Wakashima Kyūzaburō

Wakashima was born the second son of a lacquerware painter.[2] He began sumo as an amateur, serving in dedication tournaments in shrines. He eventually decided to turn professional because he was scouted by former maegashira Omaki Kōji, the fifth generation Tateyama and joined the Tateyama stable, taking part in his first tournament in March 1862.[2] He was a wrestler known for his pushing and thrusting techniques (tsuki/oshi), but he rose slowly up the rankings, probably due to his cautious wrestling style.[3]

Shortly before his promotion to the jūryō division, he had to leave the Sumo Association briefly to serve in the Boshin War, alongside the Aizu Domain. After the war and the defeat of the domain, he came back to his stable and reached the makuuchi division in 1874. After this promotion, he quickly blossomed, and reached the status of san'yaku barely four years after his debut in this division,[3] winning the equivalent of two tournaments in the process. However, as the yūshō system was not invented until 1909, these championships are now considered unofficial. In the January 1881 tournament, Wakashima faced Umegatani, who was then a dominant ōzeki, recording a winning streak of 58 consecutive victories. Wakashima won the match and ended Umegatani's winning streak, nevertheless recording his only victory over the wrestler.

In the summer of 1881, during a jungyō (regional tour) in the Tōhoku region, Wakashima accompanied yokozuna Sakaigawa, who had just retired after the January tournament. As Sakaigawa could no longer perform his ring-entering ceremony, Wakashima took charge of the ceremonies. This decision was significant at the time because the Yoshida family had not granted its yokozuna licence to Wakashima, who could, however count on the support of the prefectural magistrate of his home prefecture.[2]

Between 1882 and 1883, he became an elder under the name Tateyama, succeeding his former master at the head of his stable. He however continued to wrestle under the two licenses system and took the shikona, or ring name, Tateyama Kyūzaburō (楯山 久三郎). He retired after the summer tournament of 1884, and devoted himself entirely to his stable as an elder. As a coach, he raised yokozuna Wakashima. He died on 6 January 1891, at the age of 48.

*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above championships that are labelled "unofficial" are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.

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