Behind the Curtain - March 2022

Spring is in the air so it must be time for the Osaka Basho. At this Basho we have 2 new faces and 2 returnees to the silk belt. Let’s get rolling with the new faces first.

Atamifuji Ms1w 4-3, Isegahama-beya, Shizuoka, 19 years old. Born Takei Sakutaro in Chiba, he moved to Atami and his shikona is a nod to his hometown. He joined Isegahama stable at age of 18. Atami has a very controlled approach to his bouts and doesn't seem to get fazed much by anything. He belongs in Juryo and ought to have an extended stay.

Shimazuumi Ms2w 4-3, Hanaregoma-beya, Kagoshima, 25 years old. Shimazuumi, formerly known as Nakazono, is from the new Hanaregoma-beya. Shimanoumi's first appearance in juryo ended in failure as he won only four of his fifteen matches and was relegated back to makushita. Competing towards the top of the third division for the rest of 2016 and throughout 2017 he performed consistently before a 5-2 result in January 2018 secured his second promotion to Juryo.  After stepping behind the curtain again, he has been close to the curtain for over a year now, and he finally nailed it after three consecutive kachi-koshi basho. He has been in sumo since 2012. He's been in Makushita consistently since 2017. It took him 5 years but he is finally in the paid ranks.

Takakentou Ms3e 4-3, Tokiwayama-beya, Kumamoto, 25 years old, 2nd promotion, back after 2 basho. He made his debut in January 2014 and currently wrestles for Tokiwayama stable. He reached the Juryo division in March 2021. His highest rank as of 2022 is Juryo 4. Now he returns to wearing the silk mawashi. He ought to be able to get beyond Juryo 4 in a couple of tournaments.

Ryuuden Ms5e 6-1, Takadagawa-beya, Yamanashi, 31 years old, 3rd promotion, back after 3 basho, former komusubi. He made his professional debut in March 2006 and reached the top makuuchi division in January 2018. He was the youngest of three brothers and had a background in judo. However, he was persuaded by the former sekiwake Akinoshima, a coach at Takadagawa stable who was visiting his junior high school to scout a judo classmate, to give sumo a try. Ryuden gradually rose the ranks through the lower divisions and reached the makushita division in March 2008 at the young age of 17. He bounced back and forth between makushita and sandanme for a couple of months, before becoming a makushita regular beginning in November 2008. In July 2009, Ryuden produced a 6-1 record and was placed in an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho, however, he lost to Sotairyu in the first round. He reached the makuuchi division in January 2018 and has two special prizes. His highest rank as of 2021 is komusubi.