Former Sekiwake Hasegawa has passed away

[Moti Dichne]

The Kyokai announced today that former Sekiwake Hasegawa, Katsutoshi Hasegawa, died at his home at 8:40 a.m. on May 31st due to pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old. The wake and funeral were held privately with family members. Born in Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido, Hasegawa joined Sadogatake beya and made his hatsu-dohyo at the age of 15 in Haru of 1960. He was promoted to Juryo in the January basho of 1963 and to Makuuchi in the Natsu basho of 1965. His highest rank was Sekiwake. In Haru 1972, while a Sekiwake, he achieved a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, and won the yusho by defeating Kaiketsu, who was then a hiramaku rikishi, in a playoff match. Although he was not promoted to Ozeki, he served as Sekiwake for a record 21 tournaments and was called "the strongest Sekiwake in history." He earned nine kinboshi and eight sanshos (three shukun-sho, three kanto-sho, and two gino-sho). He retired during the Natsu basho of 1976 at the age of 31, assumed the name of  "Hidenoyama," and became an Oyakata  attached to Sadogatake beya. He served one two-year term as a riji of the Kyokai and retired after the Nagoya basho. in 2009.