Here is how our last tournament debutants did:
Mukaida, debuting in makushita under the shikona Awanoumi (淡の海)—with “Awa” taken from his
hometown of Awaji—struggled at the higher level. He finished 2–5, with wins only over lower
makushita and upper sandanme opponents. A return to sandanme next tournament should place
him in a more comfortable competitive range.
Buckchuluun, now competing as Wakanofuji (和歌ノ富士)—taking “Waka” from his shishō
Tochinowaka—largely met expectations. The former university champion posted an excellent 6–1
record. His lone loss came on Day 7 against sandanme Tsurubayashi, but otherwise he dispatched
experienced makushita journeymen and mid‑tier prospects. A mid‑makushita rank next tournament
should better clarify his short‑term ceiling.
Kaki turned in a strong showing at Makushita 21, finishing 5–2 and positioning himself squarely in
the promotion zone. His wins included former collegiate wrestlers Shiroma and Osanai, as well as
former sandanme tsukedashi Ikarigata, demonstrating that he can compete effectively at this level.
Rakanji avoided bow‑twirling duties this tournament due to Hōshōryū being the highest‑ranked
active yokozuna, placing that role with Tatsunami stable. Unfortunately, an early injury derailed his
campaign, and he finished 1–3–3. He did manage a win over fellow rookie Awanoumi but lost to
Wakanofuji. His climb through makushita will have to restart next tournament.
Sōma ended at 3–4 and is likely to sit near the makushita/sandanme boundary next time out. He
defeated Daihishō but struggled against former collegiate wrestlers Shimizuumi and Asashiyū, as
well as makushita veterans Sadanohikari and Kaigō. This next rank should be a useful proving
ground as he looks to stabilize his form.
Seiyū rebounded well after a 1–3 start, finishing with a winning record. His victories over
Nihonyanagi, Kirinryū, and former sekitori Tsushimanada and Yago underline that he belongs at the
makushita level and should take confidence from this performance.
Yumenofuji also recovered from an 0–3 start to secure a winning record. His wins mostly came
against lower makushita and upper sandanme opposition, confirming basic competence at this tier,
though further development will likely be needed for upward movement.
Uzumasa, just 17 years old, recorded a winning record in makushita against notably tougher
opposition. His victories included Anhibiki (former sandanme tsukedashi qualifier), Gōseizan (former
high‑school standout), Daimasakari (former sandanme champion), and Chiyodaigo. His losses
came against more experienced opponents such as Shimizuumi, Fukai, and Tosamidori. Compared
to Yumenofuji, Uzumasa clearly faced—and defeated—higher‑caliber competition, making his
performance particularly encouraging.
Agōra (安強羅)
Stable: Ajigawa
Age: 26
Height (cm/feet-inches): 185 / 6’0”
Weight (kg/lbs): 160 / 353
Home prefecture: Gifu
High School: Tōnō High School
University: Nagoya University of Economics
Career Record and notes: 65-59-2 (.524)
Debut: Hatsu 2023
Notes: None
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Very Unlikely
Agōra was born in Gifu Japan, to parents who are both Brazilian nationals. His father is of Japanese and Brazilian descent, while his mother has French and Italian roots. Agōra acquired his Japanese citizenship prior to entering sumo. Rather than coming up through the traditional amateur sumo system, he initially focused on rugby, joining the Nagoya Economics University rugby team as a forward. In rugby, he learned strength, balance, and body positioning.
While at university, he was introduced by an acquaintance to Ajigawa-oyakata (former Aminishiki). With encouragement from the stablemaster and his mother, he made a rather unusual decision for such a late age to pursue a career in sumo. However, his university did not have an established sumo program. Thus, to meet eligibility requirements for experienced amateurs, Agōra founded a sumo club during his senior year while training with Aichi Gakuin University’s sumo club. This allowed him to compete in events such as the West Japan intercollegiate open-weight event and the All-Japan Amateur Championships, clearing the pathway for his entry into professional sumo.
He initially competed under his family name – Iima (which sounds like the Japanese word, Ima (今) – meaning “now” or “the present time”). To reflect both his Brazilian heritage, and to incorporate the “A/安” character associated with his stable and stablemaster, he chose the shikona “Agōra”. Agora is the Portuguese word meaning “now”. So he has a very meaningful shikona.
Since turning professional, he has progressed steadily and slowly though the lower divisions. He earns his promotion to Makushita following strong 6-1 record at Sandanme 41. He had previously reached Sandanme 8 before consecutive 1-6 records sent him into Jonidan. This career path reflects his challenges of his late start and his gradual technical development. Agōra is primarily a yotsu-sumo wrestler, preferring belt engagement and forward pressure. His most frequent winning technique is yorikiri (force out), reflecting his background in rugby.
Okada (岡田)
Stable: Takadagawa
Age: 23
Height (cm/feet-inches): 172 / 5’7”
Weight (kg/lbs): 162 / 357
Home country: Shimane
High School: Ikuei High School (Kobe)
University: Tōkai University
Career Record and notes: 33-15-1 (.688)
Debut: 2024 Kyushu
Notes: None
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Unlikely
Okada was born in Shimane Prefecture. He began practicing judo at the age of five and developed as a heavyweight competitor through his school years. During junior high school, he placed fifth in the +90 kg division at a national‑level junior‑high tournament, while his school team advanced to the round of 16 in the boys’ team competition.
Okada later attended Tokai University, enrolling in the Faculty of Physical Education (Martial Arts Department) and joining the university’s highly regarded men’s judo club. Competing in the +100 kg class, he appeared regularly in national‑level collegiate tournaments. His best result came at the 2022 Tokyo Student Judo Weight‑Class Championships, where he finished third in the over‑100 kg division.
In October 2024, Okada announced his decision to enter professional sumo by joining Takadagawa stable, becoming the first member of Tokai University’s judo club to transition into professional sumo. His move was influenced by Aaron Wolf, the Olympic gold‑medalist judoka and senior alumnus of the same judo club. Through training visits arranged in connection with Wolf’s YouTube and keiko sessions, Okada was introduced to life and training at the stable.
Reflecting on his decision, Okada explained that he often struggled in judo because he was slow to execute techniques, sometimes losing by penalties or marginal decisions. By contrast, he found sumo appealing because matches are decided quickly and clearly, a competitive environment he felt better suited his strengths. He also noted that he had long watched sumo with his grandfather, and that experiencing the sport firsthand during repeated training visits convinced him to pursue it seriously, with the goal of eventually reaching the top division.
Competing under his family name, Okada has established himself as an oshi‑sumo wrestler, favoring aggressive forward pressure and pushing attacks rather than extended belt battles. His early success has come primarily through oshidashi (push out), with hatakikomi (slap down) also featuring among his common winning techniques—an approach consistent with his judo background.
Gōhakuun (豪白雲)
Stable: Takekuma
Age: 20
Height (cm/feet-inches): 173 / 5’8”
Weight (kg/lbs): 136 / 298
Home prefecture: Hyōgo
High School: Saitama Sakae
University: —
Career Record and notes: 72-58-3 (.554)
Debut: 2022 Kyushu
Notes: None
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Very Unlikely
Gōhakuun is an alumnus of Saitama Sakae High School, one of Japan’s premier high‑school sumo programs and a prolific producer of sekitori, including his stablemaster, former ōzeki Gōeidō. Like many wrestlers at Takekuma stable, his shikona begins with the character “Gō” (豪), reflecting the stable’s naming convention in deference to its founder and coach. Gōhakuun is from Hyōgo Prefecture and the latter part of his shikona, “White Cloud” (白雲), echoes a local place name and hot‑spring area in his home region.
Before high school, he developed as a sumo wrestler at Hamasaka Junior High School, where he was coached by Tatsuya Yamada, the twin brother of Michinori Yamada, the long‑time head coach of Saitama Sakae High School. This background helped pave his path into the powerhouse program. At Saitama Sakae, Gōhakuun competed as a member of the school’s sumo club and was part of the 2022 team that finished runner‑up at the National High School Sumo Championships. Individually, he also achieved success at the regional level, placing second in the 115‑kg division at the Kantō High School Sumo Championships. In his third year of high school, Gōhakuun chose to turn professional rather than pursue a university career, explaining that he wanted to “go pro and see how far I could go.”
He rose quickly to Sandanme 29 before getting a make-koshi. After almost two years in sumo, he reached his career high rank of Sandanme 7 before a few winless tournaments helped him settle into the middle of the sandanme division. He is coming off of three consecutive kachi-koshi to gain promotion to Makushita. Stylistically, Gōhakuun favors a yotsu‑sumo–oriented approach, seeking inside grips and sustained belt contact rather than immediate pushing exchanges. His most frequent winning technique is yorikiri (frontal force out), followed by oshidashi (push out) and yoritaoshi (frontal force down).
Yabugasaki (藪ヶ﨑)
Stable: Yamahibiki
Age: 19
Height (cm/feet-inches): 180 / 5’10”
Weight (kg/lbs): 168 / 369
Home prefecture: Hyōgo
High School: Minoshima High School
University: – –
Career Record and notes: 22-6
Debut: 2025 Natsu
Notes: No make-koshi in his career to date. Brother is Hakuōnada.
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Unlikely
Yabugasaki is a young and rapidly rising rikishi, also from Hyōgo Prefecture, a region that has long supplied Yamahibiki stable with technically polished lower‑division talent. He entered sumo with a solid amateur background. Yabugasaki entered professional sumo with a solid amateur background. As a child, he began training at Kamehama Dōjō, where he showed early promise. In 2015, he won the individual third‑grade division at the 6th Maido Osaka Sumo Tournament. He continued his development at Minoshima High School, where he was a regular member of the school’s sumo team. Individually, he competed in Inter‑High qualifying events, and as part of the Minoshima squad, he contributed to a top‑eight finish at the national Inter‑High championships.
Turning professional in May 2025, he joined his older brother Hakuōnada (白旺灘) at Yamahibiki stable. Like his brother, they have wrestled under their family name to start. From his very first basho, Yabugasaki made an immediate impact. He posted winning records in each of his first four professional tournaments, including three consecutive 6–1 performances, carrying him from jonokuchi through jonidan and rapidly into sandanme. By January 2026, he had already reached West Sandanme 5, an unusually fast ascent for a teenage rikishi and notably quicker than his older brother’s progression through the banzuke.
Physically, Yabugasaki already possesses the frame of a classic oshi‑specialist: at 180 cm and nearly 168 kg, he combines mass with forward momentum. Unsurprisingly, his sumo is built primarily around pushing and thrusting attacks, with oshidashi (push out) accounting for the largest share of his victories, followed by okuridashi (rear push out). He remains very much a work in progress, but his early results already mark him as one of Yamahibiki stable’s most promising recent recruits.
Ryūhō (竜鳳)
Stable: Otowayama
Age: 18
Height (cm/feet-inches): 175 / 5’8”
Weight (kg/lbs): 150 / 329
Home prefecture: Kyōtō
High School: Tottori Johoku High School
University: – –
Career Record and notes: 19-2 (.905)
Debut: 2025 Nagoya
Notes: Jonidan Yūshō – Kyushu 2025. No make-koshi yet in his career.
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Likely
Ryūhō hails from Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, and his path to sumo was shaped as much by imagination as by physical talent. In early childhood, he was deeply influenced by his grandfather’s love of historical period dramas, developing a powerful admiration for samurai and warriors—an image of disciplined strength that would later resonate strongly with sumo. His father, who had played baseball at the corporate (industrial league) level, initially encouraged his energetic and mischievous eldest son to pursue baseball. However, Nishimura himself gravitated naturally toward combat sports, particularly sumo and judo. Beginning in the first grade, he attended the Kyoto Sumo Training School, and by the third grade, he had also taken up judo at a local dojo.
His judo talent proved exceptional. Recognized early on, he transferred to the prestigious Ōishi Dōjō in Aichi Prefecture, committing to a punishing routine that involved a three‑hour round trip from home. The effort paid off: he made his national judo debut in the fourth grade and went on to place third nationally in the fifth grade. During this period, his daily routine often consisted of sumo training in the morning and judo practice in the afternoon.
Upon entering middle school, however, Nishimura confronted the limits of time and stamina. A series of encounters pushed him toward a decisive choice. Through long‑standing training connections, he regularly interacted with wrestlers from Minato stable, who used local facilities during Osaka tournaments. Among them was Ichinojō, then active in the top division, who offered advice that would prove pivotal: “There are excellent instructors in Tottori. If you’re going to commit fully to sumo, why not take the plunge and challenge yourself?” The decision soon crystallized. By sixth grade, Nishimura already weighed around 110 kg, and his judo coaches began urging weight reduction to preserve speed and endurance. He loved eating, felt increasingly constrained by judo’s weight expectations, and sensed that sumo better suited both his body and temperament. Though his judo coaches regretted the choice, he resolved to pursue sumo exclusively.
At just 13 years old, he left his parents’ home to attend Tottori (Tōhaku) Junior High School, immersing himself in strict training and dormitory life. The results were immediate and emphatic: in his third year of middle school, he won the National Junior High School Athletic Meet, earning the title of “Junior High Yokozuna,” and also captured individual victory at the Hakuho Cup, establishing himself as the country’s top talent in his age group.
He continued on to Tottori Jōhoku High School, one of Japan’s premier sumo powerhouses. As a freshman, he finished runner‑up at the National High School Inter‑High, becoming only the fourth freshman ever to reach the final, the most recent precedent being Ōnosato. In his second year, he won both the National High School Kanazawa Tournament and the National High School Selection Tournament in Towada, effectively claiming a high‑school double crown. After his second year, facing what official sources describe as “various circumstances,” Nishimura withdrew from high school and chose to enter professional sumo. He joined Otowayama stable, newly established by former yokozuna Kakuryū, who recognized both his talent and his need for a stable, family‑like environment.
Initially competing under his family name Nishimura—using a rare kanji variant for “Nishi”—he later adopted the shikona Ryūhō. The name combines “Ryū” (dragon) from his stablemaster Kakuryū’s ring name and “Hō” (phoenix) from the Phoenix Hall (Byōdō‑in) in his hometown of Uji. Both are auspicious symbols, and seeing the two characters together, he felt they mirrored his own journey and sensed a feeling of destiny.
Ryūhō’s start in professional sumo has been nothing short of spectacular. He debuted in July 2025, went 6–1 in jonokuchi, followed by a perfect 7–0 jonidan championship, and then posted another 6–1 to reach Sandanme 33 by January 2026, compiling a 19–2 career record across his first four tournaments. Still only 18 years old, Ryūhō already displays a mature, well‑rounded style, blending belt control inherited from judo with confident forward pressure. His early trajectory places him firmly among the most promising young rikishi.
Kinoshita (木下)
Stable: Tokitsukaze
Age: 23
Height (cm/feet-inches): 183 / 6’0”
Weight (kg/lbs): 160 / 352
Home prefecture: Nagasaki
High School: Isahaya Agricultural High School
University: Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tōnōdai)
Career Record and notes: 0-0-0
Debut: Haru 2026
Notes: Makushita Tsukedashi
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Let’s see his debut first, but odds are good given his pedigree.
Kinoshita hails from Nagasaki Prefecture, and his rise through the amateur ranks followed one of the most established and reliable pathways into professional sumo. He attended Isahaya Agricultural High School, a program with deep regional ties to elite amateur sumo and a long‑standing reputation as a recruitment zone for Sakaigawa stable. During his time there, Kinoshita was a core member of a high‑school sumo team that collected numerous prefectural titles, marking him early as a top‑tier prospect.
After graduating high school, Kinoshita advanced to the Tokyo University of Agriculture, one of the most storied institutions in collegiate sumo. The university boasts producing multiple sekitori and maintains an especially close relationship with Tokitsukaze stable, to the point that it is often informally referred to as a Tokitsukaze pipeline. Indeed, the majority of Nōdai graduates who turn professional enter sumo through Tokitsukaze, a tradition stretching back decades.
At university, Kinoshita established himself as one of the most dominant heavyweights. Competing primarily in the 135 kg‑and‑over division, he amassed an exceptional list of achievements. He captured the regional East Japan Student Sumo Championship (135 kg+) and, on the national stage, his success continued. He won the All‑Japan University Invitational Tournament in Uwajima, one of the key proving grounds for elite student rikishi, and followed that by claiming the National Student Sumo Weight‑Class Championship (135 kg+), confirming his status as one of Japan’s top collegiate heavyweights. Kinoshita also proved that his skills translated beyond weight‑class competition.
In open‑weight events, he reached the quarterfinals of the All‑Japan Sumo Championship, placing himself among the nation’s best amateurs regardless of size. Most notably, he finished runner‑up at the National Collegiate Sumo Championship, falling just one bout short of the coveted University Yokozuna title. In recognition of his accomplishments, Kinoshita was also awarded the Nagasaki Prefecture Special Sports Award, honoring his success as one of the region’s most accomplished amateur athletes.
These cumulative achievements earned Kinoshita the prestigious Makushita Tsukedashi dispensation, allowing him to bypass the lower professional divisions. The Japan Sumo Association formally approved his tsukedashi status in January 2026, at the same time confirming his entry into Tokitsukaze stable.
Stylistically, Kinoshita built his collegiate reputation around a powerful, low tachiai and an aggressive forward‑moving approach. Rather than relying on finesse or reactive sumo, he consistently sought to seize the initiative at the tachiai. This style proved especially effective in the heavyweight division, where his combination of mass, balance, and commitment to forward pressure overwhelmed many opponents before extended grappling could develop.
Entering sumo as a makushita tsukedashi, Kinoshita arrives not as a developmental project but as a fully formed amateur champion. His background places him squarely within the traditional Tokitsukaze lineage of university‑trained rikishi, and his early professional progress will be closely watched as a test of how quickly elite collegiate success can translate to the professional ranks.
Bonus – catch up on one I missed – and who makes his sekitori debut this time!
Toshinofuji (寿之富士)
Stable: Isegahama
Age: 25
Height (cm/feet-inches): 195 / 6’4”
Weight (kg/lbs): 141 / 310
Home prefecture: Mongolia – Ulaan-Baatar
High School: Tottori Johoku High School
University: Dōshisha University
Career Record and notes: 54-23 (.701)
Debut: Hatsu 2024
Notes: Jonidan Yusho (Nagoya 2024)
Possibility of reaching sekitori: 100%
Toshinofuji, formerly known as Seihakuhō (聖白鵬), hails from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and comes from a distinguished lineage in bökh (Mongolian wrestling). Both his father and great‑grandfather were celebrated bökh champions, and his great‑grandfather was among the early coaches of Hakuhō’s father, establishing a multigenerational connection between the two families. Through these ties, the young Toshinofuji developed a close relationship with the future yokozuna from an early age.
At Hakuhō’s suggestion, he moved to Japan in 2017 and enrolled at Tottori Jōhoku High School (see above) as a second‑year student. Despite having no prior experience in sumo, he joined the school’s prestigious sumo club and began learning the sport from the ground up at an age when most elite prospects are already deeply seasoned. Tottori Jōhoku’s environment—closely linked to Hakuhō’s own scouting network—proved formative in accelerating his technical and physical development.
After graduating high school, he advanced to Dōshisha University, enrolling in the Faculty of Theology. During his university career, he recorded steady results at the national level, including third‑place finishes at the West Japan Student Sumo Championships in multiple seasons. His breakthrough came in his senior year, when he captured individual victory at the All‑Japan University Selection Sumo Tournament in Kanazawa, establishing himself as a credible top‑tier amateur despite his late start in the sport.
In January 2023, he received a singular honor when he was selected as one of the final opponents in Hakuhō’s intai‑zumo (retirement ceremony)—a role reserved for individuals of deep personal and symbolic significance to the yokozuna.
Upon graduating from Dōshisha, he entered professional sumo under his mentor at Miyagino stable. He was given the ring name Seihakuhō, derived partly from the meaning of his Mongolian given name—“holy sea”—and partly from the exceptionally high expectations placed upon him as a direct disciple of Hakuhō. After completing a required training and visa period, he made his professional debut in March 2024, with age‑limit exemptions applied due to his late start.
His early professional ascent was swift. In July 2024, competing in the jonidan division, he captured a perfect‑record championship, signaling his readiness for upper‑division competition. He climbed rapidly through sandanme and into makushita, reaching Makushita 28, where he recorded his first—and to date only—losing record. Following the closure of Miyagino stable, he transferred along with his stablemates to Isegahama stable. As part of a formal, stable‑wide renaming announced for the January 2026 tournament, he adopted the ring name Toshinofuji, aligning with Isegahama’s traditional naming conventions.
Entering the January 2026 basho ranked West Makushita 2, Toshinofuji posted a 5–2 record, highlighted by a decisive victory over a jūryō‑ranked wrestler in a de facto promotion bout. The result secured his advancement into the salaried jūryō ranks, marking a major milestone in a career that began unusually late but has shown remarkable consistency. A tall, technically inclined yotsu‑sumo wrestler, Toshinofuji relies on balance, reach, and belt control—favoring force‑outs and throws over pushing attacks, His style shows clear influence from Mongolian wrestling fundamentals, particularly in his comfort with throws once grips are established. He has been working on a gradual refinement to his technique, with fewer forced attacks, improved patience at the edge of the ring, and a greater willingness to reset grips instead of overcommitting.
