Ayagawa Gorōji
Ayagawa Gorōji (Japanese: 綾川 五郎次, c. 1703 – March 14, 1765) was a Japanese sumo wrestler, who is formally recognised as the second yokozuna.
Ayagawa came from Tochigi prefecture and was promoted to ōzeki in 1717. According to tradition, he was the strongest wrestler in the Genbun era.[1] He was a famous sumo wrestler in Edo, Osaka and Kyoto. The 17th Oikaze of the Yoshida family, allowed Ayagawa to be his pupil.[2] Very little is known about his sumo career. He was of legendary size, perhaps 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall and 150 kg (330 lb) in weight.
He died on March 14, 1765. His grave can be found in Tochigi.[3]
It was not until over 150 years after his death that he was recognised as the 2nd yokozuna by later yokozuna Jinmaku when he was compiling a formal list for a monument.[4]
His career predates banzuke and tournament records so no record of his rank and bouts exists.
References
- 二代横綱 綾川五郎次 (in Japanese). Tomioka Hachiman Shrine. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- 吉田司家年表 (in Japanese). Authorized Website of Yoshoida Tsukasa-ke. Archived from the original on 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ３横綱生んだ本県 (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- Castella, Stephane (June 2005). "68 Yokozuna in 400 years". Le Monde Du Sumo. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
