13 Facts About Tsurugamine Akio

Tsurugamine Akio, real name Akio Fukuzono, was a sumo wrestler from Aira, Kagoshima, Japan.

Tsurugamine Akio was twice runner-up in a tournament and won 14 special prizes, including a record ten for Technique, and earned ten gold stars for defeating yokozuna.

Tsurugamine Akio began his professional career in June 1947, recruited by a fellow Kagoshima Prefecture native, former maegashira Tsurugamine Michiyoshi, who had just retired and become Izutsu Oyakata.

Tsurugamine Akio began under his own surname of Fukuzono but in his first official tournament on the banzuke he switched to Kakureizan.

Tsurugamine Akio won the jonokuchi yusho or championship in this tournament.

Tsurugamine Akio had an exceptionally long top division career, which lasted fourteen years from March 1953 to his retirement in July 1967 at the age of thirty eight.

Tsurugamine Akio fought in the top division for 77 tournaments and won 550 bouts there.

Tsurugamine Akio earned ten kinboshi for defeating yokozuna, four over Tochinishiki, three over Wakanohana and three over Asashio.

Tsurugamine Akio was well-known for insisting on intense training or keiko.

Tsurugamine Akio's wife was the adopted daughter of the adopted daughter of the 25th yokozuna Nishinoumi II, who had founded Izutsu stable in 1909, and all three of his sons joined the stable as new recruits.

Tsurugamine Akio oversaw the promotion of Kirishima to ozeki in 1990.

Tsurugamine Akio died of sepsis in May 2006 at the age of seventy seven.

Tsurugamine Akio specialized in morozashi, or getting a mawashi grip with both hands inside his opponent's.