TBDX______VERSION003FIGHTERS__VERSION021RRS_______VERSION006HISTORY___VERSION010&MaruyamaGondazaemonƚ;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maruyama_Gondazaemon zDzDn  @@CCSendai Domainm>JapanMaruyama Gondazaemon December 23, 1713, Miyagi province - November 14, 1749) was a sumo wrestler. He is officially recognised as the third yokozuna (grand champion). His real name was Haga Gindayu. He came from a village in the Sendai Domain. He went to Edo at the age of just 17, being trained by Nanatsumori Oriemon. His height was 197cm and his weight was 166kg. He left Edo to fight in Osaka sumo. In Osaka, he was debuted at west ozeki in 1737. According to tradition, he lost only two bouts in his career. He is considered to have been a strong wrestler but it hasn't been proven that he was awarded a yokozuna license. In honor of him, the house of Yoshida Tsukasa allowed him to be their disciple in August 1749 but this did not confer him the status of yokozuna. However, there are tales told that he wore a black-and-white rope. Though it wasn't a traditional shimenawa, Masahiko Nomi conjectured that it may have been related to the shimenawa. He died in Nagasaki while an active sumo wrestler on November 14, 1749 possibly from dysentery. His grave lies in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture. A statue of him stands in Yoneyama, Tome, Miyagi Prefecture. Source: Wikipedia&BKBCS Mund=E@@AAAAA dRoyal Explorers ClubFar East