The mystery of Raiden Tameemon

[Raiden]

History is unclear why perhaps teh most dominant Sumotori of all time never was given the rank of Yokozuna.

Any one here have theories they can share? How is this possible, and should he not be given an honorary rank of Yokozuna?

[Jonosuke]

I will give one definitive answer to all those wandering and wondering few.

At the time of Raiden as we know there was no yokozuna rank per se. It was nothing more than a license to perform a dohyo-iri in sumo tournaments and other public occasions like a shrine opening.

Since the House of Yoshida Tsukasa only granted the yokozuna licenses to Tanikaze and Onogawa (there is no evidence the first three ever received the license from them or even existed) basically at the same time, such custom was not really in place. At the time it may have been considered to be simply as one time only thing for Tanikaze and Onogawa for their bout.

Raiden was already an ozeki, the highest rank on the banzuke and the House of Yoshida Tsukasa really didn't come to their sense until 30 years later to give one to Onomatsu. Likely Raiden himself didn't think of it as a big deal as it never made any difference for banzuke ranking, renumeration, status or treatment.

All the other stuff you hear about him are the stuff that more or less legends are made but fun to hear.

Edited October 1, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Kotoseiya Yuichi]

You've probably read this?