Komagatake Kuniriki

Komagatake Kuniriki (Japanese: 駒ヶ嶽 國力, born Kikuchi Kuniriki (菊地 國力), December 13, 1880 – April 11, 1914) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tōda (now Wakuya), Miyagi Prefecture.[1] He wrestled for Izutsu stable and achieved the rank of ōzeki before dying while as an active wrestler in April 1914.

In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Komagatake.
Komagatake Kuniriki
駒ヶ嶽 國力
Personal information
BornKikuchi Kuniriki
(1880-12-13)December 13, 1880
Wakuya, Miyagi Prefecture
Japan Japan
DiedApril 11, 1914(1914-04-11) (aged 33)
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight135 kg (298 lb; 21.3 st)
Career
StableIzutsu
Record124-50-45-24d-7h
DebutJanuary 1898
Highest rankŌzeki (January, 1907)
* Up to date as of March 3, 2023.

History

Born on December 13, 1880, in Miyagi Prefecture, he was introduced to sumo by Izutsu (yokozuna Nishinoumi Kajirō) when a group led by Konishiki and Asashio Tarō came on a tour in his hometown in 1897. He was promoted in juryō in the January 1902 tournament, and in May 1903 he entered the makuuchi division. Komagatake had a rivalry with Tachiyama Mineemon since their joint makushita debut. Their matches are said to have been particularly popular, to the point that their period of rivalry gave its name to this era, therefore known as the "Koma-Tachi era".[2] Komagatake was promoted to komusubi in January 1905 and sekiwake in May of the same year. He later earned the nickname Enma no Shiokara (閻魔の塩辛), meaning 'Enma's salted fish' after a Japanese saying comparing bitter grins to the difficult face of Enma, who chewed on a bug as if he had tasted salted fish.[2] Komagatake competed with Tachiyama for promotion to ōzeki and was promoted before him in the January 1907 tournament. Hitachiyama Taniemon took particular care of Komagatake and trained him diligently.

He was expected to be promoted to yokozuna, and it was said that he would assume the shikona, or ring name, "Tanikaze", which was supposed to be his legacy since the eponymous yokozuna was also from Miyagi Prefecture. He was known as a good opponent for Tachiyama until Tachiyama became ōzeki, but after Tachiyama was promoted to yokozuna, Komagatake fell behind.

Komagatake was known as a glutton and heavy drinker. In his later years, he drank so much that his body broke down, and when his strength declined and he was defeated, he drank heavily, and after each drink, he became worse, and he even recorded a losing record. On April 11, 1914, while on a tour in Ibaraki Prefecture, he stopped at a liquor store and drank cheap fermented sake, resulting in intestinal perforation and cerebral hemorrhage. Komagatake died suddenly at the age of 33.

A life-size panel is dedicated to Komagatake in the premises of the Wakuya castle, in Miyagi Prefecture.[3] A stone monument was also erected in the Great Temple Sakuragaoka in Sendai.[4]

Fighting style

Komagatake was popular for his dynamic wrestling. He made advantage of his muscular and tall body body and was good at throwing and thrusting techniques.[5]

Top Division Record

　　 　　 　　 　　

Komagatake[1]
- Spring Summer
1902West Jūryō #8
6–2
2d
 		West Jūryō #2
5–5
 
1903 West Jūryō #2
8–2
 		West Maegashira #11
6–2–1
1d
 
1904 West Maegashira #3
4–3–1
1d-1h
 		West Maegashira #1
4–2–3
1d
 
1905 West Komusubi #1
4–3–2
1h
 		 West Sekiwake #1
6–0–3
1d
 
1906 West Sekiwake #1
6–1–1
2d
 		 West Sekiwake #1
5–0–3
1d-1h
 
1907 West Ōzeki #1
4–1–2
3d
 		 West Ōzeki #1
6–0–3
1d
 
1908 West Ōzeki #1
4–1–5
 		 West Ōzeki #1
6–2–1
1d
 
1909 East Ōzeki #1
5–3–1
1d
 		 East Ōzeki #1
2–3–3
2d
 
1910 East Ōzeki #2
6–0–2
2h
 		 East Ōzeki #2
5–3–1
1d
 
1911 East Ōzeki #1
5–1–3
1d
 		 East Ōzeki #1
8–1–1d
 
1912 West Ōzeki #1
3–5–2
 		 East Ōzeki #1
6–2
2d
 
1913 East Ōzeki #1
5–2
1d-2h
 		 West Ōzeki #1
5–4
1d
 
1914 West Ōzeki #1
0–2–8
 
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: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

References
  1. "Komagatake Kuniriki Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  2. "Asasaka-san's "Nickname Rikishi Retsuden" - Part 3". Osumo3 Magazine (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  3. "List of sumo wrestlers from Miyagi Prefecture". Sumo Guide (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. "Komagatake, a wrestler from the Meiji era: a tragic and famous ozeki with a noble character". Sumo Guide (in Japanese). 8 June 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  5. "Towering keep at the ruins of Wakuya Castle". Wakuya Town Historical Museum (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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