Career
He was the sport's 18th yokozuna. Ōzutsu was a taller sumo wrestler compared with other wrestlers at that time. Although he was not very strong at first, he was rapidly promoted and reached sekiwake only three tournament after entering the top makuuchi division.
He strength increased and he was promoted to ōzeki in May 1899. He had never lost any bouts as ōzeki and was awarded a yokozuna licence by the house of Yoshida Tsukasa in April 1901. However, his strength rapidly declined after taking part in the Russo-Japanese War.
He was absent for three tournaments due to the war. However, former yokozuna Umegatani Tōtarō I had taught him that yokozuna must not be defeated, so he recorded many draws late in his career. In the May 1907 tournament, he drew in all of his nine bouts.
He retired in the next tournament. He also recorded 51 draws. Ōzutsu (大砲) means "cannon" in Japanese but its reading is usually Taihō, and the name of yokozuna Taihō (大鵬) means "big phoenix".
*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.