Chiyonofuji Mitsugu

Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (Japanese千代の富士 貢; born June 1, 1955, Hokkaidō as Mitsugu Akimoto (秋 元 贡) ) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler and the 58th yokozuna in the history of this sport. How Taiho and Kitanoumi also applies Chiyonofuji as one of the great sumo wrestler from the island of Hokkaido.

The son of a fisherman began his career in 1970 and quickly rose (1974 juryo, 1975 Makuuchi ), although he had already suffered at the beginning of a lengthy shoulder injury that still bothered him for years, but not prevented him from exercising its often struggles to decide by throwing techniques ( Uwatenage, see list of techniques in sumo ). In 1981, his persistence paid off, however, when it was first finally transported within a few months to ozeki and yokozuna for. Thereafter he remained for ten years one of the determining athletes of sumo, until he announced in a 1991 Bible for active Sumotori age of 36 his resignation. In 1988 he was even 53 fights in a row undefeated and placed so that since 1936 Futabayamas incipient record string of 69 victories on longest series, which was again only surpassed by Hakuho 2010.

Because of his lack of emotion and raised his piercing gaze, with which he gave his opponents, was called Chiyonofuji the "Wolf " - a name by which the yokozuna Asashoryu was also considered later. As this was also Chiyonofuji an outstanding technician, where he was much easier even with 127 kg fighting weight at almost the same body length. Nevertheless, he won a total of 1,045 fights, fighter 807 in the Makuuchi division. In addition to Kaio, who won his 1000 fight in May 2010, is Chiyonofuji the only rikishi, who won over 1000 battles. Even as he recorded 986 victories in 1989, he was awarded the National Medal of Honor Japan. With 31 tournament victories, he stands behind Taiho in second place as the most successful tournament champion wrestler.

Chiyonofuji struck at the end of his playing career, the offer of the Sumōverbands out to take a pro- independent membership, preferring to earn a regular share. After that, he was a successful coach: As Kokonoe Mitsugu his name as Oyakata the barn Kokonoe Beya - since 1992, he formed a successful student as Chiyotaikai and Chiyotenzan zoom.

Fighting Style

Despite its rather below average weight for a sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji had much physical strength and had rarely even against much larger opponents problems. He won mostly through techniques such as Yori - kiri and Uwate - nage, but was masterful in the use of leg, lifting and evasion techniques.