1. Kitanofuji Katsuaki was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Asahikawa, Hokkaido.
19 Facts About Kitanofuji Katsuaki
1. 2.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki made his professional debut in 1957, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1964.
3.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki was the sport's 52nd yokozuna, a rank he attained in 1970.
4.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki won ten tournament championships and was known for his rivalry with Tamanoumi.
5.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki retired in 1974 and was the head coach of Kokonoe stable from 1977 to 1992.
6.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki left the Japan Sumo Association in 1998, but was still prominent in the sumo world as a commentator in his later years.
7.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki won the Fighting Spirit award and was promoted straight to komusubi.
8.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki was competing in an era dominated by Taiho, but he emerged from the great yokozuna's shadow by winning consecutive championships in November 1969 and January 1970 to secure his own promotion to yokozuna.
9.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki was cautioned by the Japan Sumo Association and immediately apologised.
10.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki returned to win the next championship with a perfect record in September 1972.
11.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki remained in the Japan Sumo Association after his retirement, initially under the name of Izutsu.
12.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki gave the Izutsu name to former sekiwake Tsurugamine and adopted the Kokonoe name.
13.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki handed over control of the stable to Chiyonofuji in April 1992, but he remained an oyakata under the name Jinmaku.
14.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki appeared on television as a sumo analyst for NHK's grand tournament broadcasts, and wrote sumo commentary for the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper.
15.
In 2023, Kitanofuji Katsuaki continued to work as a commentator, at the age of 80, remaining in the public eye despite being outside of the Sumo Association for many years.
16.
At the start of the July 2024 tournament Kitanofuji Katsuaki briefly appeared on the NHK sumo broadcast in a pre-recorded video, in what would be his last on-camera appearance.
17.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki died at a hospital in Tokyo, on November 12,2024, at the age of 82.
18.
On December 18,2024, a memorial for Kitanofuji Katsuaki was held at Hakkaku stable.
19.
Kitanofuji Katsuaki's favoured grip was hidari-yotsu, and his favoured techniques were yori.