Wakakoma Kenzo
若駒 健三
Personal information
BornKenzo Ito
(1937-04-20)20 April 1937
Gojōme, Akita , Japan
Died31 August 2019(2019-08-31) (aged 82)
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight83 kg (183 lb; 13.1 st)
Career
StableNishonoseki → Shibatayama → Hanakago
Record219-153-48
DebutMay, 1952
Highest rankMaegashira 8 (November, 1961)
RetiredMarch, 1962
Championships1 (Jūryō)
1 (Makushita)
* Up to date as of Sep. 2012.

Wakakoma Kenzo (born 20 April 1937 as Kenzo Ito – 31 August 2019) was a former sumo wrestler from Gojōme, Akita, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1952 and reached the top division in September 1961. His highest rank was maegashira 8. He left the sumo world upon retirement from active competition in March 1962. He died on August 31, 2019, at the age of 82.

Fighting Style

He was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, and his most common winning techniques were shitatehineri (twisting underarm throw), oshidashi (push out) and shitatenage (underarm throw). He preferred a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, left right inside) grip on his opponent's mawashi.

Pre-modern career record

Kenzo joined Nishonoseki stable in May 1952 and was given the shikona "Ohibiki" (大響). He transferred to Shibatayama stable (later renamed Hanakago stable) in September 1952. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1954 and makushita in May 1955. In March 1960 he changed his shikona to "Wakakoma" (若駒). Three tournaments later in July 1960, he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7–0 record at the rank of makushita 13 and was promoted to juryo for the following September 1960 tournament.

  • In 1953 the New Year tournament was begun and the Spring tournament began to be held in Osaka.
Wakakoma Kenzo[1]
- Spring
Haru basho, Tokyo		 Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 Autumn
Aki basho, Tokyo
1952 Not held Shinjo
2–1
 		 East Jonidan #27
0–0–8
 
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira
- New Year
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 Spring
Haru basho, Osaka		 Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 Autumn
Aki basho, Tokyo
1953 East Jonokuchi #1
0–0–8
 		 (Banzukegai) (Banzukegai) Shinjo
2–1
 
1954 East Jonidan #57
6–2
 		 East Jonidan #16
7–1
 		 East Sandanme #60
5–3
 		 East Sandanme #43
4–4
 
1955 East Sandanme #37
5–3
 		 East Sandanme #14
6–2
 		 West Makushita #52
5–3
 		 West Makushita #44
6–2
 
1956 West Makushita #30
7–1
 		 West Makushita #14
4–4
 		 East Makushita #13
4–4
 		 East Makushita #13
4–4
 
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

Juryo career

In his first tournament as a sekitori, Wakakoma finished with an 8–7 record. In the following November 1960 tournament, he won the juryo yusho with a strong 12–3 record. After two successive 10-5 records, he was promoted to makuuchi in September 1961.

Makuuchi career

He produced a solid 9–6 record in his top division debut, but followed with two consecutive losing records and was demoted back down to juryo after three tournaments in makuuchi. After falling down to juryo he abruptly announced his retirement after the March 1962 tournament.

Championships

1 Juryo Championship (November 1960)

1 Makushita Championship (July 1960)

  • Since the addition of the Kyushu tournament in 1957 and the Nagoya tournament in 1958, the yearly schedule has remained unchanged.
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1957 West Makushita #12
4–4
 		 West Makushita #10
4–4
 		 West Makushita #9
5–3
 		 Not held West Makushita #6
4–4
 		 East Makushita #6
4–4
 
1958 East Makushita #7
4–4
 		 East Makushita #6
6–2
 		 East Makushita #1
0–2–6
 		 West Makushita #13
4–1–3
 		 East Makushita #11
0–0–8
 		 West Makushita #26
0–0–8
 
1959 East Makushita #46
5–3
 		 West Makushita #39
4–4
 		 East Makushita #39
6–2
 		 East Makushita #21
1–7
 		 West Makushita #37
0–1–7
 		 West Makushita #62
7–1
 
1960 East Makushita #40
4–4
 		 East Makushita #35
5–3
 		 East Makushita #26
6–2
 		 East Makushita #13
7–0
Champion
 		 West Jūryō #15
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #14
12–3
Champion
 
1961 West Jūryō #4
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #1
4–11
 		 East Jūryō #8
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #2
10–5
 		 East Maegashira #13
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #8
6–9
 
1962 East Maegashira #12
3–12
 		 East Jūryō #4
Retired
–
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Wakakoma Kenzo Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 19 September 2012.


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