Koji Kitao, Ex-Yokozuna Futahaguro, Dies at 55

March 30, 2019

Tokyo- Koji Kitao, who was a yokozuna sumo grand champion with his ring name Futahaguro, died of chronic kidney failure on Feb. 10, it was learned Friday. He was 55.

A native of Tsu, the capital of Mie Prefecture, central Japan, Kitao, who belonged to Tatsunami stable, made his professional sumo debut in the spring grand tournament of March 1979, when he graduated from junior high school.

After debuting in the makuuchi top division in the autumn tournament of September 1984, he was promoted to the second-highest rank of ozeki after the Kyushu tournament of November 1985.

He became yokozuna after the Nagoya tournament of July 1986 at the age of 22, although he had never won a makuuchi tournament. It was very rare for a sumo wrestler without a tournament victory to be elevated to the highest rank.

His rise to yokozuna was decided on the back of his great potential as a sumo wrestler even though some argued that the promotion was too early.

In line with the promotion, he changed his ring name from Kitao to Futahaguro.

The new ring name derived from two famed yokozunas from Tatsunami stable--Futabayama and Haguroyama, who were in the rank between the 1930s and the 1940s, and between the 1940s and the 1950s, respectively. It was proposed by then Japan Sumo Association chief Kasugano.

Despite strong expectations for his success as yokozuna, Futahaguro was effectively forced out of the professional sumo world after having trouble with his stablemaster and the stablemaster's wife in 1987.

During his professional career, he won 348 bouts and lost 184 with 24 absences. He ended up without a tournament victory in makuuchi.

After retirement, he called himself a sports adventurer and later was active in the world of martial arts. He also temporarily served as adviser for Tatsunami stable. Jiji Press