Haguroyama Wins Greatest Promotion
An assistant not so long ago at one of the bathhouses
in Ryogoku, across the Sumida river, has won the greatest promotion in
the rankings for the Summer season announced at 5 a.m. today by the Japan
Sumo Association.
He is Haguroyama, 25-year-old stablemate of Grand
Champion Futabayama. The rankings for the 15-day tournament which opens
on May 11 at the Kokugikan bowl find him as a "sekiwake" - fourth rank
below a grand champion - on the east side. Thus did he rush past his older
stablemate, Nayoroiwa, who is "sekiwake" on the west side. Haguroyama started
to wrestle only four years ago.
Although he has lost four bouts in the January tournament,
Futabayama continues as grand champion on the east side, this undoubtedly
due to his 69 consecutive victories over three years up to his defeat to
Akinoumi on the fourth day of the January tournament.
Dewaminato, who won the championship in January
without a defeat, has been promoted ts been promoted to "komusubi,"
rank below "sekiwake" on the west side.