Career
He was the sport's 40th yokozuna, and later a professional wrestler. He made professional debut in January 1936, joining Takasago stable. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in May 1943.
On the sixth day of the November 1944 tournament, he defeated yokozuna Futabayama, the last wrestler ever to do so as Futabayama pulled out of the tournament the next day and only fought one more bout before his retirement. Azumafuji was promoted to ōzeki in June 1945 on the strength of two runner-up performances. On the 12th day of the September 1951 tournament, he recorded an azukari, or hold, a rare result.
On that day, he had come down with acute pneumonia but he forced himself to continue in the tournament as he had only one loss. Azumafuji fought with then ōzeki Yoshibayama twice, but the outcome still could not be determined. Azumafuji suddenly announced his retirement at that tournament, not wishing to hinder Tochinshiki's promotion to yokozuna.
Had he remained, Tochinishiki would have become the fifth active yokozuna, an unprecedented situation. Tochinishiki reportedly asked Azumafuji to reconsider his decision, but to no avail. He was the first yokozuna to turn to Western-style professional wrestling, in 1955.
This occurred after a dispute in the Japan Sumo Association between two other elders, Takasago and Tatsunami, which he wished to escape. From 1953 a New Year tournament was added and the Spring tournament began to be held in Osaka. *d = draw (引分) / h = hold (預り).
