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Edutainment > Sumo Champion Wrestlers - Illustrated on Old Woodblocks
In 2007 we received a consignment of Japanese woodblock prints showing famous yokozuna (champion wrestlers of the highest rank). The prints were from around 1900 by different publishers. The artist(s) could not be identified but most of the champion wrestlers. We present Umegatani Totaro (15th Yokozuna), Konishiki Yasokichi (17th Yokozuna), and Hitachiyama Taniemon 19th Yokozuna) on old woodblock prints.
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Woodblock Prints of Famous Sumo Wrestlers
The woodblock prints were mostly not in the best of shape and we could not identify the artist(s). The attraction of these prints was more in the subject of Japanese sumo wrestling. As it turned out they showed famous yokozuna from the late 19th century. Yokozuna are grand champions of Japanese sumo wrestling, and the highest rank possible in this sport.
Another attraction of these sumo wrestler prints lies in the detailed rendering of the wrestlers' lush aprons.
By and by we could identify the yokozuna shown on the prints. Here is a collection with short descriptions of the wrestler champions.
Umegatani Totaro - 15th Yokozuna
Umegatani Totaro (1845 - 1928) was a sumo wrestler from Asakura in Fukuoka Prefecture. He was the 15th Yokozuna from 1884 until 1885.
Ukiyo-e Terms
Champion Sumo Wrestler Umegatani Totaro (middle)
copyright protected
Konishiki Yasokichi - 17th Yokozuna
This sumo print shows Konishiki Yasokichi I (1866 - 1914). He was the 17th Yokozuna from 1896 until his retirement in 1901. Konishiki wears an interesting sumo apron with a scene of rice planting.
Collecting Ukiyo-e
Konishiki Yasokichi - 17th Yokozuna
copyright protected
Hitachiyama Taniemon - 19th Yokozuna
Hitachiyama Taniemon (1874 - 1922). He was the 19th Yokozuna from 1903 until 1914. He built the golden age of sumo wrestling in the late Meiji era. Here, he shows "Dohyo-iri", the traditional ceremonial performance by the champion wrestler at the beginning of a tournament. Because of his great popularity and the respect that everybody had for him, he was nicknamed sumo saint (Kakusei).
Kunisada Utagawa - Biography
Champion Sumo Wrestler Hitachiyama
copyright protected
Kuniyoshi Utagawa - Biography
Champion Sumo Wrestler Hitachyama
copyright protected
Japanese Woodblock Prints
Champion Sumo Wrestler Hitachiyama
copyright protected
Dieter Wanczura
(August 2009)
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