Powerful Friendship: The story of friendship between Rikidozan and Azumafuji
Weekly Pro
15th September 1955
Kataguruma
Even after the blood-red afternoon sun had disappeared into the darkness of night, the Hawaiian islands were still hot. Honolulu's City Auditorium was already full to capacity and buzzing with excitement. The international tag match for the Hawaiian Championship was on the line...That alone was enough to get the blood pumping for Hawaiian wrestling fans, but the challengers to the championships that night, Bobby Bruns* and Lucky Simonovich*, were especially intriguing. The two were the Japanese champion Rikidozan, who had come to Hawaii for the first time in a long time, and Yokozuna
Azumafuji, who had only just turned pro wrestler, and still had some vestiges of his sumo wrestling days in his head...
The cheers of the first, second and third generation Japanese who live on the Hawaiian islands were so overwhelming that they far overwhelmed the voices of the foreigners and the voices of the blue-eyed, as the man himself, on a twenty-four foot square mat, faced off against the two American Hawaiian champions in a three round bout of sixty-one minutes. The first match started with Rikidozan and Bruns, with Rikidozan's incredible speed overwhelming Bruns as the match progressed.
Azumafuji has changed. It has only been two weeks since he arrived in Hawaii, and his wrestling moves, which are quick and vibrant, were grounded by Simonovich's persistent grounding. He was forced into a tough fight, but the match was won by Rikidozan (who replaced him) with a karate chop and a shoulder toss.
Japan won the first match in 18 minutes and 25 seconds.
The second match for Simonovich, also started with Bruns and Rikidozan. The veteran started with Rikidozan, and then chopped Azumafuji, before tagging in Simonovich. The foreign wrestlers attacked the helpless Azumafuji in their corner with hooks, and then grabbed his legs and flipped him over, hitting him hard on the back of the head. Simonovich leapt up and pinned him easily, getting the win. This was a 60/25 fight that went in the blink of an eye. Rikidozan protested the foul, and in response, the Japanese called out Simonovich's fault, whistling and screaming...the excitement in the stadium just kept building up.
"Riki*! Do your best!"
"Fuji! Show your Yokozuna dignity!"
"Bruns! What are you doing?"
"Simonovich! Do it again!"
The foreigners simply called Azumafuji, "Fuji" in response to his tongue twisting name. "Fuji" comes from "Azumafuji", and was used as his wrestler name. "Riki" Rikidozan asked "Fuji" Azumafuji something, and "Fuji" nodded vigorously.
And then....
Riki jumped in, Simonovich jumped in. Simonovich suddenly lured Riki into a lying position, and attacked him with a powerful blow to the torso. The two men, one challenging for the Hawaiian championship, and the other defending it, put everything on line in this one fight, and the iron like bodies of the two men entangled for a while amid shouts of joy. Riki had a look of anguish on his face.
Bang!
The sparks flew from Riki's karate chops, and Simonovich's legs gave way. Riki slammed him, and then used the momentum from the ropes to do another and another...and then delivered a drop kick. The two of them quickly switched sides in offense and defense.
Riki tagged Fuji in. Their hands seemed to whisper to each other.
"Good luck, I'm counting on you"
"I understand, here I go"
Oki Shikina*'s sharp eyes shine below the ring*.
Fuji grabbed Simonovich by the neck, and attacked with an underarm throw*. It was his first time showing his prowess as a wrestler, and it seemed like the outcome was just a matter of time, but Simonovich escaped, and tagged in Bruns. Bruns bravely took on the Japanese giant, with powerslams, arm grabs, and another throw, but Fuji was undeterred. He skillfully put his weight* into Simonovich's throw, causing him to lose his balance, and reversed it, taking the throw as his own. Winning judo throw...he took Bruns full weight on his shoulders.
"That's it! Throw him! Crush him!"
Riki's voice, low and strong, suddenly reached Azumafuji's ears, making him think of his childhood*.
Young Sumo Ring
Azumafuji was born on November 28th (Fudo's Day*), 1921, as the eldest son of a family who lived in a steel factory in Nichomachi, Taito Ward, Tokyo. His real name is Kinichi Inoue. Primo Carnera*, the "Ambling Alps" giant, was said to have been a baby weighing just two monme* , while Kinichi weighed 800 monme. He was so happy, that it felt as if he emerged the image of Momotaro. His life as a sumo wrestler began when he entered the Fujigana stable* in Ryogoku* in the spring of his 16th year (by traditional Japanese age reckoning), but the qualities that would make him a great sumo wrestler 
were already apparent when he was in the third or fourth grade of elementary school. His incredible strength, pulling a cart of about 100 kan* of iron from Ueno to Kojimacho, Asakusa, and the borders of Misujicho, without even breaking a sweat, inevitably became a topic of conversation in the neighborhood.
It was a summer night, and he was eleven years old and in the fourth grade of elementary school. The Asakusa area was famous in Tokyo for its amateur sumo wrestling, which was a popular pastime. A sumo ring was built under a bare streetlamp in the town square, and sumo matches were held almost every day.
"Hey, Kin-chan, why don't you try it out?"
"No, I'm not allowed, because I've never wrestled before.
"Who cares? We're all classmates, aren't we?"
"Well, it's embarrassing to be naked."
"Who cares? Go out. If you win, you'll get a fountain pen or something."
"I'm not good, because I can't wrestle"
"I see"
After the conversation, Kinichi's yukata was removed, and the belt wrapped around his stomach, and he was pushed to the side of the ring.
"Hold on, sonny! The big kids like you are coming later".
"But that kid is still in Fourth Grade"
"You know, there's no way there'd be kids this big in fourth or even fifth grade."
The referee was an older man from elsewhere, who didn't know Fujiichi*, the man who'd sent Kinichi to the youth section. Soon the youth section began a five person in a row, lunge at each other. There was a constant back and forth, and the outcome was uncertain.
Kinichi was crouching by the ring with his partner, watching the action. The sensation of the summer night, the thrill of the contest in which in the small one throws the big one, the overwhelming physical strength of the big guy, the enthusiasm of the townspeople around them...the excitement of sumo that only Japanese people have*, completely captivated even the young Kinichi.
"Hey, young man, it's your turn now"
Kinichi was tapped by someone on the back, and he jumped into the ring.
"Okay, I'm fourth"
In his engrossed state, Kinichi had already defeated three others. The fourth came charging in. He braced himself and hit him with his shoulder, causing him to stumble backwards and fall on his bottom.
"Waah!"
A roar of laughter rose up, and Kinichi came back to his senses as he saw the person who had fallen. It was Tomi-san, a boy from the liquor store on the corner, a young man five years older than him.
"Okay then, the fifth and last one."
At the referee's call, the American looking Shigeru came out. He was small but well built, with ball sized muscles on his shoulders, and was known in the neighborhood for his strength. With a troubled look on his face, Kinichi asked for his opponents left hand, and got into a grip.
Slowly, slowly.....
Shigeru's head rubbed against his chest, and it hurt a lot.
Kinichi had no choice but to pull his left hand with all his might to hold back the advance.
"Kin-chan, do your best! Overpower him!"
A small child's high-pitched voice shouted from behind.
Two! Three! The friends cheered together.
"Yosh!"
Kinichi pulled both mawashi* with all his might, and his opponents weight of nearly 17 kan melted away. Even though he didn't know anything about sumo, the technique was extremely effective against a small mackerel like opponent, and he overpowered him. After a series of blows, Kinichi's body was on top, and the two of them collapsed.
"That's it! Throw him! Crush him!"
Rikidozan's voice reminded Azumafuji of the courage and confidence that he had a boy, and as Bruns fell headfirst behind him, in the next moment Fuji's chest and stomach were pressed down on Bruns face like a ton.
"One, two, three"
Bruns lay like a log for a while.
The referee raised Azumafuji's right hand high in the air, beside him Rikidozan had his left hand raised. The Hawaii Tag Match trophy, held in the sweaty hands of the two men, shone a brilliant golden light before the Japanese people.
It was a night in Hawaii on April 17th.
Futabayama's heart
The friendship between Rikidozan and Azumafuji began when Azumafuji was in the Juryo division and Rikidozan was in the Makushita division. Azumafuji made his debut in the Spring Tournament of 1936. Initially his promotion was slow due to his Edokko*-like good nature and kindness, as well as the fact that he was only sixteen. But, with the understanding and encouragement of his parents and the sincerity of his stable master, he finally blossomed and the year passed from 1940 to 1941.
Among the many makushita wrestlers, Azumafuji's name was like the brightest star. He stood at 5'8 and weighed 28 kan. At sixteen years old at the summer basho, he won the makushita division with a record of eight wins and one loss, and set off on a regional tour with a mountain of hope on his shoulders, knowing that he would undoubtedly be promoted to the juryo division in the next tournament. At Fujigane stable there was Fujigatake*, a senior and head of the stable, but Azumafuji's skills were so close that he didn't want to train him, and Azumafuji's ambitions and goals soared ever higher.
The tour of Korea kicked off in Gyeongseong*, the capital of Korea. Azumafuji, dripping with sweat, sat motionless on the ring with his arms folded, watching as the great Futabayama fought bout after bout against such notable sanyaku wrestlers of the time as Haguroyama, Maedayama, Akinoumi, Terukuni and Goto.
"Come on, more, give me some more!"
In those days, the unrivaled Yokozuna Futabayama's chest was the object of admiration for all sumo wrestlers. Before his ironclad stance, everyone's charge was broken down like a wave.
"Sekitori, please!"
Azumafuji threw aside his sweaty yukata*, and, pushing aside the large bodies in front of him, jumped in front of Futabayama.
At that moment Futabayama said, "You idiot! I don't know where you're from, but who would dare jump into a training match between sumo wrestlers? You ignorant worm! You don't know your place!"
With an angry shout, he stretched out his thick arms, grabbed Azumafuji by his topknot, dragged him along, and then fell off the ring yelling out, "You idiot!", before falling off the ring.
He was one of the three top wrestlers.
There was delighted laugh.
The sumo wrestlers on the tawara* descended upon Azumafuji. In truth, it was an unreasonable act for a makushita wrestler, to jump between a san'yaku wrestler. It was said that "one rank below is like an insect, one rank below that is like a retainer" or "it is impossible to write "genkotsu" but read it as "senior student"*. However, Azumafuji desperately wanted Futabayama.
The fierce argument over Futabayama continued for a while, and Azumafuji, consumed with anger, still sat silently with his arms folded by the ring.
"Hey, Kinichi!"
A voice came from somewhere,
"Hey, Kinichi!"
It was like a voice from somewhere above.
"Hey, you, why don't you come and give it a try?"
Futabayama was standing with his arms folded, smiling and praising himself as his disciples wiped the sweat off his back and chest.
"Oh, it's me? Please. Thank you."
"Okay, come on. Well, come on in any way you want. I'm sorry about what happened earlier".
The other sekitori were already working up a sweat close to the ring, but Futabayama and Azumafuji were the only ones in it.
I wonder how many times they fought.
And as for how he had been thrown, Azumafuji remembered for a moment how his body had lightly risen into the air as if in an earthquake, and then been thrown back to the bottom of the ring.
"Okay, that's a good hit. We'll stop here for today, come again tomorrow. I don't mind if we do this every day".
Azumafuji gulped down the remaining water that he had offered to Futabayama as a thank you gift, and smeared it all over his face, which was covered in sweat and tears.
And from the next day, the appearance of Azumafuji crashing into Futabayama, became one of the attractions of the local tour. This did not change for two or three years. Futabayama, who had grown fond of his rivals, Minanogawa Tozo, Maedayama Eigoro and Azumafuji, so much that he had hidden it, must have had great expectations and affection in his heart, thinking, "These guys are the big men who should take over from me."
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Azumafuji, who advanced to sekiwake in this tournament, was given the opportunity to challenge Futabayama for the first time on the sixth day. It was the first time that he would get to face his longtime mentor in the ring. Azumafuji blocked Futabayama's right hand with his own, and then swiftly took his left with a furious charge. As Futabayama neared the edge of the ring, Azumafuji took him down with a right handed throw. The technique was the treasured weapon of his mentor, which he had learned by being pitted against Futabayama for the past three years. It was this technique, that he had secretly stolen from his teacher and made his own.
The match truly touched the heart of the great Futabayama, and he said, "You beat me brilliantly today, and now I have no regrets"
Leaving those meaningful words behind, Futabayama truly the left the ring the following tournament.
While Azumafuji, believing in Futabayama's heart, continued to make progress after progress, there was another talented wrestler in Nishonoseki stable who was chasing him at a fast pace. His name was Rikidozan.
Rikidozan was born on November 14th, 1924, as the third son of Hyakuta Minosuke, a farmer in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture. With his well-formed face and long, voluptuous limbs, he was given the name Mitsuhiro, which suggested the birth of a hero*. Mitsuhiro Momota* is Rikidozan's real name. Mitsuhiro grew up to be a very intelligent, but very competitive boy. When he was in the third grade of elementary school, he rounded up six delinquent boys from the local middle school and had the courage and strength to defeat them one by one, exercising his strength in the name of justice*. In the spring after graduating from elementary school at the age of fourteen, Mitsuhiro was recommended by the father of Tamanoumi* (previous generation) to enter the Nishonoseki stable. This was just after the stable leader Tamakei, had sadly passed away suddenly while traveling, and the new master was the still active Tamanoumi. His debut was during the summer tournament of 1940, Azumafuji was three years older, meaning his debut had been four years earlier. With the retirement of Shinshuzan, none of Azumafuji's classmates are still active, but others who debuted in the sumo ring like Rikidozan include Tokitsuyama, Dewanishiki*, Kunio, Shimizugawa, Harusada, Dewaminato, Hiranoto*, and others. Rikidozan always led the pack*.
In the spring of 1945, Rikidozan won the third division with a perfect record, and in the summer tournament, he made a leap to the makushita division.
"Hey Riki, a one off challenge?"
"Please"
Azumafuji's Takasago stable and Rikidozan's Nishonoseki stable often worked together on irregular tours during the war. Azumafuji, as befitting an older brother, called the young Rikidozan into the ring. Riki's fighting style was even more fierce than he had heard. When they got into a right-hand grip, he even pushed forward forcefully, pressing their chests together.
This kind of practice was essential for the two men in preparation for their eventual showdown in the ring.
Before long, the two of them were inviting each other out and even sharing their meager drinks.
"It's tough being in a small stable, you always end up being beaten by the guys in the big one"
"Even in the main tournament, we'll be all in the same group, so it's a bad move."
"To become stronger, get promoted quickly"
"There really is no other way out of this"
There were days when they complained like this.
"Let's have a toast to your success in this tournament"
"Congratulations on your Seki trip."
After their triumph, the two of them celebrated in a rousing manner.
Rikidozan broke his left wrist while working as a volunteer in the makushita division, trying to achieve the iron spirit of a sumo wrestler on his own. This put a brake on his rapid progress and he was put on hold for about two years. Meanwhile, Azumafuji had risen through the juryo and makuuchi divisions in one fell swoop, and had already elevated from San'yaku to Yokozuna.
The friends outside the ring were also worthy opponents in the ring, once they tightened their mawashi.
In the summer tournament of 1948, Ozeki Azumafuji continued his unstoppable march, winning ten matches and losing one, a truly impressive record, to claim his first championship. Maegashira's Rikidozan also had an impressive record of eight wins and three losses, winning his first Kakudo*. Ironically, the wrestler who handed Azumafuji such an unfortunate defeat was none other than Rikidozan.
It was the second day. The Memorial Hall in the old Kokugikan in Ryogoku had been taken over by the occupying forces, so the Sumo Association had no choice but to hold the tournament that year in the outer gardens of Meiji Shrine. Azumafuji suddenly stood up, and with all his might, he rushed in slightly to the left and Rikidozan was pushed forward as if he were floating up, and before he could do anything but pry his left hand in, they were on the edge of the ring, with Rikidozan's body on the verge of falling. As he fell, he twisted to the right as if to throw a desperate underhand throw from the left. Azumafuji's body was seen to lean to Rikidozan's left side, riding on his own momentum, and the two bodies fell like stacked rice cakes. The victory was awarded to Rikidozan, who had risen to the top, with only a slight advantage.
It was Azumafuji who won the match, but he had finally failed to win all his matches. His long-held ambition to become a Yokozuna was finally realized though. Rikidozan, the star of the tournament, was promised a komsubi* position. Eventually Azumafuji's weight exceeded 45 kan, the highest of any Yokozuna, and Rikidozan's weight also reached 30 kan.
It was a strange coincidence that they were both about the same size.
It was a strange coincidence that they were both about the same size.
Rikidozan cuts his topknot
"What? Riki-san cut off his hair? That's so stupid..."
After hearing the news, Azumafuji really couldn't process it for a while.
Rikidozan played an important role in rebuilding the burned Nishonoseki stable, building a new and powerful one in Higashi-Ryogoku 4-Chome*, a place that has been a part of his life since the tea growing days. He also helped to restore the master (the former Tamanoumi), who had once attracted the ire of the younger generation, to his position as master. Moreover, he was full of energy as he was the head of the stable as a Sekiwake. He was secretly hoping to break through on his own to become an Ozeki in the next tournament... He was in his as both a man and as a sumo wrestler. Although he had been diagnosed with an incurable disease called pulmonary fluke*, that was already a year ago, so it is no longer of concern. Moreover, as the head of the stable, Rikidozan was full of energy and had made his way to the rank of Ozeki in the next tournament, and had shown his master his goodwill, kindness and respect, but it is said that he was scolded a little over money, but the fault lies with his master, not Rikidozan. As Rikidozan's senior and close friend, Azumafuji understood all too well what was going on inside Rikidozan's mind regarding money.
So why did he suddenly cut his topknot? With the Autumn Tournament of 1950 was just around the corner, on the night of August 25th, when everyone was fast asleep, and he cut his hair all by himself. Even Azumafuji found this hard to believe, as when a sumo wrestler cuts his topknot it means he is either retiring or quitting the sport.
Rikidozan quickly ignored Azumafuji's advice and submitted his intention to retire to the Sumo Association just before the Autumn Tournament. When one continues to work as a senior wrestler or the like and continues to earn a living in sumo society, it is called retirement, and when one completely quits the sumo world, it is called "quitting." In Rikidozan's case, it was quitting.
Shinsaku Nitta*, the lively president of Meijiza* and Nitta Construction, was a huge fan of Rikidozan and Azumafuji, was strongly opposed to Rikidozan leaving the business. But, when Rikidozan found himself in dire straits, he gave him the post of head of the materials department at Nitta Construction, so that Mitsuhiro Momota could start a new life. As Rikidozan entered this new life, Azumafuji congratulated his friend on his new path. However, Azumafuji had another plan for Rikidozan's path.
That was....
Rikidozan's health recovered rapidly after he retired from wrestling, and his body, encased in a large suit, looked even more robust than when he was still active, and his belly was protruding.
"Riki-san, do you have any desire to put that body to work in the sumo ring once more?
"Yeah, I don't know what to do with my excess strength either, so I often dream of going wild again."
"Maybe you should give it a try?"
"Even if I wanted to, I can't now that I've cut my hair"
"Well, I don't think Sumo is all that bad..."
That's what Azumafuji told Rikidozan.
At that time, signs of revival in the sumo world, just like the rest of Japan, were starting to appear, but it had not yet reached a full recovery. Masuiyama*, who was hailed as a great Ozeki around the same time as Rikidozan, had retired due to illness just before becoming a Yokozuna. Like Rikidozan, after his retirement he had fully recovered from his illness and found himself with a body far healthier than when he was active. The sumo ring was in need of a star wrestler, and fans' nostalgia for Rikidozan and Masuiyama, who were sorely missed, was especially strong. Azumafuji made full use of his position as the head of the Sumo Association, obtained the consent of the stablemaster Nishonoseki (the baton was passed on to his disciple), and said that he would spare no effort to obtain consent from both the Sumo Association and the Rikishikai*. Rikidozan occasionally absorbed himself in the dirt of the Nishonoseki stable, wrestling the smaller wrestlers, and doing some light training, but he still hadn't dropped below the level of a top-ranked Makuuchi wrestler.
Meanwhile, Azumafuji's efforts continued to be heartbreaking.
"Will Rikidozan and Masuiyama return to the ring?"
Such news made headlines in the sports sections of newspapers, but in the end, the plans for a return to the ring were forgotten.
Once a sumo wrestler has submitted a notice of retirement, he cannot return to active duty. In the face of the ironclad rules of the association, there was no exception, and Rikidozan soon became a professional wrestler.
In the fall of 1951, when a top professional wrestler from the United States came to Japan along with former world heavyweight semi-champion Joe Louis, Rikidozan's blood was pumping.
Farewell Yokozuna
In the autumn tournament of 1954, after losing to Wakanohana*, Azumafuji returned home where he suddenly announced his "retirement" to his relatives, and the second day began in a hectic atmosphere. After being defeated seemingly so effortlessly by Wakanohana, the news was picked up by the newspapers, and it caused a huge sensation across the country. He tried once more, but lost to 
Naruyama* on the seventh day, and finally withdrew on the eighth day, and that was the last time Azumafuji was in the ring after eighteen years of hard work. Azumafuji had missed the two previous tournaments, but he made a remarkable recovery and was in such good health that he was even counted among the top contenders for first place in the autumn tournament. It was a sudden, sudden decision to retire that was enough to send chills down the spine of sumo fans, and no one could do anything to shake his firm decision. Although the story is different from Rikidozan's, when you get down to it, it was rumored that the main reason for this was that even a Yokozuna was merely a weakling in the face of the undercurrents of the sumo world.
"Is Azumafuji joining pro wrestling?"
Such criticism was already appearing in the newspapers, but Azumafuji was not so foolhardy that he would give up his career as a Yokozuna and immediately jump into professional wrestling. This can be seen from the fact that Azumafuji's senior name* was announced as "Nishikido," a shareholding of Futamiyama.
Meanwhile, Rikidozan was no longer the same Rikidozan that he had been four years ago. He was now the Japanese champion, a world-class strongman, and the ruler of the new world of strength that was professional wrestling. He had no shortage of ways to comfort his disappointed senior, and their roles had now been reversed from four years ago.
After completing his final tour, Azumafuji suddenly dropped the bombshell, "Sumo Trustee Nishikido is quitting the business". He became a senior member of the Meiji-za Theater under the name of Gaiichi Inoue, and announced that he would be heading off to Hawaii for a change, bringing home a mug as a souvenir. Behind this lay the deep friendship and love between Rikidozan and Shinsaku Nitta.
After arriving in Hawaii, Azumafuji finally decided to enter professional wrestling. When he retired from sumo wrestling, he was earning 42 kan, and when he went to America he was earning 39 kan. After just three months of training, Azumafuji's tally was reduced to 35 kan, and when he returned to Japan, his expression was calm.
But, rumors of a dark future were spreading.
On July 7th, Tanabata Day*, a grand hair-cutting ceremony* was held on stage at Sankei Hall, which was quite unconventional. Rikidozan was, of course, the first to take the scissors. The person behind the cutting was Nitta-san, the benefactor who helped make Rikidozan and Azumafuji what they are today. The attendant was Surugaumi*, who was also a close friend of Azumafuji and Rikidozan from their days as sumo wrestlers, and on behalf of the Sumo Association, Tokitsu, a former head of the Futabayama wrestling team, presented Azumafuji with a large wreath to decorate the stage, adding special meaning and emotion to the hair-cutting ceremony. It was as if Shinshuzan's love for Azumafuji, Rikidozan's friendship for Azumafuji, Nitta's feelings for Azumafuji, and Surugaumi's trust in Azumafuji had all blossomed into beautiful petals.
A beautiful mentor and a fragrant friendship!
Bloody Fuji
As Ortega was toying with Azumafuji's giant fox-like form*, this match was reminiscent of a money-making event that night. In fact, it was thought that the expectations for Azumafuji were half the reason for the popularity of this international match.
Ortega's body, 6'2" and 42 kan, pushed forward, pushing against Higashifuji, 5'8" and 34 kan.
Azumafuji's face was a little pale.
Just ten months ago, the injured Yokozuna, with a sword bearer and a dew sweeper* on either side, was stomping his feet in the Unryu style*...The Kokugikan was where, with his Shimekomi* and light yorimi*, he was stomping away powerful opponents... When he looked up, he saw a color photo of himself...staring down at his fight on the huge steel frame... And on all four sides of the ring were the fans... the newspaper reporters... those faces that once stared at the ring, now staring intently at him in just his underwear.
Azumafuji wondered how he could push away the emotions that were welling up inside him. As he was pushed, the rope touched Azumafuji's back and he quickly raised both his arms as if he was in a hold-up. It seemed like this happened two or three times.
Ortega looked a little dissatisfied with the lack of response and just stood there.
The two of them circled each other, and then fought at top speed.
"Fuji, what's wrong?"
"Move more, move more."
"There's no fight?"
The crowd erupted (because after all, it was a fight) when Azumafuji let his reservation about the ring go, and Ortega's attack began. Ortega grabbed Azumafuji by the neck and slammed him into the ropes, then suddenly landed a straight right on him.
"Damn it!"
Azumafuji was angry and started to attack with an alternating thrust style*, but it didn't have the speed of a straight punch or a karate chop, but Ortega just swayed back. Azumafuji tried to grab and throw his opponent, but sweat made it difficult. Ortega put Azumafuji in a headlock again, grabbed him by his hair and pulled him down. He grabbed Azumafuji's thick neck with his left arm, and with his right hand he struck Azumafuji once, twice, on his forehead.
"Blood! He's bleeding!" Someone shouted, igniting excitement in the packed arena.
Ortega continued to strike.
Blood and sweat poured from Azumafuji's forehead. Referee Turk* tried to stop him, but Oretga, like a crazed lion, continued to strike.
Azumafuji, the champion of the sumo ring, was almost helpless and was bleeding before the Japanese people. Has there ever been a scene where a Yokozuna was hurt to this extent? Moreover, today Azumafuji is a leading figure in international pro wrestling matches.
The crowd erupted in excitement.
Even as he leaned on the ropes, Azumafuji seemed to have lost consciousness.
The shouts in the arena turned into cheers.
Rikidozan, Ortega, and Azumafuji...An odd tension ran through the match as the referee raised Azumafuji's right hand high in the air.
Azumafuji had won by disqualification, and the match was stopped due to excessive bleeding from lacerations.
It all ended in nine minutes and seventeen seconds, like tornado, abruptly, and with an extremely bad aftertaste. Fans were amazed at Ortega's fearsome ferocity, but at the same time were disappointed that their image of Yokozuna Azumafuji was shattered by the reality of Azumafuji the wrestler. Ortega played the villain to the end, saying "Such a ridiculous decision," and at the same time criticized Rikidozan's dive.
"Azumafuji, you're too conscious of your debut as a wrestler, so you're more stiff than necessary. You should be able to move more. Try moving like you did when you teamed up with me in Hawaii and became the champion. The more flashy your movements are, the more the audience will like them"
"Yes, thank you. I was really stiff yesterday and today. I didn't know what to do. If you hadn't jumped in, I don't know what would have happened."
"Please leave the rest of the mat to me for the time being."
Azumafuji wanted to cry at Rikidozan's willingness to protect him to this extent.
"Riki-san, tomorrow you'll be a Taifu*"
"I'm glad you feel that way, thank you".
"Thank you".
The two men clasped their big and strong hands together.
Powerful Friendship
"I really thought I was going to die during those three months in Hawaii, but I think I did a good job getting through it. Riki-san, it's all thanks to you."
"Don't joke around, they're all the result of the efforts of the sumo wrestlers. The hardships of Hawaii are the hardships of the new apprentice era, the hardships of stepping into the ring at the Kokugikan for the first time, the hardships of moving from makushita to juryo. The sekitori of today are already fine tenth-ranked wrestlers."
"So, I'm still in the Juryo division, right?"
"In six months you'll be in the makuuchi division, and in a year after that you'll be in the sanmai division. In three years you'll be an undisputed ozeki. Your heavy, flexible arms, thick neck, hands and legs won't be defeated by the other wrestlers, and they're great assets. There's no one we can't beat if we go all out"
"If we do that, we will literally be the Yokozuna of the wrestling world"
"Let's do it!"
"Let's do it!"
"Demon Sekitori"
"Riki-san, please stop using the word "sekitori". You can call me "Fuji". I'll call you "Riki" too."
"Is that so? Well then, let's do our best."
"Fuji!"
"Let's do it, Riki!"
This powerful friendship is the color of blood, like the blood red sunrise that rises over the horizon of the Pacific Ocean.
After all the matches in Tokyo and Osaka, Rikidozan, Azumafuji, Ortega, Curtis, Orton and the rest of the group continue their journey today, inspiring fans all over Japan.
Notes
Bobby Bruns: See "Legacy of Wrestling". Although the article does not mention it, Yahoo Japan states he was Rikidozan's trainer. Lucky Simonovich: Kinko 'Lucky' Simunovich (1919-1995)
Riki: Fans called him "Riki" as a pet name, sometimes Weekly Pro abbreviated his name to "Rikido".
Oki Shikina: Okinawan sumo wrestler, who moved to Hawaii and became a champion in Judo and Sumo. He became a pro wrestler in 1931 (in America) and retired in 1948, just after WW2. In 1951 he became Rikidozan's coach at the invitation of Harold Sakata, and for many years after that he was the senior referee in Japan Pro. To give an idea of how wild this could be, his shirt was often torn off by "out of control foreign wrestlers", before they threw him out of the ring. He left Japan Pro in 1973 (the same day that NET TV announced the end of the Japan Pro TV broadcast) and retired. However, his retirement ceremony took place in All Japan the same year. In 1965 at the age of 61, he was arrested for posession of a handgun, and in the detention centre he roughed up a hoodlum who told him that pro wrestling was fake. He died in 1983 at the age of 79.
Beneath the ring: Indicates his shirt was torn off and he was thrown out.
Underarm throw: Sumo move
Weight: The article gave Azumafuji's as 40 kan, and Bruns as 30. See Wikipedia article/Weight Unit.
Fudo's Day: Buddhist auspicious day. This is not easy to explain as Fudo is an incarnation of the Buddha Acala, see Wikipedia article for a far more in depth explanation.
Primo Carnera: Italian boxer and wrestler
Monme: Unit of weight, Edo period - 1/1000 of a kan, or 3.75 grams
Momotaro: Character from Japanese folklore.
Fujigane stable: The stable began in 1873 and ended in 1947. It started in the Meiji era (about twenty years after the Commodore Perry sailed into Yokohama), and survived the first World War, and the surrender of Japan in 1945, before closing in the years of the occupation in 1947.
Ryogoku: Tokyo's sumo district. (A personal memory is walking around at night in the rain, and seeing the busts of the famous sumo on street corners and their hand casts).
Kan: A kan is a traditional Japanese unit of weight that is equal to 3.75 kilograms
Fucjiichi: Not Animal Fuji, he wasn't born until 1945.
Excitement of sumo: Ironically, this reminds me of a line from the Rikidozan movie, "Sumo is for Japan, wrestling is for the world"
Mawasahi: Loin cloth worn by sumo wrestlers during training, and during competition. These would have been nothing like those worn by the top ranked or even semi ranked wrestlers, these would have been of simple cloth, more of the training type.
Juryo division and Makushita division: Sumo ranks. Juryo is second highest and Makushita third.
Edokko: Denotes someone bought up in Edo (Tokyo), a more contemporary name is "Tokyoite".
Fujigatake: Yoshimasa Wakaminato (died just before the war in 1941). He changed his name to "Fujigane", but to avoid confusion I have kept his original name "Fujigatake".
Gyeongseong: Japanese occupied Korea, this corresponds to modern day Seoul.
Sanyaku: A term used in sumo wrestling to describe the three ranks below Yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo. Sanyaku wrestlers receive a monthly salary and have extra prestige.
Yukata: Unlined cotton summer kimono
Tawara: Bales of rice straw. Tawara are half-buried in the clay of the dohyo to mark its boundaries (this means they were at the side of the ring)
Genikotsu: "Muri hen ni genkotsu" ("struggling to do what you want") was a phrase used in the sumo world. If a junior didn't listen to what he was told, even if it was an unreasonable request, it was normal for the senior apprentice to hit him. The junior would be beaten with anything that came to hand in front of an audience as a warning to others. The version given here is a different version, but the meaning is the same.
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Rikidozan's birth: This account is a mixture of his birth and his later adoption into a Japanese family. It's true he was born on November 14th 1924, but he was born to a farmer called Kim Sok-tee in North Korea. This article was written in the mid 50s, just after the war, so it was more politic after he was adopted by a sumo scout called Minosuke Momota, to claim he was Japanese, and had been born his son in Nagasaki.
Mitsuhiro Momota: His real name was Kim Sin-rak
Rikidozan vs delinquents: I have no way of knowing whether this is true or not or based on any kind of fact (and in any case, Rikidozan left Korea when he was about fifteen or sixteen and entered the Nishonoseki stable), but this is typical of the stories around Rikidozan at this time, and when you consider how the above mentioned isn't true about this origins, most likely this story is not true either.
Tamanoumi Umeyoshi: The son of pearl farmers, he was unable to enter the family business due to poor eyesight, and so he took his sumo name to evoke the image of pearls. His party trick was to lift a small Geisha on his fist during banquets. In 1943, at the height of the war, when the government was closing Geisha houses and sumo schools, he ran his as an inn, however he was arrested on suspicion of war crimes for conscripting prisoners of war. He was released, but never understood why he had been arrested, and could not answer the Japan Sumo Associations questions. Bitter at his treatment, he retired in 1951. He became a somewhat sardonic commentator for sumo for the next twenty years or so, and died in 1988 at the old age for a sumo at the age of seventy-five.
Dewanishiki and Hiranoto: Unlike the others who died in the 1960s or the 1990s, these two actually lived into their 70s and died fairly recently (i.e. in the 2000s, having seen Japan go through some momentous changes. They would have been among the last people who remembered Rikidozan as an active sumo).
Leader of the pack: Sadly, this may not have been true, as he suffered severe discrimination for being Korean.
Shitaya Nichomachi: A street in Tokyo's Taito Ward, which is now "1 Taito, Taito Ward, Tokyo". The street was vibrant, and the inspiration of artists such as Utagawa Hiroshige.
Kakudo: Translates to something like "Activation Award" or "Start Up Award". I can't find any further details on this.
Komsubi: The fourth highest rank in sumo wrestling, and the lowest of the titleholder ranks. The term literally means "the little knot".
Higashi-Ryogoku 4-Chome: Sumida, Tokyo - the Tokyo Higashi Shinkin Bank is there now.
Pulmonary fluke: People get lung fluke infections when they swallow cysts containing immature flukes (larvae) in raw, undercooked, or pickled freshwater crabs or crayfish. He probably got this during the war.
Shinsaku Nitta: I can't really find too much information on him, but he primarily operated out of Tokyo's Kabutocho area following the war. He loved Nihonbashi, and wanted to preserve it, and fought against "take over agents". I think he was born round about 1906, and was not a native of Tokyo.
Meijiza: Theatre that primarily showed Western plays.
Masuiyama: Masuiyama Daishiro I (1919-1985)
The Rikishikai: There is the Japan Sumo Association and the Sumo Wrestlers Association, which basically is there to make their lives better, but consists of high ranking wrestlers. It is not legally a labor union. I have chosen to use the Japanese name to avoid confusion.
Wakanohana: Wakanohana Kanji I, Known as the "Devil of the Dohyo" due to his fighting style and stance. He lived a long life for a sumo wrestler of that period, being born in 1928 and dying in 2010 at the ripe old age of 82 of kidney cancer.
Naruyama: Akira Naruyama was born in 1931 and died in 1978. He had seen active service in the air force during WW2. He died in Tokyo at the very young age of forty-eight of a heart attack.
Senior name: When a sumo retires, but does not leave the Sumo Association, they are granted a senior name. This was not always a glamorous job. Before the war and until the 1950s, they were unpaid and treated poorly, and had to take side jobs to make money. These days (unless they get in trouble with the police for a serious criminal offence), they can live quite comfortably.
Tanabata Day: A Japanese star festival, originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 according to the Gregorian calendar.
Hair cutting ceremony: When a sumo retires, people from both his professional and personal life, celebrities and other sports people, and even some lucky fans, take turn in snipping parts of his topknot off.
Surugaumi: Surugaumi Mitsuo. He retired from sumo in 1945, but entered wrestling after being approached by Rikidozan in the early 1950s. He left wrestling in 1956, after disagreements with Rikidozan, the same year as Azumafuji. He died at the ripe old age of ninety in November 2010.
Ortega: Bull Ortega
Curtis: Bud Curtis
Kruskamp: Harold William "Hardy" Kruskamp
Orton: Bob Orton, the grandfather of Randy Orton
Kokichi Endo: Born March 1926 (the article does not give a date of death for him, but it is unlikely he is still alive). He is the founder of Japanese professional wrestling together with Rikidozan, but Rikidozan is the only one remembered these days. Unlike the majority of the others, he was not a sumo, but a judoka. After the collapse of Japan Pro, he worked for New Japan, being the first wrestler to become a commentator.
Toyonobori: Michiharu Toyonobori, a former sumo wrestler, he had wanted to join the Imperial Japanese Navy, but being born in 1931 meant that by 1947 when he was old enough, the war was over an Japan's army was disbanded. He joined Japan Pro, but fell into the murky world of gambling. Appointed a director after Rikidozan's death, and after spending a period of time as the ace, he left the running of the company (which he had no interest in) to others. He was finally fired, and given the 20 million yen he had gambled away as a severance pay, which means he didn't receive it, it was just used as it. Out of revenge, he persuaded Antonio Inoki not to return to Japan Pro, where he would be second to Baba, but to join his Tokyo Pro Wrestling, but the company collapsed within three months due to a lack of television coverage, weak marketing, and of course, his compulsive gambling with all the proceeds at the Bicycle track, which he basically snatched. His gambling debts grew, he was fired from International Pro Wrestling too, and while Rikidozan might have protected his gambling problem in the 1950s, this was now the 1970s and his creditors were after him, and he had to take jobs in manual labor just to escape them. After leaving wrestling in 1974 (seemingly following a reconciliation with Inoki) he vanished and no one knew what had become of him, saying that he was either a Yakuza bodyguard or was homeless. The sad truth was that he had developed diabetes, and was being cared for by monks at a temple. He died in 1988 of myocardial infarction at the age of 67. The funeral was private, and the general public did not know of his death until a couple of months later.
Giant Fox Like Form: The fox in Japanese mythology is a trickster, able to change form to confuse man.
Sword Bearer and Dew Sweeper: In professional sumo, the "Sword Bearer" (tachimochi) and "Dew Sweeper" (tsuyuharai) are the two attendants who accompany a Yokozuna (the highest rank) during the dohyo-iri, or ring-entering ceremony. The Sword bearer is the higher-ranked of the two attendants, and they carry a bamboo sword (a lighter version used for safety, although this would not have been the case in Azumafuji's day) and stand to the right of the Yokozuna in the ring. The Dew Sweeper walks in front of the Yokozuna when entering the arena and takes up a position on the Yokosuka's left once on the ring. They are the lower ranked of the two attendants.
Unryu Style: Entry of the Yokozuna and the dance performed. Those with a double-looped knot perform the Shiranui style. Both arms are stretched out and it is considered an attacking style. Men with a single-looped rope use the Unryu style, which contains both offensive and defensive elements. This is what Azumafuji is doing in the picture above in the notes.
Shimekomi: A mawashi is a sumo garment worn during competing or training. A shimekomi is worn by Sekitori and is made of silk.
Yorimi: The act of gripping the opponent and pushing them forward or to the side
Alternating thrust style: I think this probably means a kind of sumo attack
Referee Turk: Yousef Türkiye (May 23rd 1931 - October 18th 2013). Turkish man born in Toyohara, Sakhalin Island. Raised in Japan, he spoke Japanese fluently. He had initially debuted as a pro wrestler in Japan pro in 1954. Referees in those days were both referees and wrestlers (Rikidozan did the same). However, in 1968 he was caught up in an assault case when he (along with another wrestler/sumo) assaulted The Great Togo who was planning to poach Kintaro Oki for IPW, He got out of trouble by making it look as if he had been assaulted, and while he was suspended indefinitely behind the scenes, he was rewarded for his actions. During the conflict between Baba and Inoki, he sided with Inoki. Although Inoki left JPW, he stayed on but was fired when he was found to have secretly offered Seiji Sakaguchi 10 million yen to lure Inoki to a new promotion. In 1972 he took part in New Japan's launch by working as a referee, but after a year he became estranged from Inoki. In 1978 he attempted to create a promotion called Big Japan (not related to The Great Kojika's promotion), but the plan fell through. He returned to New Japan as a referee in 1981, but got into blackmail charges in 1983, when he and Abdullah the Butcher were arrested on suspicion of blackmailing the ghostwriter of Butcher's book, "How To Make Pro Wrestling 10 Times More Enjoyable". Despite this he remained close to Inoki, and in later years worked for Real Japan. He died of heart related issues in 2013.
Rock drops: Basically, picking an opponent up and delivering a series of drops on them from a high angle. Jumbo Tsuruta (All Japan) adopted this.
Taifu: Honorific title for a skilled grand steward
Leo Nomellini: Italian American wrestler. See his Wikipedia page for further details.
Rocky Brown: Other than a blurry black and white picture on WrestlingData.com, I can't find any further details on him
LINKS
Naruyama defeats Azumafuji https://sumowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Naruyama_Akira?file=Naruyama%27s_Fighting_Style.gif#Death
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