Dewanohana Kuniichi

Dewanohana Kuniichi (出羽ノ花國市) real name Kuniichi Ichikawa (國一市川), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Komatsu, Ishikawa (Japan). His highest rank was maegashira 1. After retiring from active competition in 1940, he took on a position as coach at Dewanoumi stable, later ascending to head coach from 1960 to 1968 following the death of Tsunenohana. He then was elected chairman (rijichō) of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Musashigawa from 1968 to 1974. Unlike most of his contemporaries, he had a business education background.

Dewanoumi succession turmoil
Dewanohana became head coach at his stable because he was considered old enough for the responsibility, in contrast to recently retired yokozuna Chiyonoyama who also sought the title. In 1965, Dewanohana's daughter married active yokozuna Sadanoyama, with the avowed objective of the latter inheriting the Dewanoumi stable following the conclusion of his career. This practice was common in the world of sumo, since kabu were traditionally inherited within the same family or between an apprentice and his master.

However, it also denied Chiyonoyama the opportunity to inherit the Dewanoumi name, as he had expected it being a senior yokozuna and coach (under the name Kokonoe) at the stable. Sadanoyama being formally recognized as heir in 1967 created a turmoil which resulted in Chiyonoyama resolving to break away from the Dewanoumi stable to found the Kokonoe stable with 10 wrestlers (including then ōzeki Kitanofuji). Due to this founding breaking the unwritten rule of not allowing oyakata independence from the stable (dating back to Hitachiyama), Dewanohana after a long debate permitted the creation and expelled Chiyonoyama from the Dewanoumi ichimon.

Japan sumo association chairmanship
Having handed over the Dewanoumi kabu and stable to his freshly retired son-in-law Sadanoyama in March 1968, Dewanohana, now under the name of Musashigawa, was elected rijichō following the sudden death of the previous Association head Tokitsukaze (former yokozuna Futabayama) in December of the same year. His presidency was marked by several attempts to modernize Sumo, including the introduction of video refereeing (1969) or the renovation of Kuramae Kokugikan (1971). As of 2023 he remains the only former wrestler to ascend to the chairmanship of the modern Japan Sumo Association without having reached at least the rank of ōzeki as an active competitor.

Later life and death
Approaching his mandatory retirement at 65 years of age, Musashigawa was succeeded as chairman by Kasugano (former yokozuna Tochinishiki) in February 1974, although he exceptionally remained a member of the Association to serve as an advisor after his 65th birthday, continuing to use the Musashigawa name. In January 1976 he retired from the Association to become director of the Sumo Museum under his civilian name Kuniichi Ichikawa, a position he held for the rest of his life.

Ichikawa's achievements in serving professional sumo were recognized with the Medal of Honor (Blue Ribbon) in 1970, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Third Class) in 1979.

Ichikawa died on May 30, 1987, at the age of 78. After his death, the Japan Sumo Association held an official Association funeral on June 2 to honor his achievements. Posthumously he was bestowed with the senior fifth rank in the Japanese court rank system.

Career record

 * In 1927 Tokyo and Osaka sumo merged and four tournaments a year in Tokyo and other locations began to be held.