Ōhō Kōnosuke
王鵬 幸之介
Ōhō in January 2022
Personal information
BornKōnosuke Naya
(2000-02-14) February 14, 2000
Kōtō, Tokyo Prefecture
Japan Japan
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight179 kg (395 lb; 28 st 3 lb)
Career
StableŌtake
Current ranksee below
Record209-165
DebutJanuary 2018
Highest rankMaegashira 6 (July 2023)
Championships1 (Jonokuchi)
* Up to date as of 8 January 2024.

Ōhō Kōnosuke (王鵬 幸之介), born February 14, 2000, as Kōnosuke Naya (納谷 幸之介, Naya Kōnosuke), is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kōtō, Tokyo. He made his professional debut in January 2018 wrestling for Ōtake stable. He reached the second-highest division, jūryō, in January 2021 and reached the top division, makuuchi, in January 2022. His highest rank has been maegashira 6. A third generation makuuchi wrestler, he is the son of former sekiwake Takatōriki and the grandson of the 48th yokozuna Taihō.[1]

Early life and sumo background

Ōhō in May 2018

Ōhō began sumo in elementary school, where he did reasonably well in tournaments despite having what he later admitted was a lazy attitude due to buying into his family legacy.[2] He attended Saitama Sakae High School which is famous for its sumo program. He was a high school classmate of future sekitori Kotoshōhō,[3] Kotonowaka and Gōnoyama.[4] In his third year, he won two national championships in both individual and team competition.[5] Following his high school graduation, he elected to postpone his debut in professional sumo in order to compete in the 2017 All Japan Sumo Championships.

Career

Early career

In December 2017, Ōhō officially began training at Ōtake stable, which was founded by his grandfather Taihō and formerly owned by his father Takatōriki. He began training with sandanme and makushita ranked wrestlers while he was set to compete in the lowest division, jonokuchi.[6] At the entrance exam for new recruits, he was both the tallest and heaviest recruit.[6] He made his professional debut in January 2018, competing under his own name Naya (納谷). During the presentation ceremony for new recruits, Ōhō presented himself wearing a keshō-mawashi that had belonged to his grandfather.[7] During his first fights in maezumō, he defeated his three opponents, including fellow debutant Hōshōryū.[8] In his first official tournament on the banzuke in March 2018, he won the jonokuchi division championship with a perfect 7–0 record, defeating Hōshōryū again and inflicting on him his only defeat of this tournament.[9] Since then, he and Hōshōryū have maintained a certain rivalry.[10][11]

Ōhō reached the makushita division in September 2018, and competed exclusively in makushita in 2019 and 2020. He steadily climbed the rankings, achieving winning records in nine of eleven tournaments. In the March 2019 tournament, Ōhō was in contention for the makushita championship but was defeated in his seventh match by eventual champion Churanoumi.[12] In November 2020, he achieved a record of 6-1 from the top makushita rank which earned him a promotion to juryo.

His promotion to sekitori status saw him adopt the shikona Ōhō (王鵬).[13] Ōtake-oyakata (former jūryō wrestler Dairyū), Ōhō's stablemaster, commented that he had considered giving Ōhō the shikona Taihō (大鵬) but could not because Taihō was also the name of a non-transferable elder share (ichidai toshiyori) within the Sumo Association.[14] He therefore replaced the character Dai (大) with Ō (王) as a bit of wordplay to evoke the memory of Taihō and the solid mentality of Ōhō.[13] The character Ō (王) can be pronounced the same as the character Dai (大) which is commonly used by wrestlers of Ōtake stable in deference to both the founder's (Taihō) and the current stablemaster's (Dairyū) shikona. The character Hō (鵬) is taken directly from Taihō's shikona.[15]

Ōhō original tegata (handprint & signature)

Ōhō's jūryō debut in January 2021 ended with a 5–10 record and he was demoted back to makushita; however, he quickly returned to jūryō by achieving a winning record in March. On his return to jūryō, Ōhō scored eight victories but injured his right ankle and had to leave the competition on the final day, handing a victory by default to his opponent Wakamotoharu. This injury absence was the first of his career.[16] He posted double-digit winning records in two of the next three tournaments. His 11-win performance at jūryō 7 in November 2021 was enough to promote him to the top makuuchi division for the January 2022 tournament.[17]

Makuuchi career

After the banzuke for the January 2022 tournament was announced, confirming him at maegashira 18, Ōhō spoke to reporters and said he was looking forward to competing in the top division, [18] that he had visited his grandfather's grave,[17] and he thought his grandfather, who died aged 72 in 2013, was cheering him on in heaven.[19] In his makuuchi debut Ōhō began well with seven wins from his first ten bouts, but he lost his last five to finish with a record 7–8. Ōhō attributed this late fade to a lack of concentration.[20] That losing record sent him back down to jūryō for the March 2022 tournament, but he returned to makuuchi in May 2022 at the rank of maegashira 14 following a 10–5 record.[21] He competed in makuuchi for the remainder of 2022, alternating winning and losing records.

Ōhō achieved his first double-digit win performance in the top division in November 2022.[22] On Day 12 he defeated Sekiwake Hōshōryū to improve to 10–2, sharing the lead with Hōshōryū and Takayasu.[23] However, he lost to Takayasu the following day[24] and finished with a 10-5 record.

Over the course of 2023, Ōhō was able to cement his status in the top division but struggled with consistency, posting losing scores in four of six tournaments but also achieving a career-best score of 11-4 in the May tournament. In August of that year, after his rival Hōshōryū was promoted to the rank of ōzeki, Ōhō commented on how far he still had to go after achieving mixed results in the first half of the year and mentioned his regret at not being able to compete at the san'yaku level.[11]

Fighting style

Ōhō prefers pushing and thrusting techniques (tsuki/oshi) over grabbing his opponent's belt (yotsu-zumō). The majority of his wins are by oshidashi (frontal push out), yorikiri (frontal force out), tsukidashi (frontal thrust out), and oshitaoshi (front push down).[25] He has, however, been criticized by the commentator and former yokozuna Kitanofuji for a reliance on pull-down attempts.[26]

Personal life

Ōhō is a third-generation professional sumo wrestler. His maternal grandfather is the 48th yokozuna Taihō. His mother, Mieko, is Taihō's third daughter. His father is former sekiwake Takatōriki. Ōhō is the third-born of four brothers. His oldest brother, Yukio, is a professional wrestler in Japan. His second-oldest brother, Takamori, joined Ōtake stable in 2020 after an amateur career at Chuo University and wrestles in sandanme under the shikona Naya (納谷). His younger brother, Kōsei, joined the stable in 2019 and wrestles in makushita under the shikona Mudohō (夢道鵬). As of November 2023, the three brothers are the highest-ranking wrestlers in the Ōtake stable.

According to his official profile on the Sumo Association's website, his favorite foods are fruit and karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken). His hobby is reading manga, his favorite series being "One Piece". His favorite television show is Ametalk (アメトーーク).[27]

Career record

Ōhō Konosuke[28]
Year in sumo January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
2018 (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #18
7–0
Champion
 		 East Jonidan #11
6–1
 		 West Sandanme #50
6–1
 		 East Makushita #60
3–4
 		 West Sandanme #11
4–3
 
2019 West Makushita #60
4–3
 		 East Makushita #51
6–1
 		 East Makushita #22
6–1
 		 West Makushita #6
3–4
 		 East Makushita #10
4–3
 		 East Makushita #7
4–3
 
2020 East Makushita #5
3–4
 		 West Makushita #8
4–3
 		 East Makushita #5
Tournament Cancelled
0–0–0		 East Makushita #5
4–3
 		 West Makushita #4
5–2
 		 West Makushita #1
6–1
 
2021 West Jūryō #11
5–10
 		 East Makushita #2
4–3
 		 West Jūryō #14
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #12
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #6
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #7
11–4
 
2022 East Maegashira #18
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #1
10–5
 		 East Maegashira #14
6–9
 		 West Maegashira #15
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #13
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #13
10–5
 
2023 West Maegashira #8
4–11
 		 West Maegashira #15
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #16
11–4
 		 West Maegashira #6
6–9
 		 West Maegashira #7
5–10
 		 East Maegashira #12
8–7
 
2024 West Maegashira #11
–
 		 x x x x x
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sumo legend Taiho's grandson to make pro debut at Kyushu tournament". Mainichi Daily News. 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  2. ↑ Gunning, John (2018-04-18). "Family legacy weighs heavily on young sumo prospects". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  3. ↑ "琴ノ若Ｊｒ．鎌谷 高校横綱破る大金星！埼玉栄２年ぶりＶ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  4. ↑ "小結・琴ノ若、埼玉栄高の後輩３人らとの申し合いに感慨「あの頃を思い出しますね」…先輩の意地で１３勝４敗". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "王鵬が新入幕「祖父の名前で応援してくれる人もいる」　昭和の大横綱・大鵬の孫　入門から４年ついに". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 24 December 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 "大鵬孫・納谷幸之介「挑戦」体同様、心もブレない". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "納谷「背筋が伸びる」大鵬現役時の化粧まわし披露". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 21 January 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "大鵬の孫、納谷３連勝「しっかり期待に応えたい」". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 18 January 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "朝青龍のおい豊昇龍６勝も納谷に敗れた１敗に悔しさ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 23 March 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "大鵬の孫 王鵬　朝青龍のおいとの一番制しトップに並ぶ". NHK (in Japanese). 24 November 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  11. 1 2 "王鵬「早く、当たるところまで行きたい」デビュー当時のライバル豊昇龍に　祖父・大鵬との秘話も". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "美ノ海が大鵬孫下し幕下Ｖ　納谷は「まだまだ早い」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 22 March 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  13. 1 2 "大鵬の孫・納谷十両昇進　王鵬に改名「すごくうれしい」". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 25 November 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "News Navigator: What are the rules for sumo wrestlers' ring names?". The Mainichi. 12 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "大鵬の孫納谷が十両昇進、王鵬へ改名　番付編成会議". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 11 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "十両王鵬、右足首負傷で初の休場　元横綱大鵬の孫". Nikkei Shimbun (in Japanese). 23 May 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  17. 1 2 "大鵬の孫・王鵬　新入幕に決意「堂々と」". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 24 December 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  18. ↑ Gunning, John (5 January 2022). "'No starting over': A fresh year for sumo may be just like the last". Japan Times. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "SUMO/ All eyes on ex-yokozuna Taiho's grandson as he starts fast". Asahi Shimbun. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "王鵬が返り入幕の夏場所へ抱負「しっかり勝ち越して、そこからまた大勝ちを目指したい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 4 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "Sumo: Wakatakakage, Mitakeumi renew their battle on the east". Kyodo News. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Sumo: Hoshoryu beats Shodai, stays tied for lead with Oho on Day 10". Kyodo News. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  23. ↑ "Sumo: Oho victory levels the playing field in Fukuoka". Kyodo News. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  24. ↑ "Sumo: Takayasu beats Oho, takes sole lead as Takakeisho tops Hoshoryu". The Mainichi. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ↑ "日本相撲協会公式サイト". 日本相撲協会公式サイト. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  26. ↑ "北の富士コラム はやわざ御免" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  27. ↑ Japan Sumo Association. "Ōhō Kōnosuke Rikishi Profile" (in Japanese).
  28. ↑ "Oho Konosuke Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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