is a Japanese professional
sumo
is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...
wrestler from
Towada
is a city in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 60,697, and a population density of 84 persons per km2 in 27,677 households. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Towada is in the foothills of the Hakkōda M ...
. He wrestles for the
Isegahama stable
Isegahama stable was a heya or stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami-Isegahama ''ichimon,'' or group of stables.
It was founded in 1859 by former ''komusubi'' Arakuma. It was led from 1929 by former ''sekiwake'' Kiyosegawa. His daugh ...
and made his debut in September 2016 and reached the top division in July 2022. His highest rank has been
maegashira 4. He has a
jonokuchi, a
jonidan, a
makushita and a
jūryō
Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. For ...
division championships. He has a
special prize.
Early life and sumo beginnings
Born in
Towada, Aomori, he began wrestling in his third year of elementary school at Sanbongi Elementary School in Towada and in his sixth year, he placed in the top eight at the National Junior High School Sumo Tournament.
In high school, he went on to Sanbongi Agricultural High School's Agricultural Machinery Department and while there he placed third in the individual division in the National High School Usa Tournament.
His classmates in high school included
Onosho, as well as
Midorifuji
is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yaizu, Shizuoka. Known for being a '' katasukashi'' specialist, he debuted in sumo wrestling in September 2016 and made his ''makuuchi'' debut in January 2021. His highest rank has been ''maegashira ...
, whom he now wrestles in the same stable with.
Career
In August 2020 Nishikifuji's promotion to the
jūryō
Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. For ...
division was announced, coinciding with his stablemate
Terunofuji winning the July 2020 tournament championship on his return to the top division.
In May 2022, Nishikifuji won the jūryō division's championship, also coinciding with his stablemate Yokozuna Terunofuji's seventh top division championship.
Due to his jūryō championship the previous tournament, Nishikifuji was promoted to the
top division, debuting in the rank of maegashira 17. He went on to get double-digit wins, finishing the
basho with a 10-5 record. That same tournament he was granted a
special prize, the Fighting Spirit prize, for finishing his debut in the top division with a strong winning record.
Career record
See also
*
Glossary of sumo terms
*
List of active sumo wrestlers
References
External links
*
{{Active makuuchi wrestlers
1996 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers