Wakanohana Kanji II

was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ōwani, Aomori. He was the sport's 56th yokozuna. He was popular with sumo fans and was well-known for his rivalry with Kitanoumi. After retirement, he became the head coach of Magaki stable. Due to poor health, he left the Japan Sumo Association in December 2013. He died of lung cancer in July 2022 at the age of 69.

Early career Born as in Aomori Prefecture on 3 April 1953, He joined Futagoyama stable at the same time as another future yokozuna, Takanosato, who came from the same area of Japan.

Wakanohana had reached sumo's top rank at the age of just 25, and his good looks and exciting fighting style meant he was popular with sumo fans in comparison to his rival yokozuna Kitanoumi.

In May 2008 it emerged that he had beaten one of his wrestlers with a bamboo stick. Although such rough treatment of juniors was not uncommon at sumo stables in the past, since the death of trainee Takashi Saito at the Tokitsukaze stable in 2007 coaches have been instructed to cut out the practice. The Sumo Association reprimanded him by giving him a 30% pay cut for three months. Kokonoe-oyakata the former Chiyonofuji and head of the Sumo Association's public relations division, criticised Magaki for initially attempting to justify his actions, saying "In addition to his excessive punishment of the wrestler, he invited misunderstanding that such actions are common in all stables."

In August 2008 he resigned from the board of directors after the top ranking wrestler at Magaki stable, maegashira Wakanohō, was expelled from sumo after being arrested for possession of cannabis. He was, however, repromoted in February 2009.

Along with five other oyakata (Ōtake, Ōnomatsu, Otowayama, Tokiwayama and Futagoyama), he was forced to leave the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables in January 2010 after declaring his support for Takanohana's unsanctioned bid to be elected to the board of directors of the Sumo Association.

Due to his poor health, Magaki stable was wound up after the March 2013 honbasho and he, along with the remaining wrestlers transferred to Isegahama stable (2007). In December 2013 it was announced that he would leave the Sumo Association, five years before the mandatory retirement age of 65. Out of favour with the sumo establishment, he made an appearance on the former Takatoriki's controversial YouTube channel in 2020.

Fighting style Wakanohana was well known for his flexible body and balance, and his powerful right arm throw, uwatenage, which he officially used 102 times in competition.

Career record