Ayasegawa Sanzaemon

Ayasegawa Sanzaemon (綾瀬川 山左エ門) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Higashinari, Settsu Province (now part of Osaka in the eponymous prefecture). His highest rank was ōzeki. He is the first wrestler from Osaka Prefecture to have been promoted at this rank in sumo history, and the only one until Ōnishiki's promotion in 1916, 44 years later.

Career
Little is known about Ayasegawa's origins. Although his birthplace is generally associated with Higashinari, Settsu Province, it is sometimes mentioned that he was actually born in Nakashima, Owari. He began his wrestling career by joining the Osaka-based sumo association and joined the Minato stable, under the tutelage of yokozuna Shiranui Dakuemon. Eventually, he left Osaka in the first year of the Bunkyū era to join the Edo-based association and was recruited into Hidenoyama stable, now being trained by the eponymous yokozuna and being stablemate with Jinmaku. In 1866, while still in makushita, he received a patronage proposal from the Himeji Domain and was given the shikona, or ring name, Aioi Matsugorō (相生 松五郎). After going undefeated in the first jūryō tournament of 1868, Ayasegawa was promoted to sumo's top division, makuuchi. At the time, the second makuuchi tournament of 1868 wasd the first held in the Meiji era, making Ayasegawa the first wrestler promoted to makuuchi of this era. Ayasegawa progressed rapidly, even winning the equivalent of a tournament in 1871. However, as the yūshō system wasn't invented until 1909, this championship victory is today considered unofficial. Between 1870 and 1872, he recorded the equivalent of 27 consecutive victories. He quickly became popular with the public for his sharp appearance and jinku folk-songs were written in his name.

During the abolition of the han system, Ayasegawa found himself without a patron but swore with Takasago Uragorō (then still known under the shikona "Takamiyama") to no longer compete with other patrons. Nevertheless, Ayasegawa was recruited by the Yamauchi clan and Yamauchi Toyoshige, the clan lord, gave him his definitive shikona of Ayasegawa Sanzaemon (綾瀬川 山左エ門). Because of this act of betrayal, Takamiyama attacked Ayasegawa's property, demanding compensation. The conflict was eventually settled by the mediation of other wrestlers, and Takamiyama, as a reward for his loyalty to the Sakai clan, was given his historic name of "Takasago".

In 1876, he announced his retirement and decided not to remain with the association as an elder. Instead, he opened an inn in the Kakigaracho district of Chūō, Tokyo. In 1877, he moved back to Osaka, but died the same year, on March 8, 1877. His tomb is located on the grounds of Isshin-ji temple in Osaka.

A number of personalities can trace their roots to Ayasegawa, including actor and newspaper reporter, his second son, and actress Sumiko Kurishima, his granddaughter.

Top division record

 * The actual time the tournaments were held during the year in this period often varied.

''*Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament, and the unofficial championships above are historically conferred. For more information, see yūshō.''