Takagenji

is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki Prefecture. He made his debut in March 2013 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in July 2019. He wrestled for the Takanohana and Tokiwayama stables. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 10. He has a twin brother Takanofuji Sanzō who debuted alongside him but was dismissed from sumo in 2019. In July 2021 Takagenji himself was dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association for cannabis use.

Early life and sumo experience

He was born in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, as a younger brother of an identical twin to a Filipino mother and a Japanese father. He would grow up in Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture. He was in many sports as a youth such as karate and kickboxing but was particularly good at basketball. In junior high he was ranked third nationally in basketball and was scouted by many top high school basketball programs. Among his rivals was future NBA player Rui Hachimura. Upon his father's request he took up sumo after being introduced to ''yokozuna'' Takanohana in the third grade. After junior high he chose to join Takanohana stable along with his brother stating, "I won't make any money in basketball and I would like to continue using my body." The stable already had a set of twins (Takageppo and Takatoshi) making Takanohana stable the first in sumo history to have two sets of twins simultaneously. However, both of the other twins had retired by the end of 2014.

Career

Takagenji made his professional debut alongside his brother in March 2013. He steadily rose up the ranks before hitting his first wall upon his promotion to ''makushita'' two years later in March 2015. He could manage only three wins at the rank and was immediately demoted back down to ''sandanme.'' He proceeded to bounce between the two divisions for a little less than a year before a surprise 6-1 runner-up performance in January 2016 would help to firmly establish him in the ''makushita'' division. He fought in this division for a little over a year before on the coattails five ''kachi-koshi'' or winning records he achieved 4–3 record at ''makushita'' 1 and gained promotion to the ''jūryō'' division. His first tournament in ''jūryō'' did not pan out as his last year had and he fell flat managing only a 4–11 record and being immediately be demoted back down to the ''makushita'' division. This wouldn't last long though as two winning records would send him back up to the ''sekitori'' ranks. This time his stay in ''jūryō'' was the polar opposite of his first with four straight winning records before getting his first ''make-koshi'' or losing record. After the January 2018 tournament, his brother (then known as Takayoshitoshi) was promoted to ''jūryō'' also, making them the first twins to be ranked in ''jūryō'' simultaneously. Shortly after this his stable was dissolved and he moved to then Chiganoura stable (since renamed) along with his brother. In May 2019 at the rank of ''jūryō'' 2 he got a 13-2 winning record taking home the ''yūshō'' or championship and guaranteeing his promotion to the top division.

Takagenji made his ''makuuchi'' debut in July 2019 at the rank of ''maegashira'' 10. He made a promising start by winning four of his first five matches but then lost ten in a row to finish on 4–11. The same score of 4–11 in the September tournament from the very bottom rank of ''maegashira'' 17 saw him demoted to ''jūryō'' for November 2019. Further losing records saw him demoted to ''makushita'' for the September 2020 tournament, but he returned to ''jūryō'' after just one tournament.

Disciplinary record and dismissal

In September 2019 when his twin brother was told to retire for striking his ''tsukebito'' or personal assistant, Takagenji was also reprimanded because although he had not used physical violence, he was found to have engaged in power harassment.

In December 2019, the Japan Sumo Association admitted that Takagenji participated in a regional sumo tour in Kyushu while infected with the influenza virus. A spokesperson said that Takagenji reported his health condition to a hospital in Saga on 11 December, but then climbed into the ''dohyō'' later in the day. The actions were criticized by the head of the Japan Sports Agency, and the Sumo Association acknowledged that it failed to handle the matter properly.

The Sumo Association announced in July 2021 that Takagenji had failed a test for cannabis. Having initially claimed that a trace must have come from the oil of a pain reliever he was using, he later admitted that he had smoked a cannabis cigarette while roadside at his Nagoya training quarters. Takagenji was told to stay home by his stablemaster while the Sumo Association's compliance committee investigated. Takagenji is also under investigation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. On July 30, 2021 it was announced by the Sumo Association that Takagenji would retire immediately, and that his stablemaster would be demoted. The compliance committee noted that Takagenji had been warned about his future conduct less than two years ago, had lied about his cannabis use until the positive drug test confirmed it, and had smoked cannabis on at least eight occasions.

On the September 2021 banzuke the position of Jūryō 9 West, which Takagenji would have occupied, was left blank. On 3 September 2021 his case was referred to prosecutors regarding possible violation of the Cannabis Control Law by possessing marijuana, but it was announced on 12 October that he would not be prosecuted.

Fighting style

Takagenji was an ''oshi-sumo'' specialist who favoured pushing techniques to fighting on the ''mawashi'' or belt. His most common ''kimarite'' was ''yorikiri'' followed by ''oshidashi'' and ''tsukidashi''. He was initially a ''yotsu-sumo'' or grappling specialist, but began to switch to pushing techniques around 2015 to try to improve his performances after finding himself going back and forth between the ''makushita'' and ''sandanme'' divisions. His consistency improved and he was eventually promoted to ''sekitori'' level in 2017.

He was known for being a diligent trainer, so much so that when he dislocated his knee while practicing on tour in Tokushima in October 2016, he re-inserted the dislocated knee joint so he could finish the training session.

Career record

Mixed martial arts career

On December 24, 2021, Satoshi announced that he was becoming a mixed martial artist. He changed his name to Takagenji Satoshi. His first bout against Hideki "Shrek" Sekine is scheduled for April 16, 2022 at Rizin Trigger 3. He lost the bout via TKO due to soccer kicks and punches on the ground in the second round.

Satoshi faced Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira at Rizin Landmark 4 on November 6, 2022. He lost the fight by ground and pound TKO stoppage at the end of the first round.

Mixed martial arts record

, -
, Loss
, align=center, 0–2
, Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira
, TKO (punches)
, Rizin Landmark 4
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 4:35
, Nagoya, Japan
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 0–1
, Hideki Sekine
, TKO (soccer kicks and punches)
, Rizin Trigger 3
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 3:49
, Chōfu, Japan
,
, -

See also

*List of past sumo wrestlers
*List of sumo tournament second division champions
*Glossary of sumo terms

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takagenji, Satoshi
1997 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Ibaraki Prefecture
Sumo people from Tochigi Prefecture
Japanese male mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing Sumo
Sportspeople banned for life