Masuiyama Daishiro

November 3, 1919 (age 65)

Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan

His highest rank was ōzeki. After his retirement he was the head coach of Mihogaseki stable and produced yokozuna Kitanoumi among other wrestlers. Born Kumiaki Sawaka, he joined Dewanoumi stable in 1935 and initially fought under the shikona of Hamanishiki, before changing to Masuiyama in 1937. After winning the makushita tournament championship or yūshō in 1939 he was promoted to jūryō and only two tournaments later, after picking up another championship, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division for the January 1941 tournament. In January 1942 he defeated yokozuna Haguroyama to earn his first gold star or kinboshi. In the first postwar tournament held in a bomb-damaged Kokugikan in June 1945 he could manage only two wins and dropped back to the maegashira ranks, but he was runner-up to Haguroyama in November 1946 with a fine 11-2 record. He took advantage of the poor condition of the three yokozuna and finished with a 10-1 record, defeating ōzeki Azumafuji in a playoff. After the tournament Azumafuji was promoted to yokozuna and Masuiyama was elevated to ōzeki. In his second tournament at ōzeki rank Masuiyama took his second and final championship, defeating yokozuna Haguroyama, Azumafuji and Maedayama on three consecutive days to finish 13-2. This was to be the last tourney Masuiyama was to complete. After pulling out of the next two tournaments through injury he retired in January 1950 at the age of 30, having spent only four tournaments at ōzeki rank. He became head coach of the small Mihogaseki stable. He died less than one year later. Kitanoumi, his most successful wrestler, missed his own father"s funeral to attend Masuiyama"son Through most of the 1940s only two tournaments were held a year, and in 1946 only one was held.

Masuiyama Daishiro

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Education

He finished with a losing record but good performances over the next three tournaments took him to komusubi and then sekiwake in 1944.

Career

His highest rank was ōzeki. After his retirement he was the head coach of Mihogaseki stable and produced yokozuna Kitanoumi among other wrestlers. Born Kumiaki Sawaka, he joined Dewanoumi stable in 1935 and initially fought under the shikona of Hamanishiki, before changing to Masuiyama in 1937.

After winning the makushita tournament championship or yūshō in 1939 he was promoted to jūryō and only two tournaments later, after picking up another championship, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division for the January 1941 tournament.

In January 1942 he defeated yokozuna Haguroyama to earn his first gold star or kinboshi. In the first postwar tournament held in a bomb-damaged Kokugikan in June 1945 he could manage only two wins and dropped back to the maegashira ranks, but he was runner-up to Haguroyama in November 1946 with a fine 11-2 record.

He took advantage of the poor condition of the three yokozuna and finished with a 10-1 record, defeating ōzeki Azumafuji in a playoff. After the tournament Azumafuji was promoted to yokozuna and Masuiyama was elevated to ōzeki.

In his second tournament at ōzeki rank Masuiyama took his second and final championship, defeating yokozuna Haguroyama, Azumafuji and Maedayama on three consecutive days to finish 13-2.

This was to be the last tourney Masuiyama was to complete. After pulling out of the next two tournaments through injury he retired in January 1950 at the age of 30, having spent only four tournaments at ōzeki rank. He became head coach of the small Mihogaseki stable.

He died less than one year later.

Kitanoumi, his most successful wrestler, missed his own father"s funeral to attend Masuiyama"son Through most of the 1940s only two tournaments were held a year, and in 1946 only one was held.

Achievements

After earning his first sanshō or special prize for Technique he returned to the san"yaku ranks, and in October 1948 he won his first top division championship.

Membership

He defeated maegashira Hajimayama, a fellow member of Dewanoumi stable, in another playoff on the final day.

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