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Futabayama Sadaji (双葉山 定次; February 9, 1912 – December 16, 1968), born as Akiyoshi Sadaji (龝吉 定次) in Oita Prefecture, Japan, was the 35th ''yokozuna'' in sumo wrestling, from 1937 until 1945. He won twelve ''yūshō'' or top division championships and had a winning streak of 69 consecutive bouts, an all-time record. Despite his dominance he was extremely popular with the public. After his retirement he was head coach of Tokitsukaze stable and chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. ==Career== Born in Usa, he worked on fishing boats as young boy. He joined professional sumo in March 1927 at the age of 15, recruited by Tatsunami stable. He entered the top ''makuuchi'' division at the beginning of 1932. He was promoted from the middle of the second ''jūryō'' division to ''maegashira'' 4, as many top division wrestlers had just gone on strike (the so-called "Shunjūen Incident"), and the Japan Sumo Association needed to fill the gaps in the ranks.〔 However, he soon proved himself worthy of the promotion, finishing as runner-up in his second top division tournament. Futabayama is particularly remembered for achieving the longest run of consecutive victories in sumo bouts, with 69, a record that still stands today. This represents an unbeaten run which stretched over three years. In a sport where matches often last a few seconds, and a brief lapse in concentration can lead to a loss, this is an exceptional achievement. It began on January 7, 1936 at the rank of ''sekiwake''. During this run he was promoted to ''ōzeki'' and then ''yokozuna''. It generated such excitement among the public that the Sumo Association extended the number of days per tournament from 11 to 13, and then to 15. He was finally defeated on January 3, 1939 by ''maegashira'' Akinoumi (later a ''yokozuna'' himself).〔 He lost more to illness than to a superior opponent, as he was suffering from amoebic dysentery at the time. Futabayama won a total of twelve tournament championships, during a period in which there were only two tournaments held each year. His total remained a record until the number of tournaments was increased to six a year in the 1950s. However, the percentage of championships won in his ''makuuchi'' career still compares favorably to the wrestlers who have surpassed his total in the six tournament a year era.〔 Futabayama was noted for being exceptionally good at the initial phase of a sumo match, the ''tachi-ai''. He is believed to have never made a false start.〔 Although he was not particularly large, he had excellent balance. One of his most feared techniques was ''uwatenage'',〔(Futabayama, Sadaji | Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures )〕 or outer arm throw (also a favourite of another great ''yokozuna'', Chiyonofuji). After his retirement Futabayama revealed he was actually blind in one eye, due to an injury suffered in his youth, making his achievements even more remarkable.〔 He was one of the first top wrestlers to break away from the tradition of marrying his stablemaster's daughter, instead choosing a young heiress from a rich Kansai family. Their reception was held in April 1939 at the Tokyo Kaikan. (His coach's daughter married Haguroyama instead.)〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Futabayama Sadaji」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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