The Japan Times and Mail, Thursday 25th January 1940
(Page 5)
AVENGES ELDER STABLE-MATE'S DEFEAT
Haguroyama, caught by the camera, after he had thrown
Itsutsushima Tuesday in one of the principal bouts of the sumo tourney
which ends Thursday. Itsutsushima has been the only wrestler able to defeat
Grand Champion Futabayama, stable-mate of Haguroyama, in the current tournament.
FUTABAYAMA VANQUISHES AKINOUMI
Led by Grand Champion Futabayama, the East side staged
a grand rally by registering 14 victories as against nine by the West side
in Tuesday's bout of the 15-day sumo tourney at the Kokugikan, Ryogoku,
and as a result is leading in the championship race by a 149-148 score.
The tournament ends Thursday.
Futabayama lived up to his reputation as being on
of the greatest grand champions ever in the sport by scoring a convincing
victory in the day's most featured bout against Akinoumi. It was this Akinoumi
who caused a national sensation on the fourth day of the then 13-day tournament
in January last year when he came through with what was then considered
virtually impossible, that of defeating Futabayama, who had been invincible
for two and a half years and had registered the amazing and unprecedented
string of 69 victories in the official championship matches.
NEVER HAD A CHANCE
As a matter of fact, Akinoumi never had a chance when
he failed to get his favorite left through Futabayama's defense for a firm
grip on the latter's girdle. No sooner had they stood up than it was Futabayama
who beat Akinoumi to the gun by thrusting his favorite right through Akinoumi's
defense. On top of this, he stuck his body and neck close to Akinoumi's
to get his left through. Akinoumi, of course, had gotten his right through
for a grip on Futabayama's girdle but he was at a tremendous disadvantage
without his left. But ever the courageous wrestler that his is he tried
desperately to stick his left through while he began pushing Futabayama.
This apparently was what Futabayama, who knows all the tricks of the game,
had been looking for as he resorted to an arm throw that sent Akinoumi
rolling out of the ring.
The usually slow Grand Champion Minanogawa surprised
the more than 20,00 fans with his agility in his bout against the strong
Nayoroiwa of the East side. These two couldn't get spiritually united in
the 10-minute period allowed for starting. The false starts had been eating
into the fiery and short-tempered Nayoroiwa. When they finally had to rush
against each other, Minanogawa took a quick step to the right, then grasped
the charging Nayoroiwa and defeated him with an arm throw.
Haguroyama avenged his elder stable-mate's defeat,
that of Futabayama, by vanquishing Itsutsushima. He got the jump on Itsutsushima
and grasped the latter's arms from the outside. He then started pushing
Itsutsushima. The latter forced to the edge of the ring, made a gallant
stand and maneuvered himself back to the center of the ring, but Haguroyama
lost no time in throwing him on to the sand with his powerful right arm.
Tamanoumi's power in his arms won for him an impressive
victory over Kasagiyama, erstwhile Waseda University student. Kasagiyama
made a miraculous save after Tamanoumi had forced him to the edge of the
ring. He then succeeded in grasping Tamanoumi but it was to no avail as
the latter executed a powerful arm throw and down went Kasagiyama.
The results of the principal bouts follow:
Matsuragata won by forfeit from Yamatoiwa
Katsuragawa defeated Tominishiki
Tomoegata defeated Fujinosato
Hishuzan defeated Shachinosato
Ichiwatari defeated Fujigatake
Taikyuzan defeated Kuganishiki
Asahigawa defeated Shikainami
Sakuranishiki defeated Aobayama
Kashimanada defeated Genjiyama
Banjaku defeated Dewaminato
Ryuozan defeated Hatasegawa
Saganohana defeated Sagamigawa
Oshio defeated Ayawaka
Terukuni defeated Yamatonishiki
Tatekabuto defeated Ryogoku
Ayanobori defeated Onami
Tamanoumi defeated Kasagiyama
Mayedayama defeated Kaneminato
Haguroyama defeated Itsutsushima
Minanogawa defeated Nayoroiwa
Futabayama defeated Akinoumi
