Author: hochiyama

Kyushu 2026: A New Crop Arrives in Makushita

hochiyama Kyushu 2026, Kyushu Basho, Makushita (幕下)

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.

Tachiai Nakabi Meetup

hochiyama Aki 2026, Sumo Topics

One of the great pleasures of following sumo outside Japan is discovering just how many fans are quietly scattered around the world. Only recently, when having work done on my home, I met two fellow sumo fans in small Calvert County (a exurb of Washington DC). They saw my sumo-themed home izakaya and immediately knew they found a kindred spirit.

Just like any other sumo fan, we avidly follow each basho, celebrate the kachi-koshi of our favorite wrestlers, agonize over a mono-ii decision, and spend far too much time debating whether a promising recruit is really the next big thing. Yet most foreign fans experience the sport alone, behind a screen. We have to consume it via a stream, youtube videos, or other media that typically does not lend itself to a public gathering – particularly when most of the basho happens overnight in your time zone.

To combat this “isolationism” two Tachiai writers met at a local DC-area izakaya during the Aki 2026 basho on nakabi (middle day). We had no formal agenda, no drafts to discuss, no “official business”. Just good food, a few drinks, and several hours of uninterrupted sumo conversation.

There is something refreshing about sitting across from someone who already understands the sport and shares the same level of passion. The discussion drifted naturally across various sumo news and events as well as my recent experiences in Japan.

The afternoon served as a reminder that one of the best aspects of sumo is the community surrounding it.

Reviewing the tachiai statistics, I was surprised to see so many people viewing the site are from the greater Washington DC region.  Between diplomats, government staff, academics, journalists, martial arts enthusiasts, Japanese expatriates, and sports fans looking for something different from the mainstream American sports calendar, there are undoubtedly far more sumo followers here than most of us realize.

So perhaps it is time to find them.

As the next tournament approaches, we’d love to gauge interest in an informal DC-area sumo gathering. Nothing elaborate. Just a friendly get-together at a Japanese restaurant or izakaya where fans can watch highlights, discuss the basho, argue about promotion cases, speculate about future sekitori, and perhaps meet fellow supporters for the first time.

Whether you’ve been following ozumo for thirty years or discovered it through YouTube six months ago, you’d be welcome. Some of the best sumo conversations happen when veteran fans and newcomers share a table.

Sumo has a way of creating connections across countries, languages, and backgrounds. The sport may be centered in Tokyo, but its community stretches much farther than that.

If you’re in the greater Washington area and think this sounds like fun, let us know in the comments. A mid-basho lunch between two sumo enthusiasts proved that the appetite is certainly there. Perhaps next basho, we’ll need a bigger table.

A Morning at Tatsunami-beya: Watching the Professionals

hochiyama Heya, Japanese Culture, Keiko, Ryogoku, Stables (Heya), Sumo Topics, Sumo Tourism, Travel , , ,

One of the lesser-known benefits of joining the Tatsunami International Fan Club is that it includes access to observe asa-geiko, the stable’s morning practice. I had joined the Fan Club mainly to get a regular banzuke and because I thought it would be interesting. Once I started planning a trip to Japan, I came to the realization that membership also came with this perk! Hence, I reached out early in March to schedule a trip to view the practice. They told me to get back to them in May, which I dutifully did.

However, they indicated my preferred dates were likely in the “rest period” after the May tournament. My disappointment faded when they got back to me a few weeks later saying that we could attend the first practice! My family and I were excited for the opportunity, especially after our own sumo training experience with former top division wrestler Kyokutaisei. Having spent time doing even a small fraction of the exercises ourselves, we arrived with a new appreciation for what happens inside a professional sumo stable.

Gifts, Gratitude, and a Disappointing Start

As is customary when visiting someone’s home in Japan, we wanted to arrive bearing gifts. We brought large chocolate bars for all of the rikishi and stable staff, a bottle of whiskey for the oyakata, and a supply of Maryland’s finest culinary export, Old Bay seasoning, for the chanko-ban.

When we arrived, however, it quickly became apparent that the stable was having an exceptionally busy morning. Tokokei was juggling multiple responsibilities and, in addition to his normal duties, was tasked with receiving visitors and finding seats for everyone. The gifts clearly caught him by surprise. Before we had much chance to explain what they were or who they were intended for, he hurried them off to a back room and returned to managing the growing crowd.

Within a few minutes, the keiko-ba filled with roughly fifty additional visitors who had come as part of a commercial tour group. The room became packed, and we found ourselves seated toward the back. While that limited our ability to take photographs, a more professional photographer who had arrived earlier and captured plenty of excellent images of the session.

For us, the biggest disappointment was not where we sat, but rather that we never really had an opportunity to properly thank the stable for allowing us to attend or personally present the gifts. Near the end of practice, I briefly managed to catch Tokokei’s attention long enough to explain that the whiskey was intended for the oyakata and that the Old Bay was a kind of Maryland equivalent to shichimi togarashi. Given everything he was dealing with that morning, the conversation lasted only a few moments.

Afterward, we were uncertain whether the gifts had actually reached their intended recipients. Despite a couple of inquiries, we received no acknowledgment and eventually had to follow up several times before receiving confirmation that everything had indeed been delivered.

What made this stand out was that it was so different from my experiences with Japanese friends, colleagues, and personal events. Even our later experience in Kyoto, for example, where we participated in a tea ceremony held in a private home as part of a paid cultural tour. The Kyoto hosts had similarly  never before received gifts from foreign visitors, yet their reaction was remarkably warm and appreciative. We left feeling as though a genuine personal connection had been made.

For that reason, the experience at Tatsunami-beya felt unusual rather than disappointing. My impression was not that anyone intended to be dismissive. Rather, the stable appeared entirely focused on running a busy practice session and accommodating a large influx of visitors. The fan club program itself also seemed relatively new, and perhaps international members bearing gifts were simply outside the normal routine.

In the end, we were pleased to learn that the gifts had been received. Still, because gift-giving and expressions of gratitude are such visible parts of Japanese hospitality, we had hoped for the opportunity to personally hand them over, explain their significance, and know they had arrived without having to seek confirmation afterward. That small missed connection was perhaps the only misstep in what was otherwise a fascinating morning at the stable.

An Immediate Reminder of Our Own Training

We entered during the middle of practice and instantly recognized many of the warm-up exercises we had learned from Kyokutaisei. The familiar shiko, suriashi, teppo, and stretching routines gave us a tiny glimpse into the structure behind professional sumo training.

This was the first practice following the May tournament. Two weeks had passed, but some wrestlers were still visibly dealing with the accumulated wear and tear of fifteen days of competition. Others looked to be in phenomenal condition.

The contrast between how my family and I felt after a single hour of amateur training and what these wrestlers did every day was staggering.

Watching them train was less like observing athletes and more like watching Olympians prepare for competition.

As someone who used to carry significant extra weight, I found myself especially impressed. Exercise is difficult enough when carrying substantial mass. Watching these rikishi repeatedly hurl hundreds of pounds across the dohyo made me wonder just how powerful their cardiovascular systems must be. Their hearts and lungs are extraordinary.

Rhythm Everywhere

One theme became apparent throughout the morning: rhythm.

Some rikishi moved with astonishing speed and grace. What surprised me most was that size was not the determining factor. Injury status seemed to matter far more than body weight. Several wrestlers were absolutely dancing across the dohyo.

The movements were fluid and efficient. There was flow. There was timing.

Even outside of training bouts, rhythm appeared everywhere. The rikishi sweeping the dohyo worked in coordinated patterns that were almost hypnotic to watch. During suriashi drills, many placed their feet in nearly identical spots, moving forward into what seemed like the same footprints over and over again.

The repetition created its own kind of beauty.

The Collective and the Individual

Another thing that stood out was the constant low-level care the wrestlers showed one another.

On the edges of the room, several appeared to be doing what looked remarkably like physical therapy. Some rolled balls under their feet. Others stretched shoulders and backs. Many taped injuries.

Rikishi routinely helped each other apply tape, adjust supporters, or check painful areas.

There was an unmistakable sense of collective effort.

If you’re expecting the hyper-dramatic atmosphere of Netflix’s Sanctuary, you may be surprised. The stable felt much more cooperative than confrontational.

Yet the paradox was obvious.

The training environment is communal, but the sport itself is ultimately individual. Every wrestler must step onto the dohyo alone.

When the Real Work Begins

Although training had been underway when we arrived, actual sparring didn’t begin until roughly an hour after many wrestlers had entered the keiko-ba.

The moment it started, the energy changed completely.

Every tachiai produced a thunderous crack. Not a slap. Not a bump.

A crack.

The type of collision that feels capable of knocking the wind out of you even as a spectator.

Sometimes wrestlers slammed into the walls with such force that the building itself seemed to shake. More than once I found myself wondering how the structure survives daily exposure to this punishment.

The format resembled a king-of-the-hill rotation. Winners remained on the dohyo until they could no longer continue. The privilege of choosing the next opponent belonged to them. Often several hopeful challengers would step forward requesting a match.

There was absolutely no idling.

Everyone not currently fighting remained active. Some stretched. Others lifted weights. Some drank water. Everyone watched closely, preparing for their turn.

The sekitori were present, including Ōkaryū and Meisei, though Hōshōryū was absent that morning (still nursing the injury that took him out of the May tournament) and the top men were not immediately participating in the same manner as the younger rikishi.

Perhaps the most surprising observation came once fatigue set in.

By around 9:10 a.m., nearly everyone was breathing heavily. Sweat dripped from faces. Eyes were visibly stinging. The room felt increasingly hot.

And yet the pace increased. The deeper they went into practice, the faster many of them became.

Logic suggests exhaustion should produce slower movements. Instead, something else happened. Technique emerged. Efficiency emerged. Timing sharpened.

At times the bouts looked close to hon-basho quality. More than once it became difficult not to cheer.

One tachiai was so violent that Ōkaryū emerged with a bloody nose. He plugged it with tissues and continued training without drama. Just back to work.

The speed, balance, foot placement, and weight transfer are remarkable. A tiny mistake can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

This probably explains why so many rikishi seemed obsessed with footwork and why they repeatedly practiced moving through exactly the same positions.

The Only Rest Is More Work

The only meaningful breaks occurred when the dohyo was swept.

Occasionally younger wrestlers passed along some “chikara mizu” or “power water” to those who continued to bout. Otherwise, activity never stopped.

The atmosphere around the stable remained remarkably quiet throughout much of this. The foreigners were listening in on their translation headphones. A few of their kids were bored.

The dominant sounds were heavy breathing, feet scraping clay, bodies colliding, and occasional instructions.

By 9:40 a.m., the heat inside the room had become intense even for spectators. For the rikishi, it was simply another training day.

Final Thoughts

The greatest value of visiting a stable after you’ve tried even a little sumo yourself is perspective. Before training with Kyokutaisei, I admired professional rikishi.

After training, and after watching Tatsunami-beya’s wrestlers prepare for another tournament, I respect them on an entirely different level.

What looks slow on television is much faster in person – even training bouts that are for practice and experience, not for the win-loss record in hon-basho. What looks exhausting on television does not even begin to capture reality.

A few days of amateur sumo gave us the reference point. A morning at Tatsunami-beya showed us the summit. And from the back of a crowded room, watching men get faster as exhaustion overtook them, it was impossible not to appreciate just how extraordinary these elite athletes really are.  This appreciation was the gift we received from Tatsunami.

Aki 2026: Shin-Makushita

hochiyama Aki 2026, Aki Basho

Here is how our last tournament debutants did:

Asahifuji entered the tournament already as one of the biggest storylines. Having won back-to-back-to-back tournament victories and entering sumo as one of he strongest prospects ever, his legend preceded him. He arrived at makushita 11 East, and finished the regular tournament with six wins and one loss, the first loss of his career. His loss to former Jūryō Nabatame ended his 25-bout winning streak from his debut. Rather than fading away, he rebounded and ended up qualifying for the playoffs when Nabatame lost his last match. Participating in the seven-man playoff, Asahifuji took revenge against Nabatame and defeated Fudōhō and Wakamiyabi to clinch the division championship. This gave Asahifuji four consecutive tournament championships, one ofor each of the lower divisions. This strengthens the belief that he is on a fast track to sekitori status, likely after the Aki tournament.

Kaida acquitted himself well in his first tournament in division 3 (makushita). Wrestling from the bottom of the division (Makushita 58 East), he finished with a 4-3 record, extending the strong start to his professional career. He defeated former top division Daishōmaru on the second day. The rest of his opponents were generally career lower makushita/upper sandanme wrestlers. He will need to continue to improve as the caliber of his opponents will be stronger in Aki 2026.

Sachinofuji unfortunately did not have the opportunity to compete in Nagoya in his Makushita debut. He was absent from the entire tournament, reportedly due to back/neck problems that kept him in Tokyo. This would be a disappointment for him, particularly as this basho would have been an important test of how his technical, undersized style would translate against more polished opponents. I wish him a full and speedy recovery and hope that he will climb back to Makushita once he returns to competition.

Onto the Aki 2026 Makushita rookies:

Tenshōyama (天昇山)

Stable: Tamanoi

Age: 22

Height (cm/feet-inches): 197 / 6’5”

Weight (kg/lbs): 172 / 379

Home country: Batshireet Mongolia

High School: Meitoku Gijuku High

University: Tōyō University

Career Record and notes: 25-3-0 (.893)

Debut: Aki 2025

Notes: Sandanme Yūshō (Nagoya 2026).

Possibility of reaching sekitori: will say 100%.

Tenshōyama is another one of the most intriguing young prospects in professional sumo. Born in Batshireet, Khentii Province, in eastern Mongolia, the Tamanoi-beya wrestler has climbed rapidly through the lower divisions and reached a career-high rank of East Sandanme 3 in his fourth profession tournament in July 2026. Standing 197 cm, he is currently the tallest active rikishi in professional sumo. Out of his three career losses, two were to Asahifuji and one to former sekitori Kiryūkō.

Growing up in rural Mongolia, he played volleyball and practiced Bökh, the country’s traditional wrestling style. Already an imposing 192 cm and 100 kg as a teenager, he attracted the attention of recruiters from Japan. In 2019, at just 14 years old, he moved to Kōchi Prefecture to attend Meitoku Gijuku High School after being recruited by the school’s sumo program. The move reportedly came with the support of former sekiwake Asasekiryū, the Mongolian-born Takasago oyakata and a distinguished alumnus of the school. Although he possessed impressive natural size and athleticism, Tenshoyama did not begin formal sumo training until entering high school.

By his third year, he had advanced to the Top 32 at the National High School Championships. Following graduation, he entered Tōyō University, one of Japan’s premier collegiate sumo programs (some alumni are Mitakeumi, Wakatakakage, Tamanoshima (Hanaregoma Oyakata), and fellow Tamanoi stablemate Tōhakuryū). While he never became one of the headline stars of the university circuit, he steadily improved and broke through as a junior, capturing titles at both the Towada Tournament and the Kariya Tournament.

Rather than finish his university studies, he chose to pursue professional sumo. After competing in the All-Japan Sumo Championship in December 2024, he left the university and joined Tamanoi stable. At the September 2025 new recruit examination he measured 197 cm, immediately drawing attention as the tallest active wrestler in the sport. Upon entering professional sumo he was given the shikona Tenshōyama, meaning roughly “a mountain rising toward the heavens”.

Tenshōyama made his professional debut alongside fellow Mongolian prospect Asahifuji. Their rivalry began immediately. He lost to Asahifuji in maezumo and suffered his only defeat of the January 2026 Jonokuchi tournament against the same opponent, finishing with an impressive 6-1 record. It was the first match of the tournament, and one of the best “opening matches” I have ever seen – more fitting of a bout after the sanyaku soroi-bumi on the final day than a a jonokuchi match. A 6-1 performance in Jonidan quickly established him as one of the most promising young wrestlers in the lower divisions.

He won the Sandanme championship in Nagoya, defeating 4 former sekitori along the way (Asagyokusei, Mienofuji, Mita, and Tochimusashi). Two of his opponents were ranked in Makushita and were undefeated at the time of their match-up. These results indicate that his is still ranked below his ceiling.

For a wrestler of his size, Tenshōyama is versatile. He is comfortable fighting both yotsu-zumo and oshi-zumo. Coaches and observers have noted that he was able to compete effectively against Tamanoi stable’s sekitori from the outset, suggesting that his ceiling is much higher than his current rank. Away from the dohyo, Tenshōyama reportedly enjoys sleeping and watching anime, while his favorite foods are meat and fruit. He jokingly credits his extraordinary height to getting twelve hours of sleep a day as a child. Whether or not that is the secret, the giant Mongolian has all the ingredients of a future sekitori: elite size, proven amateur credentials, growing technical skills, and a willingness to challenge himself by leaving university early for the professional ranks.

Imamura (𫝆村)

Stable: Nishonoseki

Age: 20

Height (cm/feet-inches): 181 / 5’11”

Weight (kg/lbs): 131 /  288

Home prefecture: Hyōgo

High School: Hōtoku Gakuen High

University: —

Career Record and notes: 56-42-0 (.571)

Debut: 2024 Haru

Notes:  None

Possibility of reaching sekitori: Unlikely

The Hyōgo native arrived at Nishonoseki-beya in 2024 carrying not only a respectable amateur résumé, but also a longstanding admiration for his oyakata. As a boy, Imamura (currently using his family name as his shikona) watched former Yokozuna Kisenosato’s championship-winning performance at the 2017 Haru Basho from outside Osaka’s prefectural gymnasium after being unable to secure a ticket. Only a few year later, he would meet Kisenosato and shake hands as a new recruit to Nishonoseki stable.

Born in Itami City, he began sumo in the sixth grade after joining a local sumo club under the influence of his sumo-loving father. He later attended Hōtoku Gakuen High School, a school with one of western Japan’s most respected athletic programs. There, he developed an aggressive forward-moving style based on driving through opponents from a low position and achieved steadily improving results culminating in a quarterfinal appearance at the 2023 National High School Selection Tournament and a place in the last sixteen at the National Sports Festival later that year.

Those accomplishments attracted Nishonoseki Oyakata’s attention. The Oyakata reported noted that Imamura possessed exactly the qualities he values most: pressure, determination, and commitment to moving forward. Upon recruiting Imamura, the former Yokozuna remarked that he could feel the youngster’s desire to attack and believed his style was well suited to professional sumo.

Imamura entered ozumo in March 2024 with a straightforward goal: reach the salaried ranks within five years. His early results suggest that ambition was not misplaced. After a brief stay in Jonokuchi and Jonidan, he quickly climbed into Sandanme and established himself there. By July 2026 he had already reached a career-high rank of Sandanme. His July 2026 tournament produced an impressive 6-1 record and renewed momentum after a pair of losing records earlier in the year. Imamura will get a large jump from the Nagoya rank of Sandanme 48 West, and will clearly encounter stiffer competition in Makushita. He had, until the Nagoya tournament, been holding his own in mid-Sandanme against similar competition. We will have to see if the 6-1 record was a real breakthrough or a blip in his career. His sumo is built around pressure and forward movement. Oshidashi is by far his most common winning technique. While he lacks the eye-catching size of stablemate Ōnosato or the amateur pedigree of some university recruits, his attacking mindset should continue to serve him well as he pursues his goal of becoming a sekitori within five years and bringing honor back to his hometown.

Kazemitsuki (風光希)

Stable: Oshiogawa

Age: 19

Height (cm/feet-inches): 176 / 5’9”

Weight (kg/lbs): 134 / 295

Home prefecture: Iwate

High School: Tairadate High School

University:  —

Career Record and notes: 26-9-0 (.743)

Debut: 2025 Aki

Notes: None Possibility of reaching sekitori: 50-50

Kazemitsuki (with a shikona combining the Oshiogawa-beya prefix of Kaze with his first name, Mitsuki) may not have arrived in professional sumo with the fanfare of a collegiate champion or high school yokozuna, but few newcomers have climbed the banzuke as quickly. Born in Iwate Prefecture, Kazemitsuki has put together an impressive start to his professional career, rising from Jonokuchi to Makushita in just over a year.

Kazemitsuki developed his sumo in one of Iwate’s traditional strongholds for the sport. He attended Tairadate High School, which has produced some division 3 wrestlers (Tokinohira, Akiyoshi). After graduating from high school, he spent roughly six months working for a local company while continuing his training and pursuing his goal of entering ozumo. Oshiogawa stable eventually scouted him in 2025 after monitoring his progress. Upon joining, his stated ambition was straightforward: become a sekitori.

The transition to professional sumo could hardly have gone better. He posted a 6-1 record in Jonokuchi, followed by another 6-1 in Jonidan. He continued his momentum with a 5-2 record in Sandanme in March 2026 and another winning record in May and July, establishing himself as one of the more successful recent Japanese recruits in the lower divisions. The last two tournaments, he has put together those winning records against the typical upper Sandanme/lower Makushita level wrestlers, indicating he has not yet hit his ceiling. He was chosen as the last opponent for Tochimusashi in Nagoya, so the match makers felt he could impact the division’s championship race (a win would have eliminated Tochimusashi from a possible playoff against Tenshōyama).

Physically, Kazemitsuki is almost the opposite of the towering prospect, Tenshōyama. Standing 176 cm and weighing approximately 134 kg, he relies more on balance, power, and technique than overwhelming size. His sumo is well-rounded, with regular wins on the belt and by pushing.  His most frequently used kimarite is yorikiri, reflecting a willingness to engage directly and finish opponents at close quarters.

Kazemitsuki’s rapid progress suggests he may have been somewhat overlooked as a recruit, after all, he had to try his hand in the “real world” before joining a stable. Reaching makushita, he now finds himself moving one step closer to the salaried ranks he set as his goal upon joining.