About this work
During Iōuzan Moriemon’s wrestling career, which spanned November 1839 to March 1860, he reached the second-highest rank of Ozeki. In the adjoining tournament print, he is in the group of wrestlers to the left of the ring, back row, third from the right. In sumo archives he is reputed to have enjoyed drinking sake before his bouts, striking dramatic poses, behaving eccentrically in the ring and then often going on to lose to his opponent.