Day One in Fukuoka. Before action started, media reported Shirokuma will be kyujo. He tore a ligament in his right ankle. Mitakeumi received the default win. That’s a tough break for the Number Two guy at Nishinoseki-beya.
In Jonokuchi, Sunamusashi kicked the tournament off with a win. His shusshin is officially Tokyo, but he was raised in Hawaii. Good luck! Hopefully he and Hikarumusashi can learn from each other and steadily climb the banzuke. We look forward to following his career. Eisei will fight Banju in early Jonidan action tomorrow. Lots to cover in Juryo so let’s get moving.
Wakatakakage, naked of any braces or wraps on his knee, overwhelmed Kagayaki to pick up his first win. He might be the favorite for the Juryo title after Asahifuji fell to…checks notes…Tamashoho? Really? Wow. The quick slapdown and Asahifuji is stunned. It’s a long tournament and he’ll have an even longer career but an auspicious start, certainly. Ryuho, the other Juryo debutant, won his first bout against Hatsuyama. Enho defeated Wakanosho by first trying a leg grab on Wakanosho’s weak right knee. Wakanosho then chased Enho around the ring and battered him a bit but Enho got that leg and forced Wakanosho out. Meisei lost to Tokifudo.
Kyokukaiyu defeated Daiseizan. Kyokukaiyu established a left-hand belt grip and chugged forward, easing Daiseizan over the tawara. Yorikiri.
Arashifuji defeated Kitanowaka. Arashifuji used his big right hand ottsuke to keep Kitanowaka from getting a left hand grip AND to drive Kitanowaka back. Oshidashi.
Dewanoryu defeated Tamawashi. Tamawashi used his powerful left-hand nodowa to force Dewanoryu back to the edge. However, Dewanoryu managed to get inside and get a right-hand belt grip. “Get him off me! Get him off me!” Tamawashi tried to shove his arms away but by now Dewanoryu worked both arms in there for a firm morozashi. Yorikiri.
Asasuiryu defeated Tokihayate. A great back-and-forth here but Asasuiryu finally corralled Tokihayate and rushed him out of the ring. Yorikiri.
Abi defeated Toshinofuji. Toshinofuji charged into Abi and drove him back to the edge. But Abi shifted left at the edge and slapped Toshinofuji down to the clay. Hatakikomi.
Asahakuryu defeated Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto pulled and Asahakuryu bulldozed him back easily. Terrible start for Ichiyamamoto fans. Oshidashi.
Takanosho defeated Oho. Oho got some initial penetration into Takanosho’s side of the dohyo as a result of a strong tachiai. However, he yielded it right back to Takanosho as he pulled and Takanosho shoved him back and out. Oshidashi.
Asakoryu defeated Shishi. Shishi tried to get his left hand on Asakoryu’s belt but Asakoryu forced Shishi back and over the edge. Impressive strength from Mighty Mouse. Yorikiri.
Oshoma defeated Nishikifuji. Nishikifuji had just locked on with his left hand when Oshoma shoved Nishikifuji violently to the right and shifted to his left. Nishikifuiji’s momentum helped Oshoma drive him to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Kinbozan defeated Roga. One-way bout here as Kinbozan overpowered Roga and quickly forced him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu defeated Kotoeiho. Wakamotoharu forced Kotoeiho back and out. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Gonoyama defeated Kotoshoho. Gonoyama did not come to play around. He obliterated Kotoshoho with powerful thrusts. Oshidashi.
Hiradoumi defeated Takerufuji. Takerufuji’s torso got out way in front of his feet. It looked hilarious as he tried to slap Hiradoumi down only to bring himself to the clay. Hikiotoshi.
Daieisho defeated Hakunofuji. Daieisho welcomed Hakunofuji to Fukuoka in the traditional manner: Aggravated Assault. Hakunofuji was just trying to buy some salt from the nice guy with the magic water and before he knew what was happening, this brute came out of nowhere and started battering him then thrust him out of the store. Tsukidashi.
Sanyaku
Atamifuji defeated Takayasu. Takayasu tried to spin away from Atamifuji but Atamifuji charged forward with perfect timing and shoved Takayasu out from behind. Okuridashi.
Fujiseiun defeated Fujinokawa. Fujiseiun attacked Fujinokawa and drove him to the edge. As Fujinokawa tried to shift along the bales, Fujiseiun worked to establish firm grips on Fujinokawa’s belt. With his steady footwork, he didn’t allow any openings for Fujinokawa to counter attack and he patiently drove Fujinokawa out. Yorikiri.
Kirishima defeated Ura. When Kirishima charged forward, Ura pivoted and tried to escape to the left. Ura forgot to tell his feet what he was planning, though, and he tripped and rolled across the ring. Yoritaoshi.
Fujiryoga defeated Kotonanahachi. Somehow, I knew this was going to happen and I’m confident that you all did, too. Kotohachinana pulled and Fujiryoga chased him out of the ring by virtue of his steady footwork and solid tsuppari. No need to worry about a tracking any “rope runs” with this Ozeki. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama defeated Aonishiki. I did NOT see this one coming, though. Aonishiki got his left-hand grip. But he couldn’t pull Asanoyama over. Asanoyama wasted no time and went on the offense, with both arms tucked up under Aonishiki’s armpits. He drove into Aonishiki and methodically broke him down. Aonishiki tried to spin away but Asanoyama wrapped him up and used his own left-hand grip to haul Aonishiki to the clay, outside the ring. Yoritaoshi.
Hoshoryu defeated Churanoumi. Churanoumi wanted the left hand maemitsu grip and he had it for a second. Hoshoryu immediately shifted right and slapped Churanoumi’s hand away. Churanoumi then went for the nodowa but Hoshoryu doesn’t have a neck anymore so that attack didn’t really go anywhere. Hoshoryu, for his part, just tried to stay in the ring and on his feet He succeeded. He shifted right and left, baiting Churanoumi into the attack. Churanoumi charged forward and Hoshoryu slipped away again, this time following up with a shove, sending Churanoumi off balance, stumbling over the bales. After collecting his kensho, Hoshoryu looked upward and gave a sigh of relief. One down. Fourteen to go. Oshidashi.
Yoshinofuji defeated Onosato. Onosato charged ahead, boldly forcing Yoshinofuji back to the edge. Yoshinofuji pivoted on the straw bales and let the Yokozuna fall forward. Gunbai Yoshinofuji. Mono-ii. Did Onosato’s finger touch the tawara as he flailed around? Yes, his hand touched. Tsukiotoshi.
Hopefully, Hakunofuji will realize he’s at a sumo tournament. He will need to as he’s scheduled to fight a the high-octane Hiradoumi tomorrow. Fujinokawa will fight Takayasu. Atamifuji and takes on Ura. Takayasu and Ura need to get their heads in the game, too. Both had rather sloppy Day One losses.
Aonishiki will fight Yoshinofuji, Kirishima will take on Fujiseiun, and Kotozakura will fight Churanoumi. Onosato will try to regroup against Fujiryoga and Hoshoryu will face a massive test with Asanoyama.
I think I’m going to see how much mileage I can get out of comparing the Fujishima-beya Boys to the Duke Brothers. Just a couple of working-class guys from a small, humble heya, fighting The Man and taking it one day at a time. If that’s the case, who’s Uncle Jesse? Maybe Takayasu. More importantly, who’s Daisy? Kotozak…no. He’s Sheriff Roscoe P Coltrane, surely, since Onosato seems to want to be Boss Hogg. We still need a Daisy, though. Oh well, maybe this is where the analogy dies.
It’s great to be back with y’all. As Onosato and Kotozakura stumbled out of the gate, Hoshoryu can finally breathe. However, it’s a long tournament and Hoshoryu was not exactly using great sumo here today. Long tournament? In two weeks I’m going to be lamenting, AGAIN, how quickly the action passed.
Day One in the historic Hakata district of Fukuoka. Fresh off his victory in September, Yokozuna Onosato will look to win a title in Kyushu for the first time. It is fitting that his first bout this tournament will be against Yoshinofuji, whom he finally managed to beat on his path to that title. Prior to Aki, Yoshinofuji appeared to have access to Onosato’s kryptonite, winning their first three bouts. So, this will be a very tough challenge but with that first win, Onosato might feel like he’s broken the curse, gotten the monkey off his back. It won’t be an easy fight but he can go into it with a clear mind.
On the other hand, Hoshoryu has the weight of his rank on his back. He returns from knee surgery and has been working it out on tour and in practice. But this is a hon-basho. Is he “production ready?” The pressure to perform is not just coming from the press, who constantly reminds fans that he has yet to win a title as Yokozuna; his shisho is looking for nothing less than a yusho. Churanoumi will be a difficult opponent but one to whom Hoshoryu has never lost. Churanoumi will be motivated to represent Okinawans as he is now the highest ranked Okinawan sumo wrestler, ever. These are the most dangerous matchups, in my mind. It’s probably good, then, that I will not be up on that dohyo.
Aonishiki will fight Asanoyama in a first-time meeting (初顔合わせ). It’s rather astonishing to me that these guys haven’t fought yet. But here we are. Asanoyama, the former Ozeki still has hopes of returning to his former rank. There are many new fans will not recall the drama of his sudden fall from grace or even his first comeback. Asanoyama has clawed his way back, again, to the top of the rank and file. Can he make it back into sanyaku? Before the scandal, there had been murmurs of Yokozuna, as there are now for his opponent, Aonishiki. Frankly, I just want to see these guys stay healthy for a while. They will undoubtedly give it all they have. It should be a highlight bout.
Rounding out the Ozeki ranks, Kotozakura will fight Fujiryoga and Kirishima will take on Ura. At Sekiwake, we have Fujinokawa fighting Fujiseiun and Atamifuji battling Takayasu. There are some great rank-and-file matchups, too, like Daieisho versus Hakunofuji, Takerufuji against Hiradoumi and Kotoshoho versus Gonoyama. Wakamotoharu will fight Kotoeiho as he works his way back toward the joi.
I’m also watching Takanosho versus Oho. These guys could easily be fighting each other in the joi or sanyaku. In fact, that’s usually where they face each other. Their performances here toward the lower third of the banzuke could tell us a lot about their condition and prospects for moving back up…or sliding down into Juryo. Similarly, Ichiyamamoto will fight Asahakuryu and Abi will take on Toshinofuji.
American readers in particular, though, will be firing up the VPNs tonight to catch early action Sunamusashi will kick off the action tonight. He completed maezumo in September. He was raised in Hawaii and is the son of former Juryo wrestler, Sunahama. Sunahama was fighting in Juryo back when music was good. (Western Civilization peaked in the 1990s. Autotune ruined everything. I will not accept debate on this issue. But feel free to debate anything else in the comments section.)
The prediction got the named ranks exactly right, as well as the M1 rank, for 11 perfect predictions at the top. Admittedly, the only real question mark here was whether Fujinokawa’s 11 wins would be enough for him to leapfrog Atamifuji, which he did. The prediction was also perfect from M13 to M17, getting all the exchanges between Juryo and Makuuchi right, as well as the placement of those being promoted. In all, this is 20 ranks nailed exactly at the top and the bottom of the banzuke.
The Bad
Maybe calling it “bad” is a little harsh, but from M7 to M12, the prediction placed only 6 of the 12 rikishi at the exact position, plus 3 more at the correct rank but on the wrong side. All of the misses were the result of just two puzzling decisions by the banzuke committee. M4e Takanosho (4-9-2) got zero benefit for being ranked in the joi and fighting all the top guys, dropping a full 7 ranks, below Asakoryu, Shishi and Oho, who all got over-promoted or under-demoted as a result. But then, M6w Ichiyamamoto, who likewise had 4 wins and a much easier fight card, got a soft 5.5-rank demotion, placing ahead of Abi despite deserving to be a full rank lower by the numbers.
The Ugly
The prediction really went off the rails from M2 to M6. It had only one of the 10 rikishi at the correct rank, and even he ended up on the other side. Lots to complain about here. Why did M2e Takayasu (7-8) not hold rank, when he faced the toughest possible schedule of opponents and deserved to be ranked ahead of Ura and Fujiseiun by the numbers? Why did the committee feel the need to squeeze Takerufuji between the two demoted komusubi, dropping Daieisho to M4w? Why did Kotoshoho, Kotoieho, and Gonoyama get zero credit for their joi schedules?
We’ll have to see if the lack of respect for higher ranks was an idiosyncrasy of this banzuke, or if it’s a new trend. Now, it’s on to the basho!
The banzuke of the lower divisions does not grab the same headlines as a Day 15 head-to-head Yokozuna match for the championship, or the interviews surrounding recently promoted sekitori. However, each tournament brings another group of hopefuls to one of sumo’s most important milestones: a debut in makushita. The Kyushu 2026 banzuke features a new class of wrestlers making their first appearance in the division, hoping to follow the path upwards towards the salaried ranks. Recent history suggests there is good reason to pay attention.
The Aki 2026 debut class featured three particularly noteworthy prospects in Tenshōyama, Imamura, and Kazemitsuki. While it remains far too early to draw firm conclusions, as is tradition in this space, I will put their performance under the microscope.
Tenshōyama entered professional sumo with perhaps the highest ceiling of the group. Blessed with exceptional size and power, he has shown flashes of the forceful, forward-moving brand of sumo that made him such a compelling prospect before entering ozumo. While some had hoped at the start of the tournament for another rematch between him and Asahifuji for the Makushita championship, it was not to be. Asahifuji suffered an early loss. Tenshōyama was undefeated (5-0) and went up against eventual Division 3 champ, Inami, suffering his one loss of the tournament. He finished 6-1 with wins over former Makushita Tsukidashi Fudōhō and Ryūshō. He also defeated former Sekitori Ōtsuji. The raw material is unmistakable and we will see some rematches with him and Asahifuji as they both wear silk in the salaried ranks.
Imamura’s first taste of makushita competition has provided an opportunity to see if the 6-1 record in Nagoya ranked him too high for his current skillset. He performed well against the lower Makushita-upper Sandanme journeymen and got his first winning record in division 3. He had wins against some wrestlers with decent Makushita experience, like Sadanohikari and Denuma. He lost to both of the Yamahibiki-beya Ieshima brothers. He at least held his own for his first tournament in Makushita. The next tournament will be another evaluation of his skills.
Kazemitsuki was the only one of the Aki rookies to end up with a losing record, falling to Ieshima on Day 14. It was his first career losing record and he will be able to regroup in Sandanme next time. He lost to Yumenofuji (who went up against Inami for the championship), and to Okada. However, he defeated former collegiate wrestler Shimizuumi and Nishonoseki’s Rinko. He will have another chance to climb back into Makushita soon.
Meanwhile, Two Familiar Names Reach Jūryō
While a new generation enters makushita, two wrestlers recently featured in Tachiai profiles have taken another step forward.
Both Asahifuji and Ryūhō, subjects of recent Makushita rookie spotlights, will appear on the Kyushu 2026 banzuke in the second division. For Asahifuji, the promotion completes a rise that has been marked by steady progression and a growing ability to compete effectively against increasingly experienced opposition. His advancement serves as another reminder that patient development often pays dividends in professional sumo. Ryūhō’s promotion is equally noteworthy. Regarded as a wrestler with considerable potential and still only 19 years old, he now receives the opportunity to test himself in the salaried ranks, where expectations, scrutiny, and rewards all increase dramatically.
Somewhere among this latest group of debutants may be the next future sekitori. Kyushu will provide the first clues as to who that might be.
Hakugetsurō (白月狼)
Stable: Asahiyama Age: 24 Height (cm/feet-inches): 178 / 5’10” Weight (kg/lbs): 136 / 300 Home country: Ulaanbaatar Mongolia High School: Tottori Jōhoku High University: Senshu University Career Record and notes: 19-2-0 (.905) Debut: Hatsu 2026 Notes: Jonokuchi Yusho (Natsu 20226) and Jonidan Yusho (Aki 2026) Possibility of reaching sekitori: Better than 50-50.
Among the newest foreign recruits to enter ozumo in recent years, few arrive with a story quite like Hakugetsurō. The Mongolian newcomer to Asahiyama-beya followed an unusual path. He is the son of a prominent public official, a former judoka, an academically successful university student, and a wrestler who earned Sandanme Tsukedashi privileges three separate times, only to see all three slip away before he ever was able to step foot in the ring.
Born in Mongolia, Hakugetsurō grew up in a family where athletics and public service went hand in hand. His father, now serving as governor of Bulgan Province, was himself an accomplished judoka who once competed at the World Judo Championships. Following his father’s example, the young Hakugetsurō practiced judo through junior high school. Through his father’s friendship with former Yokozuna Hakuhō, Hakugetsurō was introduced to Japan and enrolled at Tottori Jōhoku High School, one of the premier incubators of elite sumo talent.
He quickly adjusted from judo to sumo, reaching the top eight in his weight class at the Chūgoku regional tournament as a freshman, repeated a top eight finish in a in a heavier weight class division as a sophomore, and by his senior year advanced deep into the highly competitive New Year Sumo Tournament. While he was not yet collecting national titles, his high school career showed steady improvement.
Unlike many collegiate sumo stars, Hakugetsurō ‘s route to university reflected more than athletic ability. He entered Senshu University not through a sumo recommendation but through academic merit, a detail that speaks to a side of his character often highlighted by those around him: intelligence and seriousness. In his junior year at university, he captured the East Japan Student Weight-Class Championship in the under-135 kg division, finished runner-up nationally, and advanced to the last sixteen of both the All-Japan Student Championships and the All-Japan Sumo Championships. Those performances earned him the first two of what would eventually become three separate qualifications for sandanme tsukedashi entry. His senior year brought even more consistency. Another national runner-up finish and another appearance in the round of sixteen at the All-Japan Student Championships secured yet another sandanme tsukedashi qualification. By the end of his university career, he had accumulated credentials that many aspiring professionals would envy.
After graduating in 2025, Hakugetsurō joined Asahiyama-beya as a trainee. However, timing, administrative requirements, and visa-related circumstances created an unfortunate outcome. The one-year validity periods attached to his sandanme tsukedashi qualifications expired one by one, including the final qualification he earned during his senior year. Thus, Hakugetsurō found himself entering professional sumo from jonokuchi.
Rather than dwelling on what had been lost, he focused on what had been gained. A full year in a professional stable before stepping foot on the dohyo transformed his physique and refined his technique. By his own account, his sumo changed dramatically during that period, while his strength and muscle mass increased significantly. When he finally became eligible and cleared the necessary procedures, he stepped onto the professional stage at the March 2026 tournament. Of course, he rapidly overwhelmed the competition in the lower divisions, taking successive Jonokuchi and Jonidan championships. He hit his first difficult competition in upper Sandanme in Aki – finishing with a 5-2 record. He had opening losses to Shōsei (see below) and journeyman Marushō before rallying with 5 straight wins.
Upon joining, two things immediately attracted attention. First, he joined small Asahiyama stable (under former Sekiwake Kotonishiki). The small, and quirky stable has not had much success raising wrestlers even up to Makushita. They once had a different Mongolian recruit rapidly climbing the ranks, but he quit suddenly. The second thing is his shikona: 白月狼 (Hakugetsurō). This is among the most evocative ring names to appear in recent years. According to those around the stable, the name was devised by the stablemaster’s wife and references the Mongolian lunar new year, while incorporating imagery associated with the wolf. I think the symbolism may run even deeper. The first character, 白 (“haku” or “white”), naturally recalls the influence of Hakuhō, the Yokozuna who helped bring him to Japan. Combined with the middle character, 月 (“moon”), it does reference the “White Moon” festival that marks the Mongolian New Year and occupies a special place in Mongolian cultural and spiritual life. The final character, 狼 (“wolf”), resonates even more strongly with Mongolian tradition. Throughout Mongolian folklore and national mythology, the wolf is not merely an admired animal but a sacred ancestor figure.
At twenty-four years old, Hakugetsurō enters division 3 older than many high-school competitors. Yet he enters with advantages that many younger prospects lack: years of high-level competitive experience, a university education, physical maturity, and extensive stable training already behind him. His Oyakata has praised his intelligence, diligence, and ability to absorb technical instruction. Those qualities often matter as much as physical gifts in determining who can successfully navigate the brutal climb through the lower divisions. For now, Hakugetsurō’s ambitions remain straightforward. He wants to repay the faith shown by his stablemaster, the stablemaster’s wife, and the teachers who guided him throughout his development. He also hopes to follow in the footsteps of wrestlers he admires, including Wakatakakage, Rōga, Wakanofuji, Asahifuji, and Tenshōzan.
Shōryū (象竜)
Stable: Otowayama Age: 21 Height (cm/feet-inches): 192 / 6’3” Weight (kg/lbs): 140 / 308 Home prefecture: Nagano High School: Unknown (see below) University: — Career Record and notes: 60-38-7 (.612) Debut: 2024 Haru Notes: None Possibility of reaching sekitori: Unlikely
In a sport that increasingly attracts talent from around the world, few young wrestlers embody sumo’s international future quite like Shōryū. I am referring, particularly to the upcoming Bangkok tour.
A member of Otowayama-beya, the stable founded by former Yokozuna Kakuryū, Shōryū’s story spans two countries, two cultures, and two very different childhoods. Born in Japan but raised largely in Thailand, he arrived in professional sumo with little Japanese language ability, no amateur sumo background, and a body that weighed less than 100 kilograms. Barely two years later, he has climbed into sandanme and become one of the most intriguing prospects in Kakuryū‘s young stable.
Shōryū was born in Nagano City to a Japanese father and a Thai mother who worked as a Thai-language interpreter. Shortly afterward, the family moved to his mother’s hometown in Kalasin Province, in northeastern Thailand, where he spent most of his childhood. Sumo was not part of his early life. Instead, he grew up enjoying a wide range of sports, particularly basketball. As a tall lad, who ended up standing well over six feet tall, basketball was a natural outlet.
In February 2024, Shōryū returned to Japan to join the newly established Otowayama-beya. He was one of the first recruits personally overseen by Otowayama-oyakata. He did not have an easy go at it. According to the stable, he initially understood very little Japanese. Yet his naturally outgoing personality, combined with years of exposure to Japanese through anime and popular culture, accelerated his adjustment. Remarkably, within three months he was reportedly able to communicate comfortably with his fellow wrestlers. His physical transformation was equally dramatic. When he entered the stable, he weighed less than 100 kilograms. Within six months, through stable life, intensive training, and the famously generous sumo diet, he added roughly forty kilograms to his frame.
Few shikona are as immediately memorable. The explanation is unusually straightforward and unusually personal. The first character, 象 (shō), means elephant. According to multiple profiles, it was chosen as a reference to Thailand and his Thai heritage. Few animals are more closely associated with modern Thai identity than the elephant, which occupies a central place in Thailand’s history, culture, and national symbolism. The second character, 竜 (ryū), comes directly from the ring name of his. It is a character that appears frequently among Otowayama wrestlers and serves as a visible bond to the stable’s founder. Thus, Shōryū’s ring name literally means: “Elephant Dragon”
One of the most remarkable aspects of Shōryū’s rise is that, unlike many of those I have written up recently, he did not arrive with an extensive amateur sumo résumé. At the same time, his development appears to have followed a pattern familiar to many successful foreign wrestlers: rapid physical growth, continuous technical improvement, and a steady climb through the lower divisions.
It is quite evident that he uses his lanky frame and long arms to support his aggressive thrusting and pushing sumo. In fact, it is what first caught my eye. He has some great pushing/thrusting skills, and if he can continue to gain weight and hone those skills – he should be able to go pretty high into the third division. His style reminded me of another half-Thai, Nabatame, when he first started his sumo career. Thus, I have been following his progress through the ranks. His last tournament in Sandanme was 6-1 record from Sandanme 18, with his only loss to former Makushita Āron. His wins were all against former Makushita wrestlers, and even former sekitori Kiryūkō. I am wondering if this was actually a large step forward, or if he will find himself overmatched at his new career high.
I still feel he has to continue to learn sumo and develop his skills, as well as “build” his sumo body. Nevertheless, I feel he is an intriguing prospect and one I cheer for in the lower divisions. I look forward to seeing his results in Makushita.
Izumifuji (泉富士)
Stable: Isegahama Age: 20 Height (cm/feet-inches): 188 / 6’2” Weight (kg/lbs): 146 / 322 Home prefecture: Ōsaka High School: — University: — Career Record and notes: 91-80-18 (.532) Debut: 2022 Haru Notes: None
Possibility of reaching sekitori: None
Among the many young wrestlers affected by the upheaval surrounding Miyagino-beya, few have undergone as many identity changes in such a short time as Izumifuji. Izumifuji entered professional sumo in March 2022 under his family name of Detachi and joined the famed Miyagino stable headed by former Yokozuna Hakuhō. He joined as a 15 year old, fresh out of middle school. His March 2022 debut was unusual administratively because the ordinary pre-tournament new-recruit examination and maezumo were affected by COVID-era arrangements.
His early career was unremarkable but steady, as he worked his way through jonokuchi and jonidan while developing a style built around tsuppari and straightforward pushing attacks.
The first major change came in May 2024 when he adopted the shikona Senshōhō (泉翔鵬). The name was notable because it incorporated the character 鵬 (hō), the same character made famous by Hakuhō and frequently associated with wrestlers from the Miyagino lineage. However, by spring 2024, the fallout from the Hokuseihō scandal had led to the effective closure of Miyagino-beya, and its wrestlers were transferred into the care of Isegahama-beya. Senshōhō moved together with the rest of the Miyagino group, suddenly becoming part of one of the largest and strongest stables in professional sumo.
For nearly two years he competed as Senshōhō, climbing into sandanme and showing a few flashes of promise. Then another organizational shift arrived. As the former Miyagino wrestlers became increasingly integrated into Isegahama-beya, many adopted new shikona reflecting their new home. Beginning with the January 2026 tournament, Senshōhō became Izumifuji (泉富士).
The second half of the new name is easy to explain. The 富士 (Fuji) suffix has become one of the hallmarks of the modern Isegahama lineage. The kanji izumi (泉) was already present as the first character in his previous shikona. Izumifuji is from Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture, and Kaizuka lies in the Sennan area of the historic Izumi Province. The broader southern Osaka region is commonly called Senshū (泉州), while Izumi (和泉) is the historic regional name. Thus, I think we have discovered some of the possible explanations for his current shikona.
Izumifuji gradually climbed up through sandanme. His record has stabilized after the disruption of changing stables, and he has recently strung together multiple kachi-koshi performances while pushing toward the upper reaches of the division. Still only 20 years old, he remains one of the younger members of the former Miyagino contingent now trying to build a career under the Isegahama banner. His last sandanme tournament had wins against former Makushita Oginohama, Sōma, Kotodaishin, and Kawamura. He had losses to similar caliber wrestlers, indicating he may be ranked around his current skill level in lower Makushita in the next tournament.
Shōsei(翔盛)
Stable: Nakamura Age: 18 Height (cm/feet-inches): 175 / 5’8” Weight (kg/lbs): 158 / 347 Home prefecture: Ōita High School: Nakatsu Higashi High University: — Career Record and notes: 24-4-0 (.857) Debut: 2026 Hatsu Notes: Jonidan Yusho – Natsu 2026
Possibility of reaching sekitori: Likely
From Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Shōsei began practicing sumo in the second year of elementary school at the local Nakatsu Sumo Club. From an early age, he was immersed in the highly competitive amateur environment that has produced a surprisingly large number of top wrestlers from Kyushu.
His progression through the amateur ranks was remarkably steady. After attending Ohata Elementary School and Midorigaoka Junior High School, he enrolled at Oita Prefectural Nakatsu Higashi High School, one of Kyushu’s stronger sumo programs. It is there that he established himself as a consistent national-level competitor. He qualified for national tournaments at every age level and regularly posted strong results against elite amateur opposition. Among his most notable achievements was capturing the individual open-weight title at the Kyushu High School Championships.
During his third year of high school, he reportedly sought admission to Nakamura-beya on his own initiative. That stable choice was hardly accidental. Nakamura-beya is led by former Sekiwake Yoshikaze, Like Shōsei, Yoshikaze is an Oita native, and a former student of Nakatsu Technical High, the school that eventually morphed into Nakatsu Highashi High. For an ambitious young wrestler from Oita, there may have been no more natural role model and Shōsei has openly identified Yoshikaze as the wrestler he most wants to emulate.
While still a high-school student, Shōsei made his professional debut at the January 2026 tournament. In March, then competing in jonokuchi, he produced a 6-1 record and advanced all the way to the championship playoff. There he faced a familiar opponent, his own stablemate Āron, ultimately finishing as runner-up. Importantly, he appeared comfortable making the adjustment to professional sumo. He followed it with the Division 5 championship and only two tournaments in Sandanme to advance to Makushita before the end of the year. He sent Hakugetsurō to his first professional defeat on Day 1 of the Aki tournament, only losing to Kasshō (unexpectedly in my opinion). His 6-1 record from Sandanme 2 will advance him deep into mid-Makushita. This is where we will see his real skill level.
His shikona is currently just his first name – 翔盛 Shōsei. The full shikona “Shōsei Tanaka” is just a reversal of his family and first name. It’s the first time I have seen “Tanaka” used as a first name.
