View source for Chiyonofuji Mitsugu

{{short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}}
{{hatnote|In this Japanese [[shikona]] name, the surname is Chiyonofuji.}}
{{Infobox sumo wrestler
| native_name = 千代の富士 貢
| name        = Chiyonofuji Mitsugu
| image       = Kokonoe (cropped).jpg
| caption = Chiyonofuji in 2010
| birth_name  = Mitsugu Akimoto
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1955|6|1}}
| birth_place = [[Fukushima, Hokkaido]], Japan
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2016|7|31|1955|6|1}}
| death_place= [[Tokyo]], Japan
| height      = 179 cm
| weight      = {{convert|126|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| heya        = [[Kokonoe stable|Kokonoe]]
| rank        =
| record      = 1045-437-170
| debut       = September, 1970
| highestrank = Yokozuna (July, 1981)
| eldername   = Kokonoe
| retireddate = May, 1991
| yushos      = 31 (Makuuchi)<br/>1 (Makushita)
| prizes      = Outstanding Performance (1)<br/>Fighting Spirit (1)<br/>Technique (5)
| goldstars   = 3<br />[[Mienoumi]] (2)<br />[[Wakanohana Kanji II|Wakanohana II]]
| update      = June 2020
}}

{{nihongo|'''Chiyonofuji Mitsugu'''|千代の富士 貢||June 1, 1955 – July 31, 2016|lead=yes}}, born {{nihongo|'''Mitsugu Akimoto'''|秋元 貢|Akimoto Mitsugu}}, was a Japanese professional [[sumo]] wrestler and the 58th ''[[yokozuna (sumo)|yokozuna]]'' of the sport. 

Chiyonofuji was considered one of the greatest ''yokozuna'' in sumo's history, winning 31 tournament championships (''[[yūshō]]'') at the top division (''[[makuuchi]]''), second only to [[Taihō Koki|Taihō]] at the time of his retirement. He was particularly remarkable for his longevity in sumo's top rank, which he held for a period of ten years from 1981 to 1991. Promoted at the age of twenty-six after winning his second championship, his performance improved with age, winning more tournaments in his thirties than any other wrestler and dominating the sport in the second half of the 1980s.<ref name=West/> He finally retired in May 1991, just short of his thirty-sixth birthday. Following his retirement as a wrestler, he became an [[Toshiyori|elder]] (''oyakata'') of the [[Japan Sumo Association]] and became the Kokonoe-oyakata the following year in 1992, serving as the stable master of [[Kokonoe stable]] until his death.

During his 21-year professional career, Chiyonofuji set records for most career victories (1045) and most wins in the top ''[[makuuchi]]'' division (807), earning an entry in the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'',<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC|title=Guinness World Records 2009|first=Craig|last=Glenday|date=1 January 2009|publisher=Bantam Books|isbn=978-0-553-59256-6|via=Google Books}}</ref> although both of these records were later broken by [[Kaiō Hiroyuki|Kaiō]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20100113b1.html|title=Kaio breaks Chiyonofuji's makuuchi win record|agency=Kyodo News|date=13 January 2010|newspaper=The Japan Times ONLINE|publisher=[[Japan Times]]|access-date=14 January 2010}}</ref> He won the November [[Kyushu]] tournament, one of the six annual ''[[honbasho]]'', a record eight consecutive years from 1981 until 1988, and also set the record for the longest postwar run of consecutive wins (53 bouts in 1988). That record stood for 22 years until [[Hakuhō]] broke it with his 54th straight win in September 2010.<ref>{{cite web | title=Hakuho owns longest postwar win streak | publisher=The Japan Times Online | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ss20100919b1.html | date=2010-09-19 | access-date=2012-07-26}}</ref>

In a sport where weight is often regarded as vital, Chiyonofuji was comparatively light at around {{Convert|120|kg|abbr=on}}, making him the lightest ''yokozuna'' since [[Tochinoumi Teruyoshi|Tochinoumi]] during the 1950s and 60s; he primarily relied on his muscle and superior technique to defeat his opponents. Chiyonofuji was a popular sumo wrestler who also went by his nickname {{nihongo|"'''The Wolf'''"|'''ウルフ'''|'''Urufu'''}} due to his muscular build atypical of most other sumo wrestlers, his competitive ferocity, and his appeal as a sex symbol owing to his body and his masculine facial features.<ref name=West/><ref name=Sankei16>{{cite web|url=http://www.sankei.com/sports/news/160731/spo1607310022-n1.html |title=元横綱千代の富士の九重親方が死去、６１歳 史上３位の優勝３１度 |trans-title=Former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, Kokonoe Master dead at 61, 31 career championships 3rd highest in history |language=ja |work=Sankei Shimbun |date=31 July 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kudo |first1=Norio |title=Japan mourns death of the 'Wolf' of wrestling |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/NAR/Articles/Japan-mourns-death-of-the-Wolf-of-wrestling |website=Nikkei Asia |publisher=Nikkei |access-date=30 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="channel 4">{{cite episode |title=Chiyonofuji:The Way of the Wolf|series=Sumo |credits=Cheerleader Productions |network=[[Channel 4]], UK |air-date=October 1991 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chiyonofuji: Adversity and Greatness - GRAND SUMO Legends |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3025092/ |website=NHK WORLD |access-date=30 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713083831/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3025092/ |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gunning |first1=John |title=Muscular Chiyonofuji's career bloomed late |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/17/sumo/muscular-chiyonofujis-career-bloomed-late/ |website=The Japan Times |access-date=30 March 2025 |language=en |date=17 November 2019}}</ref>

==Early life==

He was born in [[Fukushima, Hokkaido|Fukushima]], a town in the [[Matsumae District, Hokkaido|Matsumae District]] of [[Hokkaido]], northern Japan.<ref name=NHK16>{{cite web|url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160731/k10010616091000.html |title=元横綱・千代の富士の九重親方が死去 |trans-title=Former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, Kokonoe Master Dead |publisher=NHK |date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=31 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731132904/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160731/k10010616091000.html |access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> He was a son of a fisherman. At school he excelled in athletics events, particularly running.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Giants of Sumo|author=Patmore, Angela|publisher=Macdonald/Queen Anne Press|year=1990|isbn=0-356-18120-0|page=37}}</ref> He was scouted at the age of 15 by [[Kokonoe stable]]'s head [[Chiyonoyama Masanobu|Chiyonoyama]], who had served as the 41st ''yokozuna'' and was from the same Fukushima town. Chiyonoyama promised him a trip to [[Tokyo]] in an airplane, which excited the young Akimoto as he had never flown before.<ref>Sharnoff, p. 5</ref> 

==Early career==
[[File:Chiyonofuji tegata.jpg|thumb|right|Chiyonofuji original tegata (handprint & signature)]]

When Mitsugu started his professional sumo career, he was given his ''[[shikona]]'' (ring name) surname of {{nihongo|Chiyonofuji|千代の富士}}, which was formed from those of the two previous ''yokozuna'' from his stable, [[Chiyonoyama Masanobu|Chiyonoyama]] and [[Kitanofuji Katsuaki|Kitanofuji]]. {{nihongo3|"thousand years"|千代|Chiyo}} is a word used to mean forever, and {{nihongo3||富士|Fuji}} is the same as that in {{nihongo3|[[Mount Fuji]]|富士山}}. At the time of his professional debut, he weighed just {{convert|71|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. 

Chiyonofuji began his career in September 1970.<ref name=Sankei16/> He reached the second highest ''[[jūryō]]'' division in November 1974, and was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 1975.<ref name=Sankei16/> However, he lasted only one tournament before being demoted again, and recurring shoulder dislocation injuries led to him falling back to the unsalaried ranks.<ref name=MainichiObit>{{cite web|url=http://mainichi.jp/articles/20160802/ddm/001/070/143000c |title=「いい目をしとるな。がんばれよ」。後に横綱、千代の富士となる… |trans-title="You're looking good. Keep fighting" He later became Yokozuna Chiyonofuji |language=ja |work=Mainichi Shimbun |date=2 August 2016 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> During his time back below the salaried (''[[sekitori]]'') divisions, Chiyonoyama, his original master and the one who scouted and convinced him to join Kokonoe stable, died in 1977, after which [[Kitanofuji Katsuaki|Kitanofuji]], the 52nd ''yokozuna'' and also a Hokkaido native, took over the stable.<ref name=West>{{cite book |last=West |first=Mark D. |date=2005 |title=Law in Everyday Japan: Sex, Sumo, Suicide, and Statutes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L4WNXvc32OAC&q=kitanofuji+kokonoe&pg=PA82 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |pages=81–83 |isbn=978-0-226-89409-6}}</ref>

He finally won promotion back to the top division in January 1978. After receiving a fighting spirit [[Sanshō (sumo)|prize]] in May, Chiyonofuji reached ''[[komusubi]]'' (the fourth-highest rank) for the first time. During his early top division career he was often compared to another lightweight wrestler popular with sumo fans, [[Takanohana Kenshi|Takanohana I]]. Takanohana had first come across Chiyonofuji whilst on a regional tour and encouraged him to give sumo a try. Later, he also advised Chiyonofuji to give up smoking, which helped him put on some extra weight.<ref>Sharnoff, p. 56</ref>

In 1979, due to his shoulder trouble, Chiyonofuji briefly fell to the second division, but he soon came back. Encouraged by his stablemaster, he began to rely not only on throwing techniques, which increased the risk of re-injuring his shoulders, but also on gaining ground quickly and forcing out his opponents.<ref name="channel 4">{{cite episode |title=Chiyonofuji:The Way of the Wolf|series=Sumo |credits=Cheerleader Productions |network=[[Channel 4]], UK |air-date=October 1991 }}</ref> Showing much more consistency, he earned three ''[[kinboshi]]'' by defeating ''yokozuna'' in the March and July 1980 tournaments, where he also got technique prizes. He fought again as a ''komusubi'' in the May and September tournaments, in the latter of which he won 10 matches in the top division for the first time. Chiyonofuji reached ''[[sekiwake]]'' (the third-highest rank), and stayed at this rank for only two tournaments. As a sekiwake, he scored 11–4 in November, and in January 1981 he scored 14–1, losing only one regular match to dominating ''yokozuna'' [[Kitanoumi]], and then defeated him in the subsequent playoff to win a top ''makuuchi'' division title for the first time.<ref name=Sankei16/> This earned him promotion to ''[[Makuuchi#Ōzeki|ōzeki]],'' the second-highest rank.<ref name=Sankei16/> While making this speedy rise, he won the technique prize in the three previous tournaments, and won it again in that January 1981 tournament where he also earned the outstanding performance prize. As an ''ōzeki'' he scored well in the following three tournaments up to July 1981, where he again defeated Kitanoumi and won his second title.<ref name=Sankei16/> After this victory, he was promoted to ''yokozuna'', the 58th in sumo history.<ref name=NHK16/>

==''Yokozuna''==

[[File:Chiyonofuji (千代の富士) - Handprints in Ueno Park, Tokyo - DSC07980.JPG|thumb|right|A stone marker of Chiyonofuji's handprint]]

Chiyonofuji had to pull out of his first tournament as a ''yokozuna'' with an injury, but he returned to win the championship in November, defeating [[Asashio Tarō IV|Asashio]] in a playoff. He later said that this victory was the foundation upon which he built his subsequent success as a ''yokozuna''.<ref name="channel 4"/> He was to win the Kyushu tournament eight consecutive years from 1981 to 1988, a record dominance of any of the six specific ''honbasho''.

As his rival Kitanoumi went into a long slump, Chiyonofuji dominated sumo in 1982, winning four of the six tournaments.<ref name=record/> However, another ''yokozuna'', [[Takanosato]], emerged over the next two years to challenge him, and he also suffered a number of injury problems. Chiyonofuji was restricted to just one championship in the nine tournaments held from May 1983 to September 1984.<ref name=record/> But Kitanoumi retired in January 1985, with the aging Takanosato following a year later, and Chiyonofuji resumed his dominance. In 1986 he won five out of the six tournaments held,<ref name=record/> the first time this had been done since Kitanoumi in 1978. Despite being older and lighter than nearly all his opponents, he dominated the sport throughout the 1980s.<ref name=West/>

In 1988, he went on a winning streak of 53 bouts,<ref name=NHK16/> the third longest in sumo history, behind ''yokozuna'' [[Hakuhō Shō|Hakuhō]]'s 63, and [[Futabayama Sadaji|Futabayama]]'s all-time record of 69. The sequence began on the 7th day of the May 1988 tournament with victory over [[Hananoumi Ken|Hananoumi]] and continued through the July and September 1988 tournaments, ending only on the final day of the November 1988 tournament when he was defeated by [[Ōnokuni Yasushi|Ōnokuni]]. Had he won that bout, he would have been the first wrestler ever to win three consecutive tournaments with 15–0 records. Nonetheless, his winning run was the best ever in the postwar period,<ref name=NHK16/> surpassing the 45 bouts won by Taihō in 1968 and 1969. In July 1989 he took his 28th championship in a playoff from his stablemate [[Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi|Hokutoumi]], marking the first time ever that two ''yokozuna'' from the same stable had met in competition.<ref>Sharnoff, p. 62</ref> In September 1989 Chiyonofuji surpassed [[Ōshio Kenji|Ōshio]]'s record of 964 career wins<ref name=NHK16/> and became the first sumo wrestler to receive the [[People's Honour Award]] from the Japanese Prime Minister.<ref name=NHK16/> In March 1990, he secured his 1000th win. A 32nd tournament title would have tied the record set by Taihō in 1971,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/23/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-bests-legendary-taihos-record-with-33rd-carreer-championship/ |title=Hakuho bests legendary Taiho's record with 33rd career championship |work=Japan Times |date=23 January 2015 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> but his 31st championship in November 1990 proved to be his last.<ref name=record/><ref name=West/>

In the opening tournament of 1991, Chiyonofuji surpassed Kitanoumi's record of 804 top division wins but injured himself on the second day and had to withdraw. He returned in May, but he lost on the opening day of the tournament to the 18-year-old rising star and future ''yokozuna'' [[Takanohana Kōji]] (then known as Takahanada).<ref name=NHK16/> It was estimated that half of the Japanese population watched the match on TV.<ref name="channel 4"/> Coincidentally, Takahanada's father, [[Takanohana Kenshi]], had retired in 1981 shortly after losing to Chiyonofuji.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/17/sumo/muscular-chiyonofujis-career-bloomed-late/#.XdLpp-SWymQ|title=Muscular Chiyonofuji's career bloomed late|last=Gunning|first=John|date=17 November 2019|work=Japan Times|access-date=18 November 2019}}</ref> Chiyonofuji beat [[Keisuke Itai|Itai]] on the next day, but this was to be his final win. After losing another match with [[Takatōriki]] on the third day,<ref name=NHK16/> Chiyonofuji announced his own retirement, a few weeks short of his 36th birthday.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DE123CF93BA15756C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=Little Big Man Of Sumo Retires|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1991-05-28|access-date=2008-02-19 | first=James | last=Sterngold}}</ref>

==Retirement from the ring==
In September 1989<ref name=NHK16/> while Chiyonofuji was still active, the [[Japan Sumo Association]] decided to proffer the special status of ''[[toshiyori|ichidai-toshiyori]]'' (one-generation sumo-elder using his ring name as his elder name) to him,<ref>''Ichidai-toshiyori'' is offered in recognition of great achievements in sumo world. Those who attained this special status include the 48th Yokozuna Taihō and the 55th Yokozuna Kitanoumi.</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%B8%80%E4%BB%A3%E5%B9%B4%E5%AF%84 | title = 一代年寄 [ichidai-toshiyori] | work = デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen] | date = 19 April 2021 | publisher = Shogakukan | language = ja}} on the database of [http://kotobank.jp kotobank.jp]. Retrieved 14 January 2010.</ref> but he declined it because he intended to inherit another elder name.<ref name=West/> Following his retirement from the ring in May 1991, Chiyonofuji inherited the elder name of Jinmaku; then in 1992 he purchased the Kokonoe stable from Kitanofuji and the two exchanged their elder names (Jinmaku and Kokonoe).<ref name=West/><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E3%81%AE%E5%AF%8C%E5%A3%AB%E8%B2%A2 | title = 千代の富士貢 [Chiyonofuji Mitsugu] | work = デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen] | publisher = Shogakukan | language = ja}} on the database of [http://kotobank.jp kotobank.jp]. Retrieved 14 January 2010.</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%8C%97%E3%81%AE%E5%AF%8C%E5%A3%AB%E5%8B%9D%E6%98%AD | title = 北の富士勝昭 [Kitanofuji Katsuaki] | work = デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus [Great biographical dictionary of Japan (Digital enlarged edition)] | publisher = Kodansha | language = ja}} on the database of [http://kotobank.jp kotobank.jp]. Retrieved 14 January 2010.</ref> The purchase price of the stable was reported as being around 50 million yen, below the market rate for a stable.<ref name=West/> Under his leadership, the stable produced several top wrestlers including former ''ōzeki'' [[Chiyotaikai Ryūji|Chiyotaikai]], former ''komusubi'' [[Chiyotenzan]] and former ''maegashira'' [[Chiyohakuhō Daiki|Chiyohakuhō]]. At the time of his death in 2016, Kokonoe stable was one of the most successful stables in sumo in terms of quantity of ''sekitori'', with four men ([[Chiyotairyū Hidemasa|Chiyotairyū]], [[Chiyomaru]], [[Chiyonokuni]], and [[Chiyootori]]) in the top division and two ([[Chiyoshoma]] and {{ill|Chiyonoō|ja|千代ノ皇王代仁}}) in ''[[Juryo|jūryō]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sumo Beya Guide – Kokonoe Beya|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/sumo_data/sumo_beya/detail?id=kokonoe|publisher=[[Japan Sumo Association]]|access-date=12 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205020240/http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/sumo_data/sumo_beya/detail?id=kokonoe|archive-date=5 December 2013}}</ref>
He also served for some years as a ringside [[judge (sumo)|judge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/sumo.shtml |title=Sumo – Traditional Japanese Wrestling |work=Japan Zone |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref>

In February 2008, he joined the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association, where he was responsible for organising the regional tours or ''[[Sumo glossary#jungyō|jungyō]]'', but he had to resign in April 2011 after his wrestler Chiyohakuhō admitted involvement in [[Match-fixing in professional sumo|match-fixing]] and retired from sumo.<ref name=tanigawa>{{cite web|title=Sumo: Stablemaster Tanigawa, 19 wrestlers booted for match fixing |url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20110401p2g00m0dm135000c.html |publisher=Mainichi Daily News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401220217/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20110401p2g00m0dm135000c.html |archive-date=1 April 2011 |date=1 April 2011 }}</ref> He returned in the January 2012 elections as the Operations director (the second most senior position in the Association's hierarchy), but was unseated two years later. He chose not to run for a board position in the 2016 elections, citing a lack of support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/01/28/sumo/eleven-stable-masters-declare-candidacies-jsa-board/#.Vw-Kc2f2aM8|title=Eleven stable masters declare candidacies for JSA board|date=28 January 2016|publisher=Japan Times|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref>

On May 31, 2015, he marked his 60th birthday by performing the ''[[kanreki dohyō-iri]]'' at the [[Ryōgoku Kokugikan]], becoming the tenth former ''yokozuna'' to do so.<ref name="birthday">{{cite web|url=http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20150601/p2a/00m/0sp/006000c|title=Ex-yokozuna Chiyonofuji returns to sumo ring for 60th birthday ceremony|date=1 June 2015|publisher=The Mainichi|access-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424130604/http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20150601/p2a/00m/0sp/006000c|archive-date=24 April 2016}}</ref> Two active ''yokozuna'' were his attendants, with [[Hakuhō Shō|Hakuhō]]  the ''[[tachimochi]]'' and [[Harumafuji]] acting as ''[[tsuyuharai]].''<ref name="birthday"/>

==Family==
Chiyonofuji announced his engagement shortly after his fifth tournament championship in May 1982. He had a son and three daughters. His second daughter, [[Kozue Akimoto]], born in 1987, is a fashion model. His youngest daughter Ai [[sudden infant death syndrome|died at the age of four months]], shortly before the July tournament of 1989.<ref>Sharnoff, p. 95</ref>

==Death==
Chiyonofuji had surgery for [[pancreatic cancer]] in July 2015, and was noticeably weak when speaking to reporters at the Aki basho in September of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201608010042.html|title=Sumo great former yokozuna Chiyonofuji dies at age 61|date=1 August 2016|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> Having reportedly told associates that the cancer had spread to his heart and lungs, he had been hospitalized since the fourth day of the Nagoya tournament in 2016.<ref name="tributes">{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/01/sumo/sumo-wrestlers-pay-tribute-chiyonofuji/#.V59slk32Yy9|title=Sumo wrestlers pay tribute to Chiyonofuji|date=1 August 2016|publisher=Japan Times|access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> He died in Tokyo on July 31, 2016, at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/07/31/sumo/sumo-icon-chiyonofuji-dies-61/|title=Sumo icon Chiyonofuji dies at 61|date=31 July 2016|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref><ref>[http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160731-00000138-nksports-fight 元横綱千代の富士の九重親方が死去　61歳] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731103802/http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160731-00000138-nksports-fight |date=2016-07-31 }}. yahoo.co.jp (July 31, 2016)</ref> The chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, former ''yokozuna'' Hokutoumi who was a stablemate and protégé of Chiyonofuji, was too grief-stricken to speak to the press in the immediate aftermath of Chiyonofuji's death.<ref name="tributes"/> His former stablemaster, ex-''yokozuna'' Kitanofuji, said that he was "blessed with a wonderful disciple."<ref name="tributes"/>  Another former ''yokozuna'', Takanohana, who hastened Chiyonofuji's retirement by defeating him in 1991, recalled his fear of Chiyonofuji's "metal body" when training with him.<ref name="tributes"/> On August 2 the Sumo Association announced that a farewell ceremony for Chiyonofuji would be held at the entrance of the [[Ryōgoku Kokugikan]] on October 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/02/sumo/japan-sumo-association-announces-farewell-ceremony-late-legend-chiyonofuji/#.V6HvDE32Yy8|title=Japan Sumo Association announces farewell ceremony for late legend Chiyonofuji|date=2 August 2016|publisher=Japan Times|access-date=3 August 2016}}</ref>

==Fighting style==
Throughout his career, Chiyonofuji's trademark ''[[kimarite]]'' or technique was ''uwatenage'', or overarm throw.<ref name=Sankei16/> He preferred a ''migi-yotsu'', or left hand outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's ''mawashi''.<ref name=Sankei16/> His left hand outer grip was so effective that some commentators referred to it as his "death grip." ''Uwatenage'' was his second most common winning technique at ''sekitori'' level after ''yorikiri'', or force out.<ref name="sumoref">{{cite web|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_kim.aspx?r=1354|title=Chiyonofuji bouts by kimarite|publisher=Sumo Reference|access-date=2009-11-10}}</ref> He was also well known for ''tsuridashi'', or lift out. He had knowledge of a wide range of other techniques as well, employing 41 different ''kimarite'' in his career.<ref name="sumoref"/> In January 1987, he won with the very rare ''amiuchi'', or fisherman's net casting throw, and joked to the press afterwards that it was appropriate for him as he was the son of a fisherman.<ref>Sharnoff</ref> Chiyonofuji's muscular physique, athleticism and dramatic throws made him the most successful and one of the most popular wrestlers of his day.<ref name=Sankei16/>

==Career record==
{{Sumo record box start|Chiyonofuji Mitsugu<ref name=record>{{cite web | title=Chiyonofuji Mitsugu Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=1354 | access-date=2012-07-27}}</ref>
}}
{{Sumo record year start|1970}}
    {{Basho}}
    {{Basho}}
    {{Basho}}
    {{Basho}}
    {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}}
    {{Basho|JK|10|e|5|2}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
{{Sumo record year start|1971}}
    {{Basho|JO|57|e|4|3}}
    {{Basho|JO|38|w|4|3}}
    {{Basho|JO|19|w|4|3}}
    {{Basho|JO|5|w|3|4}}
    {{Basho|JO|26|w|5|2}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=SA|r-no=61|tozai=e}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
{{Sumo record year start|1972}}
    {{Basho|JO|19|w|5|2}}
    {{Basho|SA|60|w|5|2}}
    {{Basho|SA|31|e|4|3}}
    {{Basho|SA|20|w|5|2}}
    {{Basho|MA|59|e|3|4}}
    {{Basho|SA|8|e|4|3}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
{{Sumo record year start|1973}}
    {{Basho|MA|59|e|4|3}}
    {{Basho|MA|51|e|4|3}}
    {{Basho|MA|45|e|2|2|3}}
    {{Basho|SA|2|w|6|1}}
    {{Basho|MA|31|e|5|2}}
    {{Basho|MA|18|w|3|4}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
{{Sumo record year start|1974}}
    {{Basho|MA|25|w|5|2}}
    {{Basho|MA|15|e|4|3}}
    {{Basho|MA|11|e|3|4}}
    {{Basho|MA|20|e|5|2}}
    {{Basho|MA|11|e|7|0|P<br />Champion}}
    {{Basho|j|12|e|9|6}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1975}}
    {{Basho|j|4|w|6|9}}
    {{Basho|j|8|w|8|7}}
    {{Basho|j|6|w|9|6}}
    {{Basho|j|2|e|9|6}}
    {{Basho|m|12|e|5|10}}
    {{Basho|j|4|e|4|8|3}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1976}}
    {{Basho|j|13|w|4|11}}
    {{Basho|MA|7|e|5|2}}
    {{Basho|MA|1|w|4|3}}
    {{Basho|j|13|w|9|6}}
    {{Basho|j|10|e|8|7}}
    {{Basho|j|6|e|5|10}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1977}}
    {{Basho|j|11|e|8|7}}
    {{Basho|j|10|w|10|5}}
    {{Basho|j|2|e|5|10}}
    {{Basho|j|9|w|8|7}}
    {{Basho|j|7|e|10|5}}
    {{Basho|j|1|e|9|6}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1978}}
    {{Basho|m|12|e|8|7}}
    {{Basho|m|8|e|8|7}}
    {{Basho|m|5|e|9|6|||f}}
    {{Basho|k|1|w|5|10}}
    {{Basho|m|4|e|4|11}}
    {{Basho|m|10|w|9|6}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1979}}
    {{Basho|m|4|e|5|10}}
    {{Basho|m|8|w|2|6|7}}
    {{Basho|j|2|w|9|4|2}}
    {{Basho|m|14|w|8|7}}
    {{Basho|m|10|e|8|7}}
    {{Basho|m|7|e|7|8}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1980}}
    {{Basho|m|8|e|8|7}}
    {{Basho|m|3|e|8|7|||t|*|*}}
    {{Basho|k|1|w|6|9}}
    {{Basho|m|2|w|9|6|||t|*}}
    {{Basho|k|1|e|10|5|||T}}
    {{Basho|s|1|e|11|4|||t}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1981}}
    {{Basho|s|1|e|14|1|P|y|t|o}}
    {{Basho|o|1|e|11|4||j}}
    {{Basho|o|1|e|13|2||j}}
    {{Basho|o|1|E|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|yo|1|w|1|2|12}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|12|3|P|y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1982}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|12|3||j}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|13|2||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|13|2|P|y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|12|3||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|10|5}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1983}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|12|3}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|15|0||y}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=1|tozai=e}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|13|2||j}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||j}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|14|1||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1984}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|12|3||j}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|4|4|7}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|11|4||j}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=2|tozai=}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|10|5}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|14|1||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1985}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|15|0||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|11|4}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|11|4}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|15|0||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start|1986}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|13|2||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|1|2|12}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|13|2||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1|P|y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|13|2||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start link|1987}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|12|3|P|y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|11|4||j}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|10|5}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|9|2|4}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|15|0||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start link|1988}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|12|3}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=1|tozai=e}}
    {{Basho|Y|2|e|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|15|0||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|15|0||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start link|1989}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|11|4}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=1|tozai=e}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|12|3|P|y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|15|0||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|13|2||j}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start link|1990}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|14|1||y}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|10|5}}
    {{Basho|y|1|w|13|2||j}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|12|3||j}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=1|tozai=e}}
    {{Basho|y|2|e|13|2||y}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
  {{Sumo record year start link|1991}}
    {{Basho|y|1|e|2|1|12}}
    {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=2|tozai=w}}
    {{Basho|INTAI|rank=y|tozai=w|r-no=2|win=1|loss=3}}
    {{Basho}}
    {{Basho}}
    {{Basho}}
  {{Sumo record year end}}
{{Sumo record box end}}

==Honours==
*[[People's Honour Award]] (1989)
*[[Order of the Rising Sun|Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon]] (2016, posthumous)
*[[List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles|Junior Fourth Rank]] (2016, posthumous)

==See also==
*[[Glossary of sumo terms]]
*[[Kanreki dohyo-iri]]
*[[List of past sumo wrestlers]]
*[[List of sumo record holders]]
*[[List of sumo tournament top division champions]]
*[[List of sumo tournament top division runners-up]]
*[[List of yokozuna]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|title=Grand Sumo:The Living Sport and Tradition|author=Sharnoff, Lora|publisher=Weatherhill|year=1993|isbn=0-8348-0283-X}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120319234236/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/chiyonofuji.html Japan Sumo Association Biography]

{{Yokozuna box | previous = [[Mienoumi Tsuyoshi]] | number = 58th | active = 1981–1991 | next = [[Takanosato Toshihide]]}}

{{Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chiyonofuji, Mitsugu}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers]]
[[Category:Sports world record setters]]
[[Category:People's Honour Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Fukushima, Hokkaido]]
[[Category:Sumo wrestlers from Hokkaido]]
[[Category:Yokozuna]]
[[Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Japan]]
[[Category:Kokonoe stable sumo wrestlers]]