Kitanofuji Katsuaki
Kitanofuji Katsuaki (Japanese北の富士 勝昭; born March 28, 1942 in Bihoro, Hokkaidō as Takezawa Katsuaki (竹 泽 胜 昭) ) is a former sumo wrestler and the 52nd Yokozuna.
Kitanofuji began in January 1957 his professional career as a wrestler of the major Heya Dewanoumi - Beya. He won the Hon - Basho the juryo Division in November 1963 with fifteen victories without defeat - a result that was reached only twice before in the juryo. His first tournament in the Makuuchi Division, the first division of the Japanese Profisumō he concluded with thirteen victories, which to this day is the best result of a newcomer in the top division. This he succeeded in transport of 10 maegashira to komusubi. However, he conceded in the very next tournament again a harsh make- koshi. However Kitanofuji successfully ascend again and reiterated his claim to the sekiwake rank, even though he first had to repeatedly leave temporarily re this.
In September 1966 Kitanofuji appeared for the first time as ozeki on the Banzuke ( ranking). Shortly after, Tamanoumi reached this rank, the time still under the Shikona ( wrestler name ) Tamanoshima and fought with the Kitanofuji in the following years should combine an intimate competition.
In 1967 when the former yokozuna Chiyonoyama ( 1926-1977 ) the Dewanoumi - Beya left and founded the Kokonoe- Beya, Kitanofuji, who was at that time Dewanoumis Heyagashira ( highest-ranking wrestler) went with him.
At this time Taiho dominated the division, and only in March 1967 Kitanofuji had to decide a first tournament of the Makuuchi for themselves. However, a connection success had not materialized, and so remained Kitanofuji Ozeki until the following November and January, he yielded to a near- victory behind Tamanoumi in September 1969 and two wins sufficient power to get awarded the yokozuna title. Tamanoumi was given this honor at the same time.
It was followed by the brief era of two simultaneously appointed Yokozuna, which usually accounted for now the tournament wins between them. It ended with Tamanoumis sudden death in October 1971.
The following year Kitanofuji made a bad time through as an athlete. Only at one of the first four tournaments he completely took part, at the Nagoya basho - he joined because of a finger injury to not only. At the same time appeared in the press a photo that showed him with " girlfriends " during a secret visit to Hawaii. There has been speculation about his imminent resignation.
The conjecture proved to be unfounded, and also the association is not forced to abdicate Kitanofuji. Instead, the yokozuna announced in the autumn with a tournament victory back without a single defeat to collect himself. In March 1973 Kitanofuji finally won his tenth and last basho in the Makuuchi division and joined in the summer, now with 32 years as a yokozuna back.
After his playing career Kitanofuji acquired the Kabu (share ) Izutsu. In 1977 he took over after the death Chiyonoyamas whose stable than Kokonoe- Oyakata. Under his aegis, the Heya outgrew the two yokozuna Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi. Chiyonofuji in 1992 his successor. Kitanofuji took over his Jimmaku share: first in April under the name Jimmaku Junki (阵 幕 纯 树) and from September as Jimmaku Katsuaki (阵 幕 克昭). After the events surrounding the elections in Sumōverband ( NSK) in 1998, where Takadagawa - Oyakata took his seat on the Executive Board of the Association, Kitanofuji left the NSK completely.