'' Akinoumi made his professional debut in February 1932 and reached the top
makuuchi division in January 1938. He was the man who ended
Futabayama's record 69 bout winning streak in January 1939. As he was only ranked as a
maegashira at the time, it was regarded as an enormous upset. He defeated the
yokozuna by
sotogake, an outer leg trip. He had practiced this technique in training with
Komanosato, who had been Futabayama's 69th and final defeated opponent. He was overwhelmed by his achievement, but was told by his stablemaster, "Become a rikishi not to be praised when he wins but to cause an uproar when he loses." His only top division championship came in May 1940 when he was ranked as a
sekiwake. At the time of his promotion to
ōzeki in 1941, he was the first wrestler from Hiroshima Prefecture to be promoted at this rank since
Hiodoshi Katsugorō in 1814, 127 years earlier. Akinoumi earned promotion to
yokozuna in May 1942 after two runner-up performances of 13 wins against two losses. He was promoted simultaneously with
Terukuni. Akinoumi was not a particularly successful
yokozuna, lasting only eight tournaments at the rank and not managing to win any further championships. He is arguably better remembered for his victory over Futabayama than his exploits as a grand champion. ==Retirement from sumo==