1921 (Taisho 10) Wednesday, October 19 KAMIKAZE Shoichi, a sumo commentator, was born in Sambommatsu-cho, Okawa-gun, Kagawa Prefecture (present-day Higashikagawa City). His real name was Shoichi Akazawa. Since my elementary school days, I have been so healthy that I was selected as one of the healthiest children by the Asahi Shimbun. Yokozuna Tamanishiki, who learned of the boy’s existence through newspaper reports, came to solicit him and entered Nishonoseki stable.
In 1937 (Showa 12), he graduated from Tokyo Municipal Ueno Junior High School (now Tokyo Municipal Ueno High School) under the old system and debuted in the May tournament. 1942 (Showa 17): He joined the Shogunate at the January Tournament. He was promoted to sekiwake, but retired after the January tournament 25 in 1950.
When NHK TV broadcast of the Grand Sumo Tournament started in May 1953 (Showa 28), he joined Tama no Umi Umekichi as a sumo commentator. His unique narration became popular and contributed to the sumo boom in the Showa period. He served as a sumo commentator for 33 years until the March Grand Sumo Tournament in 1986 (Showa 61).
He died of pneumonia on May 15, 1990 at the age of 68.
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