Hakuōhō Tetsuya (Japanese: 伯桜鵬 哲也, born Tetsuya Ochiai (落合 哲也, Ochiai Tetsuya) on August 22, 2003) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kurayoshi, Tottori. After a successful amateur career, he turned professional in January 2023, via makushita tsukedashi system, winning that division's championship and being promoted to sumo's top division in July 2023. Nicknamed "Reiwa monster" thanks to his record-breaking promotions, his highest rank has been maegashira 9. A member of Miyagino stable, under the guidance of former yokozuna Hakuhō, he currently wrestles for Isegahama stable.
| Hakuōhō Tetsuya | |
|---|---|
| 伯桜鵬 哲也 | |
 Hakuōhō in April 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Tetsuya Ochiai August 22, 2003 Kurayoshi, Tottori, Japan |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 158 kg (348 lb; 24.9 st) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Miyagino → Isegahama |
| Current rank | see below |
| Debut | January 2023 |
| Highest rank | Maegashira 9 (September 2023) |
| Championships | Makushita (1) |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Sprit (1) Technique (1) |
| * Up to date as of March 2024. | |
Early life and sumo background
editAs a kid, Ochiai played football from the first grade to the fourth grade. Because of his physique and poor playing habits, he was nevertheless advised to quit the sport.[1] While in second grade at Seitoku Elementary School in Kurayoshi, the same school as former yokozuna Kotozakura, he took part in the "Sakura-zumo" children's tournament and decided to take up the sport when he won the individual competition as a fourth grader.[2] It was only during that time he began to wrestle regularly.[1][3] He entered Tottori Nishi Junior High School, the sister school of Tottori Jōhoku High School, but had to hang in there, calling his father at the end of his first sumo training session to throw in the towel, the rigors of training being too much for him.[1] Encouraged by Ichinojō, who was Jōhoku High's club captain, he nevertheless kept at it and during the junior high school national championships in his second year, he defeated the reigning champion, citing this moment as the one that made him love sumo.[1] In ninth grade, he won the Hakuhō Cup junior high school tournament.[4] However, it was also during these years that he injured his shoulder, a condition that has not yet fully healed.[5] He then entered Tottori Jōhoku High School and won the title of high school yokozuna in his second and third year of high school competition;[3] in his third year, he was in the top eight at the All-Japan Championships and thus was eligible for sandanme tsukedashi.[6] After graduating from high school, he focused on healing his shoulder injury and worked at his father's metalwork machinery company Noda Gumi in Tottori. By virtue of winning the All Japan Corporate Sumo Championship in September 2022 (and thus being named Corporate Yokozuna) he was eligible to enter professional sumo as makushita tsukedashi'.[7]
Early career
editRecruitment and historical promotion
editAt the invitation of Miyagino oyakata (the 69th yokozuna Hakuhō), Ochiai joined the Miyagino stable.[8] He made his professional debut in January 2023 at the rank of makushita 15 to reflect his amateur success (makushita tsukedashi). He won the makushita title with an undefeated record of seven wins and was subsequently promoted to the jūryō division for March, becoming the first wrestler to earn a jūryō promotion after just one tournament in 90 years.[9] Since the abolition of the makushita tsukedachi system for promotion to the top of the makushita division in September 2023, Ochiai is likely to be the last wrestler to be promoted to the jūryō division in just one tournament in sumo's modern history.[10] Given Ochiai's quick rise to the second-highest division, Miyagino confessed he hadn't had the time to think of a shikona for his apprentice.[11] Thanks to his record-breaking promotion, Ochiai began to be nicknamed Reiwa no kaibutsu (令和の怪物), meaning 'Reiwa monster', in reference to ōzeki Musōyama who was nicknamed 'Heisei monster' after he too was promoted to jūryō after being undefeated as a makushita.[12][13]
Jūryō career
editOchiai experienced his first defeat in professional sumo on day 2 of the Osaka tournament (in March 2023) against the other newly promoted jūryō, Tamashōhō.[14] On the 6th day of the same tournament, he announced that he had made the unusual decision to become the tsukebito of makuuchi wrestler Hokuseihō because he wanted to experience this role himself and considered it a learning experience.[15] He finished the March 2023 tournament with 10–5 record.
Ochiai was promoted to jūryō 8 in the May 2023 tournament. He finished the tournament with 14 wins along with Gōnoyama, who defeated Ochiai on Day 11. The two wrestlers were thus competing for the jūryō championship and Ochiai would have been the first wrestler under the age of 20 to win the title since his master Hakuhō's victory at the 2004 tournament.[16] Ochiai was however beaten again by Gōnoyama in the jūryō championship playoff. It marked the first time since 1949 that the jūryō championship was decided in a playoff between two wrestlers with 14–1 records.[17]
After the May 2023 tournament it was announced that Ochiai received the shikona Hakuōhō (伯桜鵬) from his stablemaster. The ring name is a combination of "Haku" (伯), referring to the province of Hōki (伯耆国) which became Tottori Prefecture, "Ō" (桜) from "Sakura-zumo" (桜ずもう), a sumo tournament in Kurayoshi in which he participated when he was a schoolboy and finally "Hō" (鵬) to refer to Ochiai's master, Hakuhō.[18]
Makuuchi
editTop division promotion
edit
On 26 June 2023, Hakuōhō's name appeared on the July 2023 sumo tournament rankings at the position of west maegashira 17, ushering his entry into sumo's top division in just his fourth professional tournament.[19] Hakuōhō is the sixth-youngest wrestler since 1990 to reach the top division, doing so at the age of 19 years and 10 months, as well as the second wrestler since the Shōwa era to reach makuuchi in three tournaments since their debut (the other being Endō).[20] Upon his promotion, Hakuōhō told reporters that his goal for his first top division tournament was 12 wins and the Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance prize), which his stablemaster Miyagino achieved in his first makuuchi appearance in May 2004. Hakuōhō said that he hadn't gotten used to his new name yet, but said that it felt fresh. He said he was satisfied with his performances in his first three tournaments, but that from now on it would not be so easy.[21]
Hakuōhō began his tournament with a win over Aoiyama, and went on to win the majority of his matches although he also lost to former san'yaku Takarafuji (on Day 3) and Ryūden (Day 5).[22][23] On Day 6, he overcame Gōnoyama, who had beaten him twice for the jūryō division title in the previous tournament; defeating him by hatakikomi and bringing his 5-match winning streak to a halt.[24] In September 2023, Hakuōhō revealed to the press that during the tournament his shoulder would dislocate after days of fighting, having dislocated a total of three times during the duration of the tournament.[25] Wishing to continue to wrestle to satisfy the expectations of those around him and the public, Hakuōhō reached a positive kachi-koshi record on Day 11, with a victory over the former ōzeki Takayasu.[26] He then went on to defeat komusubi Abi the following day. This victory marked the first time a newly-promoted makuuchi had won a match against a wrestler currently in san'yaku since Ichinojō defeated then-ōzeki Kisenosato at the September 2014 tournament.[27] Hakuōhō then went on to achieve back-to-back victories on Day 13 and 14 over tournament leaders maegashira Nishikigi and Hokutofuji, strengthening his own chances of claiming the makuuchi championship.[28][29] At the end of the tournament, Hakuōhō faced Hōshōryū, both recording 11 wins to 3 losses. The winner of this match would have to challenge Hokutofuji, who, with 12 wins and 3 losses had secured a place in a playoff for the makuuchi championship. Hōshōryū nevertheless defeated Hakuōhō by uwatenage, effectively eliminating Hakuōhō from the title race.[30] On the fifteenth day of the tournament Hakuōhō was however announced as the recipient of the sanshō awards for Technique and Fighting Spirit. These prizes, awarded in just four tournaments, make Hakuōhō the fastest prize winner in sumo history, breaking the records set by former sekiwake Ichinojō and former ōzeki Miyabiyama, who had won the awards in five tournaments since their professional debuts.[31]
Injury and demotion
editA few days after end of the July tournament, it was announced that Hakuōhō would withdraw from the summer regional tours because of left shoulder pain. On 29 August, one day after the September banzuke was released, he told reporters that he was not in very good condition. At the time he did not rule out the possibility of withdrawing from the September tournament, saying that even if he did and subsequently dropped in the rankings, his goal was not to be in makuuchi but to pursue his dream and do his best.[32] On September 4, it was confirmed that Hakuōhō would indeed be absent for the September tournament. His master Miyagino had already raised the possibility of an absence on August 27 due to a possible operation to treat pain caused by a subluxation of the left shoulder, an old injury of Hakuōhō's.[33] The operation in question finally took place on August 31, forcing Hakuōhō into a period of remission that could last until the end of the year to achieve complete recovery.[34] After his first away tournament, he confided to Yahoo! Sports his frustration at not being able to take part when the others promoted at the same time as him to makuuchi (Shōnannoumi, Gōnoyama and Atamifuji) were able to participate and performed quite well.[35]
Hakuōhō was demoted on the November 2023 banzuke to the jūryō division. Shortly after the rankings were released, it was announced that Hakuōhō would withdraw from that tournament to continue rehabilitation. Stablemaster Miyagino said that the objective was for Hakuōhō to compete in the January 2024 tournament.[36] Five days before the start of the January 2024 tournament, Hakuōhō—demoted to the rank of makushita 5—was medically cleared to compete. Miyagino decided to wait a few more days before giving Hakuōhō permission to enter the tournament.[37]
Return to competition
editHakuōhō was still unsure whether he would be able to compete in the January 2024 tournament, but confided afterwards that despite his master's cautious advice he decided to take part to gamble on his chances of once again being promoted to jūryō in one tournament, having been relegated to the top of the makushita division.[35]Having resumed competition, he suffered defeat on his third match to Ōnomatsu stable's Ōnokatsu, the last wrestler to turn professional using the status of makushita tsukedachi 15 before the system was abolished in September 2023.[38] He later cited this match as his highlight of the tournament, having lost even though he felt his performance was the best of his seven matches.[35] Despite this defeat, Hakuōhō recorded, on the ninth day of competition, a kachi-koshi record by beating Kototebakari (younger brother of Kotoshōhō) by shitatenage.[39] Hakuōhō continued to improve his score, ending the tournament with a score of 6–1, his last victory coming when he defeated upper-division and former makuuchi-ranked wrestler Chiyomaru on Day 13.[40] After the tournament, he commented that he was not at all satisfied with his performance and that his results had been down to luck.[35] Later in January, it was announced that Hakuōhō's score would be enough to promote him back into the jūryō division for the March tournament.[41]
Hakuōhō began his return to sekitori status in the spotlight after the abuse case and the retirement of his senior stablemate Hokuseihō, making him the most senior wrestler in Miyagino stable at the time. In his first match, in which he appeared with a chonmage for the first time, he defeated Kitaharima, his senior by 17 years.[42] Hakuōhō ended the tournament with a barely-reached kachi-koshi refusing, however, to attribute his score to the atmosphere surrounding the possible forthcoming closure of his stable.[43] In the last week of March, it was confirmed that Hakuōhō and all the wrestlers and coaches from Miyagino stable would be transferred to Isegahama stable for an indefinite period of time.[44]
On the second day of the May 2024 tournament, Hakuōhō suffered a torn right biceps in his match against Tamashōhō.[45] He took the decision to continue competing, nonetheless suffering defeat against Chiyosakae on Day 3.[46] On the eighth day he declared himself absent from the tournament due to a COVID-19 infection, the medical report prescribing five days' rest.[47]
Fighting style
editHakuōhō is recognised as a wrestler who can adapt to any technique.[48] Just before his makuuchi debut, he defined his fighting style as relying mainly on speed and a low stance, enabling him to easily reach his opponent's mawashi.[48] His profile on the official website of the Japanese Sumo Association defines his favourite hold as hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi.
To perfect his technique, he regularly watches the old matches of his master (former yokozuna Hakuhō), particularly for the latter's ability to quickly seize his opponent's mawashi and destabilise him with throwing techniques.[48]
Personal life
editHakuōhō is the youngest in his family and has two older brothers.[2] His hobbies include enka, period drama and his favourite movies are The Chronicles of Narnia.[2]
Career record
edit| Year | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Makushita tsukedashi #15 7–0 Champion |
West Jūryō #14 10–5 |
West Jūryō #8 14–1–P |
West Maegashira #17 11–4 FT |
West Maegashira #9 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
West Jūryō #6 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
| 2024 | West Makushita #5 6–1 |
West Jūryō #13 8–7 |
West Jūryō #8 5–6–4 |
East Jūryō #13 11–4 |
West Jūryō #5 8–7 |
West Jūryō #2 10–5 |
| Record given as wins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) |
||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Mitsu, Keita (6 July 2023). "昭和以降最速新入幕の伯桜鵬「夢舞台で相撲を取れるのは楽しみ」 サッカー少年、相撲は嫌々始めたことも明かす…インタビュー". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ a b c Izuka Saki (28 June 2023). "伯桜鵬（後編）：嫌々始めた相撲 名門・鳥取城北高校でつけた力". Docomo Sports. NTT Docomo. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Towards the dream of "yokozuna": Tetsuya Ochiai, on his debut as a sumo wrestler" 「横綱」の夢に向かって～落合哲也 大相撲デビューへ～. nhk.jp (in Japanese). NHK. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "実業団横綱・落合哲也が宮城野部屋入門 幕下15枚目格付け出し承認 初場所デビューへ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 1 December 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "新入幕の伯桜鵬「勝つ気しかない。最高の準備をする」痛めている左肩を考慮し相撲を取らず調整". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "High school yokozuna Ochiai makes the top 8 of the All Japan Championships "I want to go pro soon" Qualifies for sandanme tsukedashi" 高校横綱の落合が全日本選手権８強「すぐプロいきたい」三段目付け出し資格. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ "Last year's high school yokozuna, Tetsuya Ochiai, qualified for makushita 15 ranking, the second high school graduate in history since Ichinojō" 昨年の高校横綱・落合哲也が幕下15枚目格付け出し資格獲得 高卒では逸ノ城以来、史上2人目. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2022-09-18. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ 2年連続 高校横綱 鳥取城北 落合哲也選手 宮城野部屋に入門へ. NHK News (in Japanese). 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ "Ochiai becomes fastest sumo wrestler to reach juryo division in decades". nhk.or.jp. NHK. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Gunning, John (4 October 2023). "JSA on right track with new rules to increase pro sumo participation". The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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- ^ 落合が新十両昇進決定！史上最速1場所で関取に 29歳・玉正鳳も昇進決定. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ 相撲界の令和の怪物・落合、白まわし姿お披露目「関取になれた実感湧いてくる」顔ほころばせ. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
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- ^ "大相撲夏場所 十両 豪ノ山が優勝 来場所の新入幕が決定的" (in Japanese). NHK. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ “令和の怪物”落合が「伯桜鵬」に改名へ 新入幕が決定的な来場所から. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "【名古屋場所新番付】錦木が自己最高位に躍進、朝乃山は東前頭４枚目に／幕内十両昇降表" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "【名古屋場所番付発表】19歳10カ月の落合改め伯桜鵬が平成以降6位の年少新入幕 所要3場所は最速タイ" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "新入幕の落合あらため伯桜鵬「新鮮」しこ名の由来など説明、目標は師匠と同じ12勝" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "伯桜鵬が初黒星、36歳ベテラン宝富士に敗れる" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "新入幕の伯桜鵬が竜電に屈して２敗目 目標の12勝へ序盤戦は３勝２敗" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "伯桜鵬、豪ノ山初撃破 過去３戦全敗「素直にうれしい」新入幕対決巧みなはたきで制し４勝目" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "左肩手術で秋場所全休、伯桜鵬が激白「朝起きたら肩が外れていた。名古屋場所中に３回ぐらい」" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "伯桜鵬、高安下し勝ち越し！昭和以降最速タイの所要３場所で新入幕、残り４日全勝で12勝目指す" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "109年ぶり新入幕V期待の伯桜鵬「逸ノ城関がいなかったら…」"ボッコボコ"にされた高校生との稽古で始まった小4落合少年との縁【大相撲名古屋場所】" (in Japanese). Chunichi Sports. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "19歳伯桜鵬が優勝争いトップの錦木を破って10勝目 貴花田以来31年ぶりの10代Ｖが現実味" (in Japanese). Chunichi Sports. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "19歳・伯桜鵬、北勝富士との直接対決制して優勝争いトップ並んだ！見えた109年ぶり新入幕V" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ ""鬼の形相"豊昇龍 にらみ返す19歳"令和の怪物"伯桜鵬に貫禄勝ち！31歳・北勝富士との優勝決定戦へ" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "伯桜鵬が史上最速で三賞受賞 敢闘と技能のダブル受賞" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "左肩痛で夏巡業全休の伯桜鵬「あまり状態は良くない」秋場所休場の可能性も" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "宮城野親方、左肩亜脱臼の伯桜鵬は将来的に手術も選択肢「考えます。でも（手術を）したら長引くし…」" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "伯桜鵬が秋場所全休、８月31日に左肩手術で年内復帰は絶望的…番付は「どこまで落ちてもいい」" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d Izuka Saki (21 February 2024). "左肩負傷から復帰の伯桜鵬 大相撲に入って初めて「緊張した」 次の大阪場所ではちょんまげ姿を初披露予定". Yahoo! Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "伯桜鵬が２場所連続休場、８月に左肩手術 初場所での幕下転落は確実" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "伯桜鵬、３場所ぶり出場で「不安はない」と幕下から再起目指す 初日に元幕内矢後と対戦" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "「令和の怪物」伯桜鵬が初黒星で２勝１敗 再十両へ残り４番で巻き返し誓う" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "「令和の怪物」幕下伯桜鵬は勝ち越し決め再十両に前進も「すべて負けていてもおかしくない相撲」" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "伯桜鵬、復帰場所は６勝１敗 十両返り咲きへさらに前進 「師匠みたいに稽古の鬼になって化け物になりたい」" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "北はり磨、記録的な復活劇 若隆景、対馬洋、伯桜鵬とともに再十両". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "伯桜鵬、宮城野部屋処遇巡る異例の場所で白星発進 「師匠が２人いるような気持ち。恩返ししたい」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "伯桜鵬「15日間戦いきって８勝７敗。それだけ」 宮城野部屋騒動にも「環境の影響は一切ない」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Sumo: Wrestlers from scandal-hit Miyagino stable to join Isegahama". Kyodo News. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "十両伯桜鵬が右腕負傷「ちょっと音が鳴った。プチッと」肉離れなどのアクシデントを示唆". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "伊勢ケ浜部屋転籍の伯桜鵬が連敗で黒星先行 前日に右上腕二頭筋断裂「力が入らない」ものの出場". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "十両の伯桜鵬がコロナで休場 十両以上で10人目と休場者続出". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Izuka Saki (21 June 2023). "伯桜鵬（前編）：14勝1敗も課題はある 新入幕を決めた5月場所を振り返る". Docomo Sports. NTT Docomo. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Hakuoho Tetsuya Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
External links
edit- Hakuōhō Tetsuya's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage