Tanikaze Kajinosuke

Tanikaze Kajinosuke was a legendary sumo wrestler during Japan's Edo period. He is a central figure in the history of the sport. While he is officially recorded as the fourth yokozuna, he is effectively considered the first. This distinction exists because he was among the first wrestlers to receive the title during his lifetime.

Earlier yokozuna were only awarded the title after they had passed away. Tanikaze helped transform the status of the rank. He was a massive athlete for his era. He stood 189 cm tall and weighed 169 kg. This size made him much larger than most Japanese men at the time.

Tanikaze's physical style was defined by a unique combination of power and speed. He was described as having a strong back and very quick feet. He was also noted for being short in the waist. These traits allowed him to move with agility despite his great weight. He was an expert in the mechanics of sumo. His skill resulted in a dominant record in the top makuuchi division. He won 258 bouts and lost only 14. This gave him an incredible winning percentage of 94.9 percent.

His career followed a path of steady professional growth. He began as an apprentice to a wrestler named Sekinoto in 1768. He was born in the Miyagi District of Mutsu Province. Later, he moved to Edo-sumo to compete at a higher level. The Date clan provided him with a shikona, which is a ring name. He briefly held the title of kanban-ōzeki. These were guest ōzeki who filled gaps in the rankings. They were chosen because they were large and good-looking. However, Tanikaze was a true talent. He eventually relinquished the guest title to earn his rank through merit. In May 1776, he adopted the ring name Tanikaze.

Tanikaze established records that defined the sport for generations. From March 1778 to February 1782, he achieved 63 consecutive victories. This was the longest winning streak in sumo during his era. This record remained unbroken for 150 years. It was finally surpassed in 1938 by Futabayama, who won 69 matches in a row. At that time, rikishi traveled between Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Tanikaze actually achieved a record of 98 consecutive wins when traveling between cities. However, his official Edo tournament record is cited as 63. After his long streak ended, he immediately won another 43 bouts in a row.

On November 19, 1789, Tanikaze reached a historic milestone. He and the wrestler Onogawa Kisaburō were granted a special yokozuna license by the Yoshida family. This was a major change in how the title functioned. At the time, yokozuna was an honorary title. It was not listed on the banzuke, which is the official ranking sheet. Because of this, both Tanikaze and Onogawa were still ranked as sekiwake when they received the honor. They were also among the first to perform the yokozuna dohyō-iri. This is a special ring-entering ceremony.

Tanikaze's influence extended far beyond his own matches. He served as a coach for the famous wrestler Raiden Tameemon. Raiden was a leading figure during the Tenmei and Kansei eras. Even Tanikaze's family was connected to the sport. His younger brother, Dategaseki Moriemon, also became a top-division wrestler. They were only the second pair of brothers in sumo history to reach the makuuchi division. Tanikaze's legacy is also preserved through art. Many nishiki-e, or colorful woodblock prints, depict him in action. He was even chosen to represent sumo in the famous 'Three Pleasures of Edo' series.

Tanikaze's life ended during a period of widespread illness. On January 9, 1795, he contracted influenza. The disease was spreading quickly through the city of Edo. He died suddenly at the age of 44 while he was still an active wrestler. His death left a void in the sumo world. His name became so prestigious that the Tanikaze shikona was eventually retired. It is now considered a name that is no longer allowed to be used. He is buried in his hometown of Wakabayashi, Sendai. His tomb remains a monument to his massive impact on Japanese culture.