Tanikaze Kajinosuke became a yokozuna exactly in the year 1789, at the time that the French Revolution began.
On this day in 1795 Tanikaze Kajinosuke died. He was the first living man in history of sumo who received the title of yokozuna. Namely, this highest title was previously awarded only posthumously. The term “yokozuna” means “horizontal rope” in Japanese. Specifically, fighters with the title of yokozuna have the right to wear around their waist a ceremonial rope that signifies their rank. The symbolism of the rope is probably derived from similar ropes in Shinto shrines.
Tanikaze Kajinosuke was by his year of birth – 1750 – almost the same age as the famous Europeans like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the French king Louis XVI, who was overthrown in the French Revolution. Indeed, Tanikaze Kajinosuke became a yokozuna exactly in the year 1789, at the time the French Revolution began.
Kajinosuke was reportedly 189 cm tall and weighed 169 kg, which means he was much higher than the average Japanese of that era. During his career he, apparently, achieved as many as 258 wins, and became the champion in sumo wrestling 21 times. He was an active fighter until his death on this day at the age of 45.
