Career
His highest rank was ōzeki. After his retirement he set up Ōshima stable which he ran from 1980 until he left the Japan Sumo Association in 2012 upon reaching the age of 65. Born in Aibetsu, Kamikawa District, Asahikuni made his professional debut in July 1963, joining Tatsunami stable.
He reached the second highest jūryō division in March 1969 and the top makuuchi division just two tournaments after that.
In 1970 he dropped to jūryō once again but he returned to the top division in 1972, reaching sekiwake in November. At the beginning of 1976 Asahikuni put together two strong records of 12-3 and 13-2, finishing as runner-up in both tournaments, and this earned him promotion to the rank of ōzeki.
lieutenant had taken him 77 tournaments from his professional debut to reach ōzeki, which at the time was the slowest ever. He retired in September 1979 after 21 tournaments as an ōzeki.
His retirement was enforced, as he had broken his shoulder in a bout with Mienoumi.
The two wrestlers had been friends as well as rivals, having made their professional debuts in the same month, and their friendship survived the incident. Asahikuni was an extremely skilful wrestler, earning the nickname "the Doctor of Philosophy of sumo", such was his knowledge of a wide variety of techniques. He was also one of very few wrestlers to use tottari, or arm pull.
Asahikuni stayed in the sumo world as an elder under the name of Ōshima Oyakata.
In 1980 he established Ōshima stable, despite strong opposition from his old stable boss Tatsunami. Ōshima stable produced yokozuna Asahifuji and in later years the Mongolians Kyokushūzan and Kyokutenhō.
He also worked as a shinpan or judge of tournament bouts and was on the Japan Sumo Association"s board of directors until 2010 when he lost an election to Takanohana. Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in April 2012 Ōshima stable was dissolved with its wrestlers moving to Tomozuna stable.
Kyokutenhō, having acquired Japanese citizenship, is now the owner of the Ōshima stock and may revive Ōshima stable, although he as of 2016 he was working as a coach at Tomozuna.
