Hananokuni Akihiro

{{Short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = | native_name = 花ノ国明宏 | name = Hananokuni Akihiro | birth_name = Akihiro Noguchi | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1959|10|15}} | birth_place = Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.85}} | weight = {{convert|146|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Hanakago → Hanaregoma | rank = | record = 605-593-21 | debut = March, 1975 | highestrank = Maegashira 1 (November, 1989) | retireddate = November, 1994 | yushos = 1 (Makushita) | prizes = Fighting Spirit (1) | goldstars = 1 (Hokutoumi) | update = Sep. 2012 }} '''Hananokuni Akihiro''' (born 15 October 1959 as '''Akihiro Noguchi''') is a former sumo wrestler from Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan.

==Career== He made his professional debut in March 1975, joining Hanakago stable. He joined Hanaregoma stable when Hanakago was wound up in 1985. After many years in the lower ranks he finally reached the ''makuuchi'' or top division in March 1988 at the age of 28. His best result in a tournament came in September 1988 when he won eleven bouts, defeated ''ōzeki'' Konishiki and received the Fighting Spirit Award.<ref name="giants">{{cite book|last=Patmore|first=Angela|title=The Giants of Sumo|year=1990|publisher=MacDonald & Co.|isbn=0356181200|page=99}}</ref> He defeated ''yokozuna'' Hokutoumi in September 1989 to earn his only ''kinboshi''. Chiyonofuji defeated him in March 1990 to become the first wrestler to win 1000 career bouts. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 1. His last appearance in the top division came in November 1992 and he spent the last two years of his career back in the ''jūryō'' and ''makushita'' divisions.

==Retirement from sumo== Upon his retirement in November 1994 he was unable to obtain elder stock and become a member of the Japan Sumo Association. However, he was able to remain in sumo by becoming a ''wakaimonogashira'', a kind of record keeper and odd job man which is a salaried role within the Sumo Association. He can often be seen assisting with the presentation of prizes to the ''yūshō'' winner at the conclusion of tournaments. He is attached to Shibatayama stable.

==Fighting style== Hananokuni′s favoured ''kimarite'' or techniques included ''yori taoshi'' (force out and down), ''uwatenage'' (overarm throw) and ''shitatedashinage'' (pulling inner arm throw.<ref name="giants"/> He used a ''migi yotsu'' grip on the ''mawashi'', with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent′s arms.<ref name="giants"/>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Hananokuni Akihiro<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Hananokuni Akihiro Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=1317 | date= | accessdate=2012-09-07}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start|1975}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|4|e|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|89|e|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|109|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|70|w|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1976}} {{Basho|jo|42|w|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|64|w|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|81|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|37|e|3|4}} {{Basho|jo|54|w|6|1}} {{Basho|sa|85|e|3|2|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1977}} {{Basho|jo|10|e|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|34|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|80|e|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|13|e|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|75|w|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|59|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1978}} {{Basho|sa|69|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|38|e|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|4|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|46|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|36|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|29|e|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1979}} {{Basho|ma|22|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|29|w|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|52|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|44|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|24|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|18|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1980}} {{Basho|ma|28|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|18|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|13|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|32|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1981}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|32|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|32|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1982}} {{Basho|ma|35|w|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|54|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|35|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|28|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|15|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|9|w|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1983}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|5|2}} {{Basho|j|12|w|4|11}} {{Basho|ma|8|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|5|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|w|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1984}} {{Basho|j|11|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|6|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|8|e|5|10}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|16|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1985}} {{Basho|ma|25|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|15|e|7|0<br>Champion}} {{Basho|j|13|e|7|8}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|4|3}} {{Basho|j|12|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|10|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1986}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|1|e|1|6}} {{Basho|ma|25|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|18|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|5|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1987}} {{Basho|ma|5|w|6|1|P}} {{Basho|j|12|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|7|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|4|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1988}} {{Basho|j|4|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|14|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|9|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|9|w|11|4|||f}} {{Basho|m|2|w|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1989}} {{Basho|m|5|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|4|e|8|7|||*}} {{Basho|m|1|e|4|11}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1990}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|11|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|3|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1991}} {{Basho|m|8|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|10|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|6|w|1|2|12}} {{Basho|j|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|1|w|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1992}} {{Basho|j|4|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|16|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|3|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|16|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|15|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1993}} {{Basho|j|6|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|8|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|6|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|4|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|9|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|12|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1994}} {{Basho|j|7|w|2|6|7}} {{Basho|ma|10|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|5|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|w|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|15|w|1|6}} {{Basho|INTAI|win=|loss=}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hananokuni, Akihiro}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Sumo wrestlers from Osaka Prefecture Category:People from Fujiidera, Osaka Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen