Ōtori Tanigorō

was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Inzai, Chiba Prefecture. He was the sport's 24th yokozuna.

Career Early life and career His real name was . Son to a former professional sumo wrestler, he however had to appeal to his father to become a sumo wrestler. He joined Miyagino stable because the head coach of that time (former ōzeki Hōō) was also from Chiba Prefecture. Takita Akira made his debut in the jonokuchi division in May 1903, with his shikona name spelled . In May 1908, he was given the former ring name of his master. He quickly gained popularity because of his style and his famed beauty, calling back yokozuna Futabayama.

Makuuchi career At the time of his makuuchi debut in 1909, he was one of the last rikishi to compete in the Ekō-in temple before the opening of the old Ryōgoku Kokugikan. During his first makuuchi tournament he was surprisingly paired against ōzeki Komagatake but managed to score a surprise victory. Ōtori won his first tournament championship in his debut tournament at the rank of ōzeki in January 1913. He was undefeated in that tournament, recording seven wins, one draw and one no decision. His second championship in January 1915, which he took with ten straight wins, saw him promoted to yokozuna. His promotion was subject to debate within the Japan Sumo Association as the Yoshida family refused him the promotion, arguing it was premature and that the promotion should be put on hold for one more tournament, but the Association pushed through, and Ōtori was given a yokozuna license. However, due to injuries to his legs and diabetes, his record at sumo's highest rank was very patchy and he did not manage to win any further championships. He was the first yokozuna in history to lose all of his matches in a single tournament. On February 16, 2014, a one meter high cenotaph was erected and an official ceremony was held to honor him in his hometown temple of the Chokaru-ji, Inzai. His remains were still in the Takita family vault at the Enju-ji temple in Yanaka, Tokyo.

A number of Japanese public figures can today trace a family link with Ōtori, including Japanese actor , who is his elder brother's grandson, and Japanese baseball player , who is his great-grandson.

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