Umegatani Tōtarō I

was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from the town of Haki, Chikuzen Province, now Shiwa, Fukuoka Prefecture. He was the sport's 15th yokozuna. He was generally regarded as the strongest wrestler to emerge since the era of Tanikaze and Raiden.

Career His real name was . A myth attributes to him the great consumption of sake instead of mother's milk. From around the age of 12, he attended a temple school and began to wrestle, and by the time he was 16, he was known as "Chikuzen Muteki" (筑前無敵, 'invincible'). There, he was recruited into Tamagaki stable. He achieved a winning average of 95.1, the highest record among yokozuna, though could not surpass ōzeki Raiden. After his retirement, he served for a long time as a director in the Tokyo Sumo Association under the elder name of Ikazuchi. During his coaching career, he raised yokozuna Umegatani Tōtarō II, who later became his son-in-law. He helped to raise funds for the building of the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan stadium in 1909. It is said that when asked by a potential backer what he had in the way of collateral, simply showing his muscles was enough to clinch the deal. When Umegatani II retired during the June 1915 tournament, Umegatani I transmitted his stable and his elder name to him. The Association however gave him the honorary title "Ōrai" (大雷, 'Great Thunderbolt') and treated him as an advisor.

Top division record The actual time the tournaments were held during the year in this period often varied. The spring tournament recorded for 1878 was actually held in December of the previous year. Championships for the best record in a tournament were not recognized or awarded before the 1909 summer tournament and the above unofficial championships are historically conferred. For more information see yūshō.