Nishikifuji Ryūsei
錦富士 隆聖
Personal information
BornRyūsei Ogasawara
(1996-07-22) July 22, 1996
Towada, Aomori Prefecture
Japan Japan
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight149 kg (328 lb)
Career
StableIsegahama
UniversityKindai University
Current rankSee below
DebutSeptember 2016
Highest rankMaegashira 3 (May, 2023)
Championships4
1 (Jūryō)
1 (Makushita)
1 (Jonidan)
1 (Jonokuchi)
Special Prizes1 Fighting spirit
* Up to date as of 24 September 2023.

Nishikifuji Ryūsei (錦富士 隆聖), born 22 July 1996 as Ryūsei Ogasawara (小笠原 隆聖, Ogasawara Ryūsei) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Towada. He wrestles for the Isegahama stable and made his debut in September 2016 and reached the top division in July 2022. His highest rank has been maegashira 3. With the exception of the sandanme division, Nishikifuji has won championships in each of the four lower divisions of professional sumo, as well as a jūryō championship. He also earned a special prize in his makuuchi debut in July 2022.

Early life and sumo beginnings

Born in Towada, Aomori, Nishikifuji began to wrestle in his third year of elementary school at Towada's Sanbongi Elementary School because his mother encouraged him to take up the sport, although he himself was reluctant to get involved in wrestling.[1] Nishikifuji continued to practice throughout his time at Towada's Junior High School, where he placed in the top eight at the National Junior High School Sumo Tournament in his sixth year.[2] In senior high school, he went on to Sanbongi Agricultural High School's Agricultural Machinery Department, a school famous for its sumo club,[3] along Ōnoshō, and while there he placed third in the individual division in the National High School Usa Tournament.[2] After high school, he joined Kindai University along Midorifuji, but dropped out and the two decided to turn pro at the same time in 2016, both joining Isegahama stable.[4] Since then, he and Midorifuji have maintained a friendly rivalry.[5][6]

Career

During the early years of his career, Nishikifuji wrestled under his real name Ogasawara and first served as tsukebito (assistant) to senior wrestler Aminishiki.[7] In his first jonokuchi tournament, he tied with Midorifuji (then named Ihara) and the two faced off for the title in a playoff on the final day, with Nishikifuji emerging victorious.[3] After his first two tournaments, he was given the shikona, or ring name, Nishikifuji (錦富士), from the kanji in Aminishiki's shikona (錦), because he took him under his wing and helped train him; and from his master (former yokozuna Asahifuji) old ring name (富士).[8][2] After Aminishiki's retirement in 2019, Nishikifuji served as Terutsuyoshi's tsukebito.[9] Then promoted to jonidan, Nishikifuji again faced Midorifuji for the division title, and the two clashed again in the playoff, with Nishikifuji emerging victorious once again. Their senior wrestler Terunofuji commented that the Isegahama stable particularly enjoyed seeing the two fight against each other.[8] In September 2019, Nishikifuji was ranked makushita 3, putting him in a position for possible promotion to the jūryō division. He however injured his left elbow and had to undergo surgery during the same month.[10][11] The period of remission following the operation forced him to sit out the November tournament.[4] During this period he particularly thanked his mentor Aminishiki for his care.[4] In March 2020, Nishikifuji claimed the makushita championship with a perfect record, having defeated Kyokusōten who was also undefeated in his first 6 bouts.[12] In August of the same year, Nishikifuji's promotion to the jūryō division was announced, coinciding with his stablemate Terunofuji winning the July 2020 makuuchi tournament championship on his return to the top division.[13] Commenting on these two championships won by the Isegahama stable during the same period, Nishikifuji confided that he and Terunofuji hoped to create a "whirlwind" by winning their respective divisions.[6] However, following two poor tournaments, Nishikifuji was demoted to the makushita division for the January 2021 tournament. During this tournament, Nishikifuji competed for the makushita championship despite losing on Day 2 to Ichiyamamoto. Surprisingly, the playoff to determine the division winner was between nine wrestlers tied to just one defeat,[14] a first since the 1996 July tournament in Nagoya.[15] Despite winning his first match against Shōhōryū, Nishikifuji was defeated by Shiba and was eliminated early from the title race, which that year went to Sakigake (from Shibatayama stable).[16] His 6–1 score, however, saw Nishikifuji promoted back to the jūryō division.

In May 2022, Nishikifuji won the jūryō championship in a playoff against Oitekaze wrestler Daiamami. His championship also coincided with his stablemate yokozuna Terunofuji's seventh top division championship.[17] The May 2022 championship was also the last tournament before the danpatsu-shiki ceremony of Nishikifuji's mentor, Aminishiki, which took place on the 29th of the same month. Commenting on his mentor's retirement, he shared his satisfaction at having won the championship before the ceremony.[17]

Due to his jūryō championship the previous tournament, Nishikifuji was promoted to sumo's top division, debuting in the rank of maegashira 17. At the time of his promotion he confided his desire to face his former classmate Ōnoshō, who had made his debut in the makuuchi division in May 2017.[18] He went on to get double-digit wins, finishing the basho with a 10-5 record. That same tournament he was granted the Fighting Spirit special prize, for finishing his debut in the top division with a strong winning record.[19] During the May 2023 tournament, Nishikifuji injured the ligaments in his right leg and finished the tournament with a poor result. His condition did not improve as the July tournament of the same year approached, stating that he felt his participation was "forced".[20]

Fighting style

Nishikifuji is a yotsu-sumo wrestler who favours clinch fighting techniques as opposed to pushing and thrusting (oshi-sumo).[21] His preferred grip on his opponent's mawashi or belt is hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position.[21] His favourite winning kimarite or technique is a straightforward yori-kiri, or force out. However, Nishikifuji also worked to develop his thrusts and pushes techniques.[22] It has been noted that Nishikifuji has great difficulty maintaining his weight during tournaments, forcing him to take his weight gains more seriously. On his promotion to the rank of jūryō he also communicated about his endurance work, which he considered weak and wished to strengthen.[23]

Personal life

A few days before the start of the May 2023 tournament, Nishikifuji married a 24-year-old Japanese woman that he had been dating for a year and a half. The ceremony was held at Tokyo's Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, the same shrine where both his stablemaster Isegahama (the 63rd yokozuna Asahifuji) and his stablemate Terunofuji were married.[24] Shortly before the start of the November 2023 tournament, the couple announced the birth of twins on 13 October.[25]

Career record

Nishikifuji Ryusei[26]
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
2016 x x x x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #10
7–0–P
Champion
 
2017 East Jonidan #10
7–0–P
Champion
 		 East Sandanme #19
3–4
 		 West Sandanme #38
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #13
4–3
 		 West Sandanme #2
4–3
 		 West Makushita #52
6–1
 
2018 West Makushita #23
1–5–1
 		 West Makushita #47
5–2
 		 West Makushita #30
4–3
 		 East Makushita #23
2–5
 		 West Makushita #37
5–2
 		 West Makushita #24
5–2
 
2019 West Makushita #13
3–4
 		 West Makushita #17
5–2
 		 East Makushita #11
4–3
 		 West Makushita #8
5–2
 		 East Makushita #3
1–4–2
 		 West Makushita #18
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
2020 West Makushita #58
4–3
 		 East Makushita #49
7–0
Champion
 		 East Makushita #3
Tournament Cancelled
0–0–0		 East Makushita #3
5–2
 		 West Jūryō #13
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #13
3–12
 
2021 West Makushita #5
6–1–PPPPPPPP
 		 West Jūryō #12
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #12
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #11
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #9
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #4
5–10
 
2022 East Jūryō #9
10–5
 		 West Jūryō #5
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #6
11–4–P
Champion
 		 East Maegashira #17
10–5
F		 East Maegashira #10
10–5
 		 West Maegashira #5
9–6
 
2023 East Maegashira #4
4–11
 		 West Maegashira #10
10–5
 		 West Maegashira #3
3–12
 		 West Maegashira #8
5–10
 		 West Maegashira #13
5–10
 		 West Maegashira #16
6–9
 
2024 East Jūryō #2
–
 		 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. ↑ "嫌々だった相撲 勧めた母へ錦富士が伝えた言葉の「宝物」". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 7 January 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "全新弟子名鑑". 相撲 (雑誌). ベースボール・マガジン社 (2016年10月号): 106.
  3. 1 2 "小笠原が序の口優勝、庵原との同門優勝決定戦を制す". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 27 November 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "錦富士「狙ってた」幕下Ｖ、助言の元安美錦に恩返し". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 20 March 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "新十両・錦富士「上を目指す」 けが続きの4年「周りの人の支えで」 秋場所番付編成". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 "新十両昇進の錦富士「次は勝ち越して上にいくこと」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "安美錦元付け人の錦富士勝ち越し十両昇進で恩返しを". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 16 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 "同部屋の翠富士と錦富士がまたも序二段優勝決定戦". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 20 January 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "兄弟子・照ノ富士の「伊勢ケ浜旋風を起こそう」胸に自粛期間も稽古打ち込み新十両昇進 錦富士が感謝". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "十和田出身の錦富士が幕下優勝／大相撲春場所". Daily Tohoku (in Japanese). 20 March 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "王輝＆錦富士が新十両昇進 日本相撲協会が番付編成会議". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 6 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "幕下全勝は旭蒼天と錦富士 三段目の宇良が６連勝／春場所". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 19 March 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Gunning, John (12 August 2020). "Nishikifuji's promotion to jūryō to be among the most memorable moments of his sumo life". Japan Times. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Hatsu 2021 Results". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "魁が９人の決定戦制し幕下Ｖ「楽しんで相撲取れた」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "＜大相撲の時間です＞ ９人で幕下優勝決定戦". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 10 February 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  17. 1 2 "錦富士、大奄美との優勝決定戦制し十両Ｖ「うれしいのとやっと終わったという思い」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 22 May 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "【名古屋場所新番付】新入幕の錦富士「しっかり当たってスピードのある相撲を」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 27 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sumo: Ichinojo wins first Emperor's Cup following loss by Terunofuji". The Mainichi. July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  20. ↑ "錦富士が強行出場決意「何としても」先場所に右足靭帯損傷も支えられる土屋太鳳似の妻のためにも". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Nishikifuji Ryusei – Rikishi Profile". Japan Sumo Association. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "「もっと精進」 大相撲・新入幕の錦富士が抱負". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 22 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "錦富士、5勝目で来場所十両へ「ここまできたら自信を持ってやろうと思った」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "錦富士が挙式、お相手は"土屋太鳳似"の24歳「一目ぼれでした。この人、絶対にいいなと」". Nikkan Sports. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "錦富士、双子誕生に発奮「支えてくれる家族のためにも頑張らないと」". Sankei Sports. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Nishikifuji Ryusei Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
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