Dewanohana Kuniichi

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, which he had expected, as he was a senior yokozuna and a coach (under the name Kokonoe) at the stable. Sadanoyama being formally recognized as heir in 1967 created turmoil, resulting in Chiyonoyama resolving to break away from the Dewanoumi stable to found the Kokonoe stable with 10 wrestlers (including then ōzeki Kitanofuji). Because this founding broke the unwritten rule prohibiting oyakata independence from their stable (dating back to Hitachiyama), Dewanohana, after a long debate, permitted the creation of the new stable but 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.

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.