The Japan Times and Mail, Tuesday 23rd January 1940 (Page 5)

'INVINCIBLE' GRAND CHAMPION BEATEN

    To the amazement of some 30,000 fans, Grand Champion Futabayama, considered unbeatable by sumo experts, went on all fours, outsmarted by Itsutsushima in Sunday's bouts at the Kokugikan at Ryogoku.

FUTABAYAMA DEFEATED BY ITSUTSUSHIMA

    The police had their hands full controlling some 30,000 fans who just about went crazy when the generally considered invincible Grand Champion Futabayama was beaten Sunday afternoon in the 11th day's bout of the current 15-day "spring" sumo tournament at the Kokugikan at Ryogoku.
    The hero was strong Itsutsushima, 28, of the Dewanoumi Training House on the West side. Itsutsushima, because of his impressive record in the present touching, having lost but a single bout up to Sunday, was questioned by the sports writers Saturday night if he believed he had a chance against Futabayama. His reply was:
    "Futabayama is altogether, too strong. I can't win."
    But there is not doubt that ever since the beginning of the tournament, Itsutsushima and his stable mates had been planning a system of attack against Futabayama, who had gone through the 15-day tournament last May with nary a defeat. And he seemed far stronger that the time he went through an unprecedented winning streak over two and a half years until Akinoumi stopped it at 69 victories in the "spring " tournament last year.

ITSUTSUSHIMA HAPPY

    Overwhelmed with the question - "How did you do it?" after his upsetting victory, Itsutsushima too thrilled for words merely said: "The bout went the way I wanted it."
    It had been a bad day for the Tachinami Training House to which Futabayama belongs when he ascended to the ring to meet Itsutsushima. His able team-mates, Champion Haguroyama and Nayoroiwa, had been beaten respectively by Ayanobori and Kasagiyama, erstwhile Waseda University student. Futabayama attacked with both hands and Itsutsushima responded. The latter began circling his way to the left and suddenly jerked his opponent's arms to the right, Futabayama tottered momentarily but he recovered his balance and resumed his attack with both hands with the intent of forcing his opponent out of the ring. Itsutsushima sidestepped to the left and as Futabayama lost his balance, Itsutsushima shoved him outside the ring from the back. The fans could hardly believe their eyes when they saw Futabayama on all fours.
    No. 2 hero for the day was Akinoumi, who defeated Terukuni, the youngster who had defeated Grand Champion Minanogawa for his ninth victory on Saturday. It was a nip and tuck bout, certainly the most thrilling of the day, and Akinoumi finally won shoving his opponent out of the ring, by virtue of being the aggressor all the way through.

BOTH SIDES TIED

    As a result of the day's principal bouts which saw the West side rally with 14 victories as against nine by the East side, both camps are tied with 126 wins apiece for the eleven days.

Sunday's results follow:
Ichiwatari defeated Kiyomigawa
Futasegawa defeated Hatasegawa
Sakuranishiki defeated Kuganishiki
Shachinosato defeated Komanosato
Tsurugamine defeated Yamatoiwa
Yamatonishiki defeated Tomoegata
Fujigadake defeated Sagamigawa
Genjiyama defeated Taikyuzan
Asahigawa defeated Jintozan
Kashimanada defeated Katsuragawa
Banjaku defeated Fujinosato
Hishuzan defeated Saganohana
Aobayama defeated Ayawaka
Dewaminato defeated Kaneminato
Ryuozan defeated Oshio
Onami won by forfeit from Matsunosato
Akinoumi defeated Terukuni
Kasagiyama defeated Nayoroiwa
Ayanobori defeated Haguroyama
Mayedayama defeated Tamanoumi
Minanogawa defeated Tatekabuto
Itsutsushima defeated Futabayama