Takakeishō Mitsunobu

is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ashiya, Hyōgo. He made his professional debut in November 2014, and reached the highest ''makuuchi'' division in January 2017 after 14 tournaments. He won his first championship in the top division in November 2018, four years after his debut. Takakeishō wrestles for Tokiwayama stable, and his highest rank has been '' ōzeki'', which he first reached in May 2019. He has earned seven special prizes and three gold stars for defeating ''yokozuna''. He won his second championship in November 2020.

Early life and sumo experience

Satō's given name of Takanobu was derived from the name of ''yokozuna'' Takanohana, who would eventually become his stablemaster. Growing up in Ashiya, Hyōgo, Satō competed in full-contact karate in early primary school, and was runner up for the championship in a national competition. However, his father was determined that his son would become a sumo wrestler, and in Satō's third year he began participating sumo at a local dojo. After primary school, he entered Hotoku Gakuen Junior High School, known for its sumo program. In his third year there he won a national championship and took the title of junior high school ''yokozuna'', or grand champion.

Encouraged by his father to eat hamburgers and French fries, his weight increased from 30 kilos in the third grade to 80 kilos by sixth grade. He then moved to eastern Japan and entered the private high school Saitama Sakae, which had an athletics course. During his time at Saitama Sakae, Satō won two successive championships, the Kantō regional high school sumo tournament and the National Junior Sumo Tournament, wrestling in the free weight category. In total Satō won 10 national titles in his high school years. In his third year, he was also champion in the free weight category of the World Junior Sumo Tournament held in Taiwan.

Career

Satō was quite eager to join the professional sumo world, so after high school, he decided to forego university in favour of competing in national sumo tournaments (which would have given him a chance to later gain ''makushita tsukedashi'' status) and quickly joined Takanohana stable. Though it is common practice for wrestlers to take on a ring name upon entering this particular stable, he chose to use his real name. Because of his strong desire to join the professional ranks as quickly as possible, he participated in ''maezumo'' (preliminary sumo tryouts) in September 2014 while still a high school student, a very rare occurrence. His coach, the former ''yokozuna'' Takanohana, made an arrangement with Sato's high school that he would continue to attend school when not participating in official tournaments. Later news reports however stated that he had dropped out of high school.

Satō officially entered the sumo ring as a professional ''rikishi'' in November 2014, and in his debut won the lowest division, or ''jonokuchi'', championship with a perfect 7–0 record. He added on another championship, again with a perfect 7–0 record in his next tournament in the next highest division ''jonidan''. In the following March tournament in Osaka, competing in the ''sandanme'' division, he finally lost his first bout on the third day, ending his successive win record at 15 bouts. In the following May 2015 tournament, in the ''makushita'' division, he had a perfect 6–0 record up until his last bout, but he lost this one to the future Takaryū, who took the championship. This happened again two tournaments later, where he chalked up another six wins in his first six bouts, only to lose to veteran Azumaryū. This was still a good enough record to compete in an eight-man playoff. He defeated two opponents to make it to the final round, but then lost the last round for the championship to future ''sekitori'' Chiyoshōma. In the following November 2015 tournament after winning three bouts in a row, he lost his next four and got his first ''make-koshi'' or losing tournament. He would bounce back two tournaments later, in March of the following year, winning all of his bouts and defeating former ''sekitori'' in his final bout to clinch his first ''makushita'' championship. This was a decisive championship that would, in the next tournament, propel him into the salaried ranks of ''jūryō''.

In his first ''jūryō'' tournament he became only the sixth wrestler in history, and the first ever in his teens to win eight consecutive bouts (a ''kachi-koshi'') in his debut. He however went on to lose four bouts and ended with an 11–4 record for that May 2016 tournament. He spent the next few tournaments rising steadily up the ranks of ''jūryō'' recording only one ''make-koshi'', his second up to that point. This culminated in his fourth tournament in ''jūryō'' where he chalked up a 12–3 record in the ultra-competitive upper ranks of this division and earned his first championship as a salaried wrestler. In January 2017, he was promoted to the top flight ''makuuchi'' division. On this occasion he chose to adopt the ring name Takakeishō Mitsunobu. The first character in his ''shikona'' surname comes from the first character in the ''shikona'' of his stablemaster, Takanohana, and the second two characters are taken from the given name of the Japanese historical figure, Kagekatsu Uesugi.

In Takakeishō's top division debut he only managed a 7–8 record. However, he followed up with eleven wins against four losses in the March 2017 tournament and was awarded his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit. Another 11–4 record in May saw him promoted to ''maegashira'' 1, but he struggled at his new rank and recorded only five wins in July. Ranked at ''maegashira'' 5 in September 2017, he earned his first ''kinboshi'' or victory over a ''yokozuna'' by defeating Harumafuji, who went on to win the tournament. Takakeishō was awarded the Outstanding Performance Prize on the final day. In November he again recorded eleven wins, earning two further ''kinboshi'' with victories over Harumafuji and Kisenosato and receiving a second consecutive prize for Outstanding Performance.

In January 2018 Takakeisho made his ''san'yaku'' debut at ''komusubi'', the first member of Takanohana stable to reach this rank since his stablemaster established the stable in February 2004. He fell short with a 5–10 record, and withdrew from the following tournament in March with only three wins due to pain in his right ankle. He returned to the ''komusubi'' rank in September 2018 and secured a winning record. Shortly after this tournament his stable was dissolved and he moved to Chiganoura stable, now renamed Tokiwayama stable.

First tournament championship and ''ōzeki'' promotion

The 2018 Kyushu tournament in November saw many withdrawals due to injury (''kyūjō''). Neither ''yokozuna'' Hakuhō nor ''yokozuna'' Kakuryū competed. ''Komusubi'' Kaisei also withdrew from contention with an injury. Takakeishō started the tournament well going undefeated the first six days including wins over ''yokozuna'' Kisenosato on Day 1, and ''ōzeki'' Gōeidō on Day 2. He suffered his first loss on Day 7 to ''sekiwake'' Mitakeumi. He then proceeded to win the next six days including a win over ''ōzeki'' Tochinoshin on Day 9, before suffering his second loss to ''ōzeki'' Takayasu on Day 14, with the result that both ''rikishi'' entered the final day tied with two losses each. Takakeishō won his final bout against Nishikigi, ensuring that he was either assured victory or a playoff with Takayasu if the ''ōzeki'' won his final bout. But instead Takakeishō watched as the same wrestler who handed him his first loss, Mitakeumi, guaranteed him his first top division championship by defeating Takayasu in the final bout. With just 26 career tournaments under his belt this victory tied him with ''yokozuna'' Akebono for fourth fastest all time from debut to winning a top division championship. At 22 years of age he was the sixth youngest top division championship winner since the six tournaments per year system began in 1958. The win also meant that Takakeishō has won championships in all but the ''sandanme'' division in his career.

Takakeishō followed up with an 11–4 record in January 2019, winning the Technique Prize. This gave him a record of 33 wins over the last three tournaments, but he was not promoted to ''ōzeki'' due to a combination of his failure to win more than nine victories in September, and his one-sided loss to ''ōzeki'' Gōeidō on the final day. In March he entered the penultimate day with a record of 9-4, including wins over Kakuryū and Takayasu, but was quickly defeated by Ichinojō. On the final day he was matched against Tochinoshin who needed a win to preserve his ''ōzeki'' rank. Takakeisho dominated the bout and pushed his opponent out to win by ''oshi-dashi''. Reports in Japan declared it a certainty that he would be promoted to ''ōzeki'', and at a press conference in Higashiōsaka he spoke of his relief at earning promotion after missing out in January. The Sumo Association made the ''ōzeki'' promotion official on 27 March 2019, and delivered the news to Takakeishō at a press conference in Osaka. "I will respect the ''bushidō'' spirit," he said in his acceptance speech, "and be thoughtful and thankful at all times while devoting myself to the way of the sumo." After his promotion ceremony, Takakeishō thanked his parents Kazuya and Junko Sato for supporting him, and promised to repay them through sumo. He said that reaching the rank of ''ōzeki'' is "a childhood dream," but that "there's a higher rank in the ''banzuke''." He made ''ōzeki'' in 28 tournaments after his professional debut, which is the sixth fastest rise since the six-tournament a year system was established in 1958. At 22 years and seven months he was also the ninth youngest to be promoted to ''ōzeki''.

Ōzeki career

Takakeishō withdrew on the fifth day of his debut ''ōzeki'' tournament in May 2019 due to a right knee injury, only to return to the tournament on Day 8 and fight one more bout before pulling out again the following day after damaging ligaments in the same knee. He became the first ''ōzeki'' since 15-day tournaments began in 1949 to withdraw from a tournament twice. On 4 July it was announced that Takakeisho's injury had not fully healed and that he would not compete in that month's upcoming Nagoya tournament, meaning that he would drop back to ''sekiwake'' in September. His stablemaster, former Takamisugi Takakatsu commented "He's still young with his future ahead of him. Had he wrestled... there was a big possibility his condition could worsen. If your legs go, you have to give up your sumo career. If his leg heals, he can come back stronger".

On Day 12 of the September tournament, Takakeishō earned his tenth win against Myōgiryū, securing his promotion back to ''ōzeki'' for the upcoming November tournament. He entered the final day on 11-3, tied for the lead with Okinoumi and Mitakeumi. He quickly defeated Okinoumi and then entered a play-off against Mitakeumi, whom he had already defeated on day 8. After a strong ''tachi-ai'' he retreated and went for a pull-down win but was forced out by his opponent. He suffered a left pectoral muscle strain during the ''tachi-ai'', requiring six weeks of rest. He resumed light training on October 11, and got through the November 2019 Kyushu tournament with a 9–6 record, losing the last match of the tournament to Hakuhō in a bout lasting over a minute. Hakuhō commented that Takakeishō was "just the harbinger of strong young wrestlers yet to come who will represent the sumo world well."

Takakeishō finished the January 2020 ''basho'' with a record of 11-4. He entered the final day of the March tournament with a record of 7-7 but lost to Asanoyama. A '' kadoban ōzeki'' in the next tournament in July 2020, he secured a winning record of eight wins on Day 11 to retain his rank, but then withdrew from the remainder of the tournament to rest a medial collateral ligament injury in his left leg. He then came back strong in September, finishing as the runner-up to Shōdai with a 12–3 record, his first runner-up performance as an ''ōzeki''.

The November 2020 ''basho'' started without both ''yokozuna'' and with two ''ōzeki'' withdrawing in the first five days, leaving Takakeishō as the only remaining ''ōzeki'' in the tournament and the highest ranked in the field. After winning his first eight matches in a row, he faced Terunofuji on the final day, while leading the tournament with a 13-1 record. Although he lost that match, the two faced off again in a playoff, which Takakeishō won to earn his second top division championship, his first as an ''ōzeki.'' Takakeishō also had the most wins in 2020 out of any wrestler, with 51.

Takakeishō had been aiming for promotion to ''yokozuna'' in the January 2021 tournament, but the opportunity was all but gone after losing his first four matches. After just two wins in nine days, he withdrew on day 10 as a result of an ankle injury. Facing demotion from his rank in the March tournament, he secured a 10-5 winning record, allowing him to stay an ''ozeki''. He was runner-up to Terunofuji in the May tournament with a 12–3 record, defeating Terunofuji in their regulation match on the final day but losing to him in the subsequent playoff.

Takakeishō withdrew from the July 2021 tournament after suffering a neck injury in his Day 2 match against Ichinojō. The injury required one month of recovery time, according to officials. Upon his return in September he lost his first three matches, and would have lost his ''ōzeki'' rank had he withdrawn again. He managed an 8–7 record, and performed better in November, finishing runner-up to Terunofuji on 12–3.

Takakeishō pulled out of the January 2022 tournament on the fourth day after he sprained his right ankle in his loss to Ura the day before. It was Takakeishō's eighth career '' kyūjō'', and the March 2022 ''basho'' was his fifth tournament in '' kadoban'' status. He preserved his rank by securing his eighth win on the 11th day of the March tournament against Kotonowaka.

Fighting style

Takakeishō specializes in pushing and thrusting techniques (''tsuki/oshi''). He regularly wins by ''oshi-dashi'' (push out) and ''hataki-komi'' (slap down).

Personal life

In August 2020 Takakeishō announced his engagement to fashion model Yukina Chiba. She is the daughter of former ''ōzeki'' Hokuten'yū.

Career record

See also

*List of sumo tournament top division champions
*List of sumo tournament top division runners-up
*List of sumo tournament second division champions
*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of active sumo wrestlers
* List of active gold star earners
* List of ''ōzeki''
* Active special prize winners

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takakeisho, Mitsunobu
1996 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Hyōgo Prefecture
Ōzeki