Sumo Wrestler Hiodoshi Katsugorō

The celebrated sumo wrestler Hiodoshi Katsugorō (1773–1830) is shown dramatically stomping his legs as part of a sumo tournament’s “ring-entering” (dohyō-iri) ceremony, which is performed by only high-ranking sumo wrestlers. For this opening ceremony, Katsugorō wears a keshō-mawashi, an elaborately decorated and tasseled apron, which were very expensive and usually paid for by the wrestler’s fan club—the same people who would purchase a sumo portrait print like this.

Katsugorō, born in Hiroshima, began his career in Osaka, but moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo) in 1794. He was renowned for his stamina and performed well for the first two decades of his career, but it was not until 1813 that he was promoted to komusubi (fourth highest rank in sumo), around the time this print was commissioned. The following year, he rose rapidly in the sumo hierarchy, to sekiwake (third highest rank in sumo) and then immediately to ōzeki (second highest rank)—though he only fleetingly retained that high rank for one tournament. He ended his impressively long career—of over 28 years, including 21 in the top division—in 1822, still maintaining status as a maegashira (fifth highest rank), which is remarkable for a wrestler at any stage of his career.