The Japan Times and Mail, Saturday 13th May 1939 (Page 3)

JANUARY TOURNEY'S CHAMPION IS BEATEN

    Considerable Interest in the Summer Sumo tournament which Opened Thursday for 15 days at the Kokugikan bowl at Ryogoku was what sort of showing Dewaminato, champion of the Spring tournament last January, would make. He got off to a bad start losing to Tatekabuto. Photo shows him at left being pushed out of the ring.

MAJOR UPSETS MARK OPENING OF SUMO

    Those fans that stayed through a 27-hour stretch in the Kokugikan sumo (Japanese style) for the opening day of Summer tournament on Thursday had their eyeful of major upsets, such as have never been witnessed in the bouts of any first day.
    To list them in the order of their importance:
    Champion Mayedayama was thrown after a torrid match by the strong Ryogoku, who sports no protruding belly and could appear in street clothes and have no semblance of a professional sumo man but for his long hair, which he could conceal by wearing a big hat.

HAGUROYAMA BEATEN

    Haguroyama, powerful younger stable-mate of Grand Champion Futabayama who had been considered one of the foremost candidates for the championship because he does not meet Futabayama, was a strong favorite over Ayanobori. But the latter, one of the cleverest wrestlers in competition today, executed a neat body throw to win.
    Kashimanada, up and coming wrestler who had thrown Futabayama in the January tournament and was considered by the experts a strong candidate for the seat of "ohzeki," a rank below grand champion, proved no match for the more experienced Shachinosato, reputed the most handsome of all wrestlers. The latter took the offensive and threw his opponent with a body throw.
    Dewaminato, who although far down in the rank of the "makunouchi" or first ranking circle won 13 bouts without a defeat to win the championship of the January tournament last and was promoted to "komusubi," fourth rank from grand champion, and later took unto himself a bride, was defeated by the veteran Tatekabuto. No sooner, had they stood up than Tatekabuto pushed with all his might and out went Dewaminato from the ring without a chance to display his cleverness.
    Grand Champion Futabayama, who too like Dewaminato has become a Benedict since the January tournament, showed himself the strongest candidate to go through the current tourney undefeated by his impressive victory over the strong Banjaku. The latter has always been a tough foe for Futabayama, ever since the time Futabayama was in the lower ranks, but he proved no match for the Grand Champion on Thursday. No sooner had they stood up than Futabayama shoved his right arm through Banjaku's defense, and putting his left hand at Banjaku's throat, shoved him out, of the ring.
    Hishuzan, who lost only one bout in the January tournament and was runner-up to Dewaminato for the championship honors, got off to a bad start by being carried out of the ring by the lanky Fujigadake.
    Grand Champion Minanogawa defeated Yamatonishiki with a body throw, but only after a torrid match.
    The results of the bouts after the intermission when the grand champions make their formal entry into the ring follow:
Minenobori defeated Fujinosato 
Tomoegata defeated Sagamigawa
Terukuni defeated Takanobori
Matsunosato defeated Banshinzan
Yamatoiwa defeated Hatasegawa
Dewanohana defeated Aobayama
Jintozan defeated Saganohana
Kaneminato defeated Taikyuzan
Onami defeated Wakashima
Ayawaka defeated Tsurugamine
Akinoumi defeated Ohshio
Itsutsushima defeated Asahigawa
Fujigadake defeated Hishuzan
Shachinosato defeated Kashimanada
Tamanoumi defeated Kasagiyama
Nayoroiwa defeated Komanosato
Ayanobori defeated Haguroyama
Kagamiiwa defeated Ryuozan
Ryogoku defeated Mayedayama
Minanogawa defeated Yamatonishiki
Futabayama defeated Banjaku