Shimizugawa Motokichi (清水川 元吉, Shimizugawa Motokichi, 13 January 1900 – 5 July 1967) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Goshogawara, Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was ōzeki.

Shimizugawa Motokichi
清水川 元吉
Personal information
Born長尾 与楽 (Nagao Yonesaku)
(1900-01-13)13 January 1900
Goshogawara, Aomori, Japan
Died5 July 1967(1967-07-05) (aged 67)
Tokyo, Japan
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Weight97 kg (214 lb)
Career
StableHatachiyama
Record272-157-48-1draw-8holds
DebutJanuary 1917
Highest rankŌzeki (May 1932)
RetiredMay 1937
Elder nameOitekaze
Championships3 (Makuuchi)
2 (Jūryō)
* Up to date as of June 2020.

Career

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Making his debut in January 1917, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division in January 1923 and made the fourth komusubi rank in January 1926, although he did not take part in that tournament. He competed in the maegashira ranks in 1927 but left the Japan Sumo Association temporarily and was not listed on the banzuke ranking sheets in the March and May 1928 tournaments. Returning in October 1928 he was listed at the bottom of the jūryō division and after winning two jūryō tournament titles he returned to the top division in 1930.

Shimizugawa was promoted to the second highest rank of ōzeki in 1932 but never made the highest yokozuna rank, despite winning a total of three top division tournament championships. He was overlooked for promotion while two men with inferior records to him, Musashiyama and Minanogawa, were both promoted to yokozuna instead. It has been suggested that this was because Shimizugawa belonged to a small stable, Hatachiyama, whereas Musashiyama and Minanogawa were both members of much larger and more influential stables (Dewanoumi and Takasago, respectively).[1]

Retirement from sumo

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After finishing as runner-up in the May 1937 tournament, his fifth runner-up performance, Shimizugawa announced his retirement. He remained in the sumo world as an elder under the name Oitekaze Oyakata, and was head coach of the Oitekaze stable. Among the wrestlers he produced was a komusubi to whom he gave his old shikona or fighting name, Shimizugawa Akio.

Career Record

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  • In 1927 Tokyo and Osaka sumo merged and four tournaments a year in Tokyo and other locations began to be held.
Shimizugawa Motokichi[2]
- Spring Summer
1917 (Maezumo) (Maezumo)
1918 East Jonokuchi #25
3–2
 
East Jonidan #70
4–1
 
1919 West Jonidan #17
3–1
1h

 
East Sandanme #32
4–1
 
1920 West Sandanme #3
4–1
 
East Makushita #28
2–2
1h

 
1921 East Makushita #26
3–1
1h

 
East Makushita #19
3–1
1h

 
1922 East Jūryō #13
2–1
2h

 
West Jūryō #3
4–3
 
1923 West Maegashira #15
2–7
1h

 
East Jūryō #4
6–3
 
1924 West Maegashira #13
4–5
1h

 
West Maegashira #12
4–7
 
1925 West Maegashira #15
8–3
 
East Maegashira #5
8–2–1
1d

 
1926 East Komusubi #1
0–0–11
 
West Maegashira #4
8–3
 
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira
- Spring
Haru basho, Tokyo
March
Sangatsu basho, varied
Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo
October
Jūgatsu basho, varied
1927 East Maegashira #1
3–8
 
East Maegashira #1
3–8
 
West Maegashira #7
0–0–11
 
East Maegashira #5
0–0–11
 
1928 East Maegashira #12
0–0–11
 
Left JSA Left JSA Makushita #1
4–3
 
1929 East Jūryō #12
8–3
 
East Jūryō #12
10–1
Champion

 
West Jūryō #1
11–0
Champion

 
West Jūryō #1
8–3
 
1930 East Maegashira #8
6–5
 
East Maegashira #8
7–4
 
West Maegashira #3
3–8
 
West Maegashira #3
9–2
 
1931 East Komusubi #1
5–6
 
East Komusubi #1
4–7
 
West Maegashira #3
10–1
 
West Maegashira #3
6–5
 
1932 West Sekiwake #1
8–0
 
West Sekiwake #1
8–2
 
East Ōzeki #2
10–1
 
East Ōzeki #2
9–2
 
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira
- Spring
Haru basho, Tokyo
Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo
Autumn
Aki basho, Tokyo
1933 East Ōzeki #1
5–6
 
West Ōzeki #1
7–4
 
Not held
1934 West Ōzeki #1
7–4
 
West Ōzeki #1
11–0
 
Not held
1935 East Ōzeki #1
5–6
 
West Ōzeki #2
7–4
 
Not held
1936 West Ōzeki #1
4–7
 
West Ōzeki #1
6–5
 
Not held
1937 West Ōzeki #1
6–5
 
West Ōzeki #1
10–3
 

Retired
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

Key:d=Draw(s) (引分);   h=Hold(s) (預り)
Divisions: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira

*Shimizugawa was runner-up in his final tournament in May 1937

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kuroda, Joe (October 2006). "Rikishi of Old:Minanogawa Tozo". Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  2. ^ "Shimuzugawa Motokichi Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 11 June 2013.