Kisenosato Yutaka
Encyclopedia
Kisenosato Yutaka is a sumo
wrestler from Ibaraki
, Japan
. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top makuuchi
division in 2004 at the age of just 18. His highest rank to date is sekiwake, which he reached in March 2009. He is regarded as one of the most promising Japanese wrestlers in sumo today, and in the November 2011 tournament he secured promotion to ozeki.
and fought his first bout in March 2002 under his own surname of Hagiwara. He rose quickly through the divisions, entering the second jūryō division in May 2004, aged 17 years and 9 months, the second youngest ever jūryō wrestler after Takanohana
, whom Kisenosato had idolised when he was a boy. Three tournaments later, in November 2004, he entered the top makuuchi
division, again the second youngest (18 years 3 months) after Takanohana. To mark his entry into the top division he assumed the shikona
name Kisenosato.
After entering the top division his rise slowed significantly; his only spectacular result in 2005 was 12 wins against three losses in the September 2005 tournament, where he was runner-up and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to the rank of komusubi in July 2006, which he held until March 2007 when he fell back to maegashira 1.
Kisenosato has been involved in some controversial bouts with yokozuna Asashōryū
. He defeated him for the first time in September 2006, and was awarded the Outstanding Performance Prize. Shaken by this, Asashōryū responded in the next tournament by leaping to the side at the tachi-ai
and employing a highly unusual leg kicking technique
called ketaguri. Afterwards Asashōryū was criticised by the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee for using this rare move. In March 2007 Kisenosato slapped Asashōryū around the face during their match. Asashōryū was so riled by this that he gave Kisenosato a small kick in the back after the bout was over, which prompted much criticism from the Japanese media.
In July 2007 he turned in a strong 11-4 record and derailed Kotomitsuki's hopes of a tournament championship on the final day by slapping him down. This earned him promotion back to komusubi for September 2007. Kisenosato defeated Asashōryū once again in the yokozunas comeback tournament in January 2008, earning him his first gold star
(his first win over Asashōryū had been at komusubi rank so he was ineligible then) and his second Outstanding Performance Prize. Returning to komusubi in the March 2008 tournament, he lost to Asashōryū on the opening day but defeated three out of four ozeki and held his rank with an 8-7 score.
In May 2008 he scored another win over Asashōryū on opening day, finishing with a strong 10-5 record and a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. Despite this he failed to be promoted to sekiwake, only the third time since 15 day tournaments were introduced in 1949 that a komusubi with ten wins has not moved up the rankings. Kisenosato spent nine tournaments at komusubi without making sekiwake, which has only happened to three previous wrestlers, Dewanishiki, Fujinishiki and Takamiyama. Back in the maegashira ranks for the September 2008 tournament, he was the only man to defeat tournament winner Hakuhō
, earning him his second gold star, but he fell short with six wins against nine losses.
In November 2008 he scored 11-4, sending him to komusubi for the fifth time in the January 2009 tournament. He scored eight wins there, and Aminishiki's losing record meant Kisenosato finally made his long-awaited sekiwake debut in March 2009, in his tenth tournament at a sanyaku rank. He produced a somewhat disappointing 5-10 record and was demoted to maegashira 4 in May. However, he proved this rank was too low for him by producing a 13-2 record, his best ever top division score, and won his third Fighting Spirit prize. This performance returned him immediately to sekiwake for the July 2009 tournament. He came though with a good 9-6 score there, defeating Asashōryū (for the fourth time) and three ozeki. In September he failed on the final day to get kachi-koshi but remained in the sanyaku ranks at komusubi for the November tournament. However, a 6-9 in Kyushu saw him drop back to the maegashira ranks.
In January 2010 he won his first five matches, before losing five in a row. He finished on 9-6 and returned to komusubi for the March tournament. He remained in sanyaku for the next three tournaments but fell back to maegashira 1 in November 2010. On the second day of the Kyushu tournament he upset Hakuhō, bringing to an end the yokozunas post-war record of 63 consecutive victories. He was rewarded with the Outstanding Performance prize and promotion back to sekiwake. He defeated Hakuhō once again in the following tournament, scoring 10-5 and winning another Outstanding Performance award, his fourth. Japan Sumo Association
official Takanohana said after the tournament that Kisenosato would be considered for promotion to ozeki if he won at least 13 bouts in the March 2011 basho, which would give him 33 wins over three tournaments (the usual minimum requirement for ozeki). However, that tournament never took place due to a match-fixing scandal and in the subsequent 'technical examination' tournament in May he secured a majority of wins only on the final day.
commented, "He has been solid through the last several tournaments. I want him to start putting himself in title contention."
is hidari-yotsu, or right hand outside, left hand inside. His most common winning kimarite
is yori kiri (force out), followed by oshi dashi (push out) and tsuki otoshi (thrust over).
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler from Ibaraki
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division in 2004 at the age of just 18. His highest rank to date is sekiwake, which he reached in March 2009. He is regarded as one of the most promising Japanese wrestlers in sumo today, and in the November 2011 tournament he secured promotion to ozeki.
Career
Kisenosato joined Naruto stableNaruto stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables.The stable was established on 1 February 1989 by former yokozuna Takanosato Toshihide. The stable's first sekitori was Rikio in 1994. Three more, Wakanosato, Takanowaka and Kisenosato, have reached sekiwake rank...
and fought his first bout in March 2002 under his own surname of Hagiwara. He rose quickly through the divisions, entering the second jūryō division in May 2004, aged 17 years and 9 months, the second youngest ever jūryō wrestler after Takanohana
Takanohana Koji
is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever...
, whom Kisenosato had idolised when he was a boy. Three tournaments later, in November 2004, he entered the top makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division, again the second youngest (18 years 3 months) after Takanohana. To mark his entry into the top division he assumed the shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
name Kisenosato.
After entering the top division his rise slowed significantly; his only spectacular result in 2005 was 12 wins against three losses in the September 2005 tournament, where he was runner-up and was awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. He was promoted to the rank of komusubi in July 2006, which he held until March 2007 when he fell back to maegashira 1.
Kisenosato has been involved in some controversial bouts with yokozuna Asashōryū
Asashōryū Akinori
is a former sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He was the 68th yokozuna in the history of the sport in Japan and became the first Mongol to reach sumo's highest rank in January 2003. He was one of the most successful yokozuna ever. In 2005 he became the first man to win all six official...
. He defeated him for the first time in September 2006, and was awarded the Outstanding Performance Prize. Shaken by this, Asashōryū responded in the next tournament by leaping to the side at the tachi-ai
Tachi-ai
The tachi-ai is the initial charge between two sumo wrestlers at the beginning of a bout.There are several common techniques that wrestlers use at the tachi-ai, with the aim of getting a decisive advantage in the bout:...
and employing a highly unusual leg kicking technique
Kimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
called ketaguri. Afterwards Asashōryū was criticised by the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee for using this rare move. In March 2007 Kisenosato slapped Asashōryū around the face during their match. Asashōryū was so riled by this that he gave Kisenosato a small kick in the back after the bout was over, which prompted much criticism from the Japanese media.
In July 2007 he turned in a strong 11-4 record and derailed Kotomitsuki's hopes of a tournament championship on the final day by slapping him down. This earned him promotion back to komusubi for September 2007. Kisenosato defeated Asashōryū once again in the yokozunas comeback tournament in January 2008, earning him his first gold star
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....
(his first win over Asashōryū had been at komusubi rank so he was ineligible then) and his second Outstanding Performance Prize. Returning to komusubi in the March 2008 tournament, he lost to Asashōryū on the opening day but defeated three out of four ozeki and held his rank with an 8-7 score.
Hakuho Sho
is a professional sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. On May 30, 2007 at the age of 22 he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo,...
, earning him his second gold star, but he fell short with six wins against nine losses.
In November 2008 he scored 11-4, sending him to komusubi for the fifth time in the January 2009 tournament. He scored eight wins there, and Aminishiki's losing record meant Kisenosato finally made his long-awaited sekiwake debut in March 2009, in his tenth tournament at a sanyaku rank. He produced a somewhat disappointing 5-10 record and was demoted to maegashira 4 in May. However, he proved this rank was too low for him by producing a 13-2 record, his best ever top division score, and won his third Fighting Spirit prize. This performance returned him immediately to sekiwake for the July 2009 tournament. He came though with a good 9-6 score there, defeating Asashōryū (for the fourth time) and three ozeki. In September he failed on the final day to get kachi-koshi but remained in the sanyaku ranks at komusubi for the November tournament. However, a 6-9 in Kyushu saw him drop back to the maegashira ranks.
In January 2010 he won his first five matches, before losing five in a row. He finished on 9-6 and returned to komusubi for the March tournament. He remained in sanyaku for the next three tournaments but fell back to maegashira 1 in November 2010. On the second day of the Kyushu tournament he upset Hakuhō, bringing to an end the yokozunas post-war record of 63 consecutive victories. He was rewarded with the Outstanding Performance prize and promotion back to sekiwake. He defeated Hakuhō once again in the following tournament, scoring 10-5 and winning another Outstanding Performance award, his fourth. Japan Sumo Association
Japan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
official Takanohana said after the tournament that Kisenosato would be considered for promotion to ozeki if he won at least 13 bouts in the March 2011 basho, which would give him 33 wins over three tournaments (the usual minimum requirement for ozeki). However, that tournament never took place due to a match-fixing scandal and in the subsequent 'technical examination' tournament in May he secured a majority of wins only on the final day.
Promotion to ozeki
After a solid 10-5 score in July, in the September 2011 tournament Kisenosato raced to a 8-0 start, before losing three in a row. However, he then rebounded by beating Hakuho for the third time in their last five meetings on Day 12. He finished runner-up alongside Kotoshogiku on 12-3, his first ever runner-up performance, and also shared the Outstanding Performance prize. With 22 wins in the last two tournaments, he was once again a candidate for promotion to ozeki in November. However, with a record of 10-4 going into his match on the final day, he lost to Kotoshogiku. This gave him a record of "only" 32 wins in three tournaments, below the Association's loosely defined ozeki promotion standard of 33, but the Sumo Association had already indicated before the match took place that he had done enough to earn promotion. This was the second successive tournament to feature an ozeki promotion, following Kotoshogiku. Kisenosato credited his success to his late stablemaster, the former yokozuna Takanosato, who had died suddenly shortly before the tournament. "Everything that he taught me about sumo led to this result and I'm so grateful." He had long been regarded as one of the most promising Japanese sumo wrestlers, but prior to reaching ozeki there had been concern expressed about his seeming inability to hold down a sanyaku position and a possible lack of fighting spirit. Kisenosato's promotion was made official on 30 November, following an unanimous vote by the Sumo Association's executive board. Chairman HanaregomaKaiketsu Masateru
Kaiketsu Masateru is a former sumo wrestler, who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki on two separate occasions. He also won two top division tournament championships...
commented, "He has been solid through the last several tournaments. I want him to start putting himself in title contention."
Fighting style
Kisenosato is mainly a yotsu-sumo wrestler, and his favourite grip on his opponent's mawashiMawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
is hidari-yotsu, or right hand outside, left hand inside. His most common winning kimarite
Kimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
is yori kiri (force out), followed by oshi dashi (push out) and tsuki otoshi (thrust over).
Tournament record
External links
- Japanese Sumo Association Biography (English)Japanese)
- Kisenosato's basho results
- Biography and basho results (Japanese)