The Osaka Mainichi and Tokyo Nichi Nichi, Tuesday 24th January 1939 (Page 3)

All White Marks

Dewaminato

Spring Sumo Tourney Will Close Today; Dewaminato Scores 12th Straight Win

    The spring (January) Tokyo tourney of the Japan Professional Sumo Association will be brought to an end today, after an exciting 13-day series which daily drew huge crowds.
    Dewaminato stretched his unmarred record in the current tourney to 12 straight victories, winning a well-earned triumph over Tomoegata on Monday.
    Hishuzan, who has been staging a keen race with Dewaminato, with only one defeat, also won on Monday, scoring over Oshio. Minanogawa won over Nayoroiwa to register his 11th victory.

Sunday Results

    The 11th day, Sunday, saw more than 22,000 fans enter the sumo arena at Ryogoku, against the capacity of 12,000. All the one-day tickets were sold out as early as 4 a.m.
    Dewaminato, who has been going strong in this tourney, won his 11th straight victory to maintain his undefeated record; toppling the powerful Tamanoumi, who holds the rank of Komusubi.
     Unusual interest centered on the bout between Dewaminato and Tamanoumi, because of the possibility that the winning streak of Dewaminato would be halted by Tamanoumi
    The two have met six times in the past, each winning three times. Dewaminato was once highly ranked in the position of Sekiwake, but dropped to his present position, the second front the lowest in the West group of Makuuchi grapplers, due to poor health.

Now In Top Form

    He has completely regained his health, however, and is in as good form as when he won the Sekiwake rank.
    To make his brilliant activity romantic, Dewaminato is engaged to the daughter of a Tokyo businessman, whom he is soon to wed.
    The victory over Tamanoumi will make his way smooth in the race for the trophy in the current tourney. Had he been defeated, his chance of winning would be dim.
    According to the rule of the sumo association, the grappler whose rank is higher is the winner of the trophy in case two or more grapplers finish with the same high ratio.

Minanogawa's 1 Black Circle

    Minanogawa, holder of the title of Yokozuna, and Hishuzan, Maegashira, but who is ranked higher than Dewaminato, have been running in the trophy race each with only one defeat each. It is to be noted that the only defeat by Minanogawa was that suffered at the hands of Tamanoumi.
    The pairing between Dewaminato and Tamanoumi stirred great inter-est when it was announced on Satur-day.
    As expected, the fight was a hot one, but finally the gods smiled upon Dewaminato

Grueling Match Fought

    Immediately after the Dewawinato-Tamanoumi match, the fans saw one of the most grueling fights ever staged. It was the bout between Kagamiiwa, Ozeki and Banjaku, Maegashira of high rank. The two displayed all their, skill, but failed to settle the issue. Time was therefore called by the umpire, on the suggestion of the judges. The fight was resumed, only to see a replica of the original struggle.
    The bout was halted and, as the result of a conference among the officials, it was ordered that it be fought again after the completion of the two succeeding matches.
    The rival grapplers defaulted, however, because they had no strength left.
    As the result of another conference among the officials at the end of the day, it was ruled that both Kagamiiwa and Banjaku were losers, according to the regulations of the sumo association.
    The Osaka Mainichi and the Tokyo Nichi Nichi's silver cup offered to the winner of the bout between Kojimagawa and Ryuozan was won by the former.

The results of other leading matches were:
Tomoegata defeated Ryogoku
Akinoumi defeated Hatasegawa
Kashimanada defeated Oshio
Taikyuzan defeated Asahikawa
Kasagiyama defeated Kaikozan
Maedayama defeated Nayoroiwa
Minanogawa defeated Haguroyama
Futabayama defeated Ayanobori