Debut May, 1891 Retired January, 1907 Role Sumo wrestler Weight 116 kg | Highest rank Yokozuna (April, 1905) Name Wakashima Gonshiro Died October 23, 1943 Height 1.78 m | |
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Born Gonshiro TakahashiJanuary 19, 1876Chiba, Japan ( 1876-01-19 ) Similar People Ozutsu Man\'emon, Sakaigawa Namiemon, Miyagiyama Fukumatsu, Ayagawa Goroji, Maruyama Gondazaemon | ||
Wakashima Gonshirō (若島 権四郎, January 19, 1876 – October 23, 1943) was a sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 21st yokozuna.
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Career
Wakashima was the first official yokozuna from Osaka sumo. He began his career in Tokyo sumo at the Tomozuna stable, joining in May 1891 at the age of 15. He reached the top makuuchi division in 1896, peaking at maegashira 7. He was very popular with geisha, but his interest in this side of life caused his progress in sumo to slacken. In addition, he suffered from smallpox. He left in January 1898, joining Osaka sumo, and entering Nakamura stable. It is believed he was awarded the Osaka sumo yokozuna licence by the Gojo family in January 1903 though the evidence is obscure. In June 1903, he fought against wrestlers in Tokyo sumo. He gave a very strong performance, defeating yokozuna Umegatani Tōtarō II and emerged as a threat to the dominance of the strongest yokozuna in Tokyo sumo, Hitachiyama. His strength was acknowledged when, after a series of meetings between the Osaka and Tokyo sumo associations, he was awarded a yokozuna license by the Yoshida family in April 1905. The only wrestler active in Osaka sumo to ever receive this recognition. He retired at the early age of 31 in January 1907 owing to an injury suffered in a cycling accident in September 1905, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Osaka sumo top division record
*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded in Osaka sumo before its merger with Tokyo sumo, and the unofficial championships above are historically conferred. For more information, see yūshō.