Wakanohana won his first top division championship in May 1956. Shortly before the following tournament his four-year-old eldest son Katsuo was scalded to death when a boiling hot pot of chankonabe fell on him.
Wakanohana secured his inaugural championship in May 1956. A devastating incident occurred shortly prior to the next tournament, resulting in the untimely death of his four-year-old son Katsuo when he was scalded by a hot pot of chankonabe.