14 Facts About Chiyonoyama Masanobu

Chiyonoyama Masanobu was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fukushima, Hokkaido.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu was the sport's 41st yokozuna from 1951 until 1959.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu is regarded as the first "modern" yokozuna in that he was promoted by the Japan Sumo Association itself and not the House of Yoshida Tsukasa.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu was the first yokozuna from Hokkaido, which was the birthplace of the subsequent yokozuna Yoshibayama, Taiho, Kitanoumi and his own recruits Kitanofuji and Chiyonofuji.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu died in 1977 while still an active stablemaster.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu injured his knee in his first tournament, an injury that was to trouble him for the rest of his career.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu reached the second highest juryo division in November 1944 and made his debut in the top makuuchi division in November 1945.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu had been an admirer of yokozuna Futabayama but his dream of facing him in competition ended after Futabayama announced his retirement during Chiyonoyama's makuuchi debut.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu was the first yokozuna to be promoted without being awarded a licence by the house of Yoshida Tsukasa.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu finally took his first championship as a yokozuna in January 1955 with a playoff win over Tokitsuyama and won two more thereafter, in March 1955 and January 1957.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu had expected to take over as head coach of Dewanoumi stable after the death of Dewanoumi Oyakata in 1960, but he was considered too young for the responsibility at 34, and he lost a succession battle to former maegashira Dewanohana.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu was unable to see Chiyonofuji reach the yokozuna rank as he died of liver cancer aged fifty one in 1977, but his widow attended Chiyonofuji's promotion ceremony in 1981.

Early in his career Chiyonoyama Masanobu was known for the power of his tsuppari attack but during his successful run to yokozuna in 1951 he made an effort to improve his yotsu-sumo techniques under the supervision of ex-yokozuna Tochigiyama of Kasugano stable and his own head coach, former yokozuna Tsunenohana.

Chiyonoyama Masanobu liked a migi-yotsu grip on his opponent's mawashi and his favourite kimarite was uwatenage.