22 Facts About Yoshibayama Junnosuke

Yoshibayama Junnosuke, real name Ikeda Junnosuke, was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Atsuta District, Hokkaido.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke suffered a number of injuries and only won one tournament championship, but was a popular wrestler.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke was a runner-up five times, and earned three special prizes and two gold stars in his top division career.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke had travelled to Tokyo on a train to attend school, but was met at the station by a sumo wrestler who was expecting a new recruit, who had in fact had second thoughts and not made the trip.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke made his professional debut in May 1938 using the shikona or ring name Hokutozan Junnosuke.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke got to the verge of promotion to the juryo division in 1942 but was then drafted into the Japanese army and took part in World War II.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke was seriously wounded in gunfights during his service.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke was shot in the leg twice, and the second bullet permanently lodged itself in his foot.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke was actually reported as dead for some time.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke came back alive, but was surprisingly thin when he returned to Japan.

In spite of his war injury, Yoshibayama Junnosuke returned to sumo in 1947 and was promoted to the top makuuchi division in November of that year.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke remained in the maegashira ranks until September 1950.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke recorded an azukari, or hold, on the 12th day of September 1951 tournament.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke could have been awarded a win, but sportingly insisted on a draw.

In May 1953 he finished with 14 wins and only one loss, but the championship went to undefeated maegashira Tokitsuyama whom Yoshibayama Junnosuke had not been paired against.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke was unable to win any championships in his yokozuna career and had only one runner-up result.

Scholars conceded however that Yoshibayama Junnosuke had had little time to master acceptable sumo techniques because of his time out of sumo due to the war.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke officially renamed his stable to Miyagino stable in 1960.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke developed a number of top division wrestlers, such as Myobudani.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke was a judge of tournament bouts, and on the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke opened a number of chankonabe restaurants that still operate today.

Yoshibayama Junnosuke performed the yokozuna dohyo-iri in the shiranui style.