing he is called the eternal Ozeki. He is criticized for being too lazy and for being phlegmatic. He looks like he has a hard time staying awake. He was promoted to Juryo and Makuuchi at the same time as Onokuni so the press tried to built up some rivalry but Asahifuji did not care. He was not very popular with the press.

Asahifuji had done sumo since he was a kid. His father built him a dohyo in the garden and made him work through the fundamentals day in day out. During high school he was a good sumotori but often did not attend training because he was playing pinball or went to the temple to relax. He then went to Kinki university where he joined the sumo club. He won the "West Japan student Newcomers Cup" and then left the university to become a fisherman. His father was trying to bring his son into professional sumo and finally contacted Oshima Oyakata who was at first careful because Asahifuji's reputaion for being lazy and running away if he did not like what he was doing. He offered him to join his new stable and Asahifuji gave it a try rather unmotivated, but he was bored being a fisherman. He was controlled by his Oyakata all the time and treated very harshly. He ran away several times but as he was the biggest hope for Oshima Oyakata he was allowed to come back again.

Then there is more or less a story on his Makuuchi career. The book was written shortly after Asahifujis double digit streak broke and the author thought Asahi was on his decline and his successor was already there: Akinoshima :-)

Asahifuji was at that time and hopefully still is married to the niece of then Kasugayama Oyakata. His hobbies were said to be fishing and sleeping.

[Amanogawa 79]

Back home from Kokugikan. :)

There's not much left for this Aomorian to say as both Kai-zeki and Chiyo-zeki did such nice jobs on his "main trade". So just few more words about little things...