Katsukawa Shun’ei. The Sumo Bout between Yotsuguruma (right) and Yamaoroshi (left).

Date: 1800 or 1805/06.

Similar sheet can be found at Edo Tokyo Museum.

Size: Vertical Ōban.

Sumo wrestler Yotsuguruma Daihachi (1772 – 1809) first appeared in the records of national tournaments in winter of 1794. Then he lost 3 matches and won zero. He first won in the spring tournament of 1797 in a match against maegashira (the fifth-highest rank of sumo wrestlers) named Kougamine.

Yamaoroshi Gengo (born 1762) came in at the winter tournament of 1799 . He was much more successful in his career than Yotsuguruma, but he had never won a tournament. It was the time of great Raiden, who won most of them. In the spring tournament of 1800 Yotsuguruma and Yamaoroshi fought against each other for the first time. Yotsuguruma lost.

The next time they met on the ring was at the winter tournament of 1805, and again in 1806. Both matches were won by Yamaoroshi.

Yamaoroshi retired in 1809; Yotsuguruma died in 1809.