Unsolved Riddle
Despite his dominance, he never was promoted to Yokozuna, the highest title in sumo. The reason remains a mystery in the history of sumo.
According to Masahiko Nomi's theory, 19th Yoshida Oikaze granted yokozuna licences to only two wrestlers, Tanikaze and Onogawa, and did not intend to honour any in the future, but the 20th Yoshida Oikaze attempted to defeat the Gojo family, which wanted to promote Kashiwado and Tamagaki to yokozuna, by awarding a yokozuna licence to Ōnomatsu Midorinosuke later. Ōnomatsu was the first new yokozuna in 30 years.
Another theory suggested that the reason for this can be found in the family history of his sponsor, Daimyo Matsudaira Harusato, who was a descendant of Yūki Hideyasu, a son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. On the other hand, the Yoshida family, who held the privilege of awarding the Yokozuna license, supported the Hosokawa clan, who had a history of supporting Ishida Mitsunari.
The Yokozuna rank did not count as an official rank on the banzuke until the beginning of the 20th century. In spite of his never having been officially promoted, Raiden's name has been added as "peerless rikishi" in the yokozuna memorial monument at the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, Tokyo, in 1900.
Read more about this topic: Raiden Tameemon
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