Asahiyo Tarô

Overview

朝潮太郎

13 Nov 1929

Yonekawa Fumitoshi

米川文敏

Tokunoshima, Kagoshima, Japan

23 Oct 1988 (58)

Cerebral Hemorrhage

Stowed away on a cargo ship to compete in his first sumo match in Amami in 1948 at age 19.

Distinctive for his stature, thick eyebrows and chest hair, which were unusual for sumo wrestlers.

Boasted a winning record of 13-2 at an Osaka wrestling championship in 1959, breaking a longstanding jinx on wrestlers with chest hair.

Suffered from lumbar separation disease, which affected his later wrestling performance and hastened his retirement in 1962.

Resumed training in anticipation of his 60th birthday ceremony.

Died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage brought on by over drinking and the sudden strain of his new training regiment.

A statue in his likeness was erected at his birthplace in 1995.

Selected Filmography

1959

Tajikarao