Akitsukaze Otoemon

was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sannohe, Mutsu Province (now in Aomori Prefecture). His highest rank was ōzeki. He is the second wrestler from Aomori Prefecture to have been promoted to this rank, since Kashiwado in 1815, 19 years earlier, and the last until the promotion of Ichinoya in 1889, 55 years later.

Career Akitsukaze was an employee of the lord of Hachinohe. He made his wrestling debut in 1818, first joining and then breaching off to join Yotsugamine stable under the tutelage of former ōzeki Yotsugamine, who was also wrestling for Nishonoseki stable. He began to wrestle directly in the jūryō division under the shikona, or ring name. He rose rapidly, reaching the ranks of san'yaku for the October 1824 tournament, after a good performance in the first tournament of that year, having been beaten in score only by the championship winner: Ōnomatsu (then known as Koyanagi). He briefly changed his ring name to then to Akitsukaze in 1828, an archaic word to evoke a dragonfly, an animal renowned for always moving forward and synonymous with good omens in sumo wrestling. In 1826, he obtained the patronage of the Hachinohe Domain, henceforth wrestling under their influence. Throughout his career he maintained a good score against Kashiwado when the latter was a dominant wrestler, even recording two consecutive victories over him in 1823 and 1824. Akitsukaze competed in that last tournament and retired at the end of it, probably due to his age as he was already 36 years old at the time.

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 above championships that are labelled "unofficial" are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.