Kawazoe Keita

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In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Kawazoe.
Kawazoe Keita
川副 圭太
Kawazoe in September 2023
Personal information
BornKeita Kawazoe
(1999-04-10) April 10, 1999 (age 25)
Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture
Japan
Height1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Weight115 kg (254 lb; 18.1 st)
Career
StableMiyagino → Isegahama
UniversityNihon University
Current ranksee below
DebutSeptember, 2022
Highest rankJūryō 13 (July, 2023)
* Up to date as of March 2024.

Kawazoe Keita (川副 圭太), born April 10, 1999, is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto. His highest rank is jūryō 13, rank in which he evolved under the shikona, or ring name, Kihō Tomotaka (輝鵬 智貴) before reverting to his legal name for the May 2024 tournament.

Early life and sumo background[edit]

Kawazoe hails from Udo, Kumamoto, the same hometown as the 8th yokozuna Shiranui Dakuemon and ōzeki Shōdai. When he was in nursery school, he took part in a local sumo tournament and recalls being thrown to the ground by a girl. Although they were fighting for fun, his ego was bruised and he vowed to continue sumo, eventually developing a passion for the sport as he became more and more involved in his club's activities.[1] At high school, he enrolled at Buntoku High School [ja], a school with a good sumo club and several team and individual championship victories. There, Kawazoe became a high school yokozuna at the national championships.[1] In 2015, he won the Hakuhō Cup individual championship (junior high school competition),[2] and cites this competition as the moment when he decided to join Miyagino stable, in particular to become stronger by training with wrestlers of the same calibre as him (such as Ishiura and Enhō).[1] After graduating from high school, he joined Nihon University's sumo club, where he became the classmate of future makuuchi-ranked wrestler Takerufuji.[3] There, he also won the title of student yokozuna in 2021, by defeating the reigning champion Hidetora Hanada at the All Japan College Championships.[4] During his year at Nihon University, observers noted that he had quickly won the university's black mawashi, a symbol of the club's veteran wrestlers.[5] During the same period, he however suffered a partially torn right Achilles tendon and a torn right hamstring, which delayed his decision to become a professional.[1] With this last amateur yokozuna title, Kawazoe finally decided to turn pro, as he was still eligible to enter professional sumo using the makushita tsukedashi system.[4] As expected, he joined Miyagino stable where his fellow Nihon University classmate Ōtani [ja] was already wrestling.[6]

Formally recruited in September 2022, Kawazoe became the first new member of the Miyagino stable since Hakuhō took over the Miyagino elder share in July of that year.[7] At the time of the inspection of the new recruits, at the end of August 2022, he was authorised to compete because of his prowess as an amateur. However, he received a comment from Isegahama (former yokozuna Asahifuji) who told him "even if you are a tsukedashi, you can't be tall enough."[8]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

During his early career, he wrestled under his real name Kawazoe (川副). Just as he was about to begin his first tournament, Kawazoe expressed his desire to compete against the former ōzeki Asanoyama, who was climbing back to the top division after his suspension, on Day 1 of the September 2022 tournament.[8] Kawazoe nevertheless suffered a defeat but considered the match a good experience.[9] However, Kawazoe was able to bounce back and win a kachi-koshi score. For a year, he wrestled in the makushita division without ever scoring a make-koshi record but without winning a championship either, which slowed his progression up the rankings. In March 2023, when he was ranked as makushita 3, he missed out on promotion to sekitori status.[10]

Jūryō promotion[edit]

Following a 5–2 record as West Makushita 1, Kawazoe earned a promotion to the jūryō division, along Yūma [ja] and Ukrainian Shishi,[11] despite a fracture in the back of his left foot.[12] On the occasion of his promotion it was announced that he would take the shikona, or ring name, Kihō (輝鵬). It was revealed that this ring name, chosen on the night of his fourth victory securing his promotion, was chosen by Kawazoe himself with the kanji for "shine" (輝) as he wishes to become a wrestler who shines ever brighter.[12] His shikona first name, "Tomotaka" (智貴), is a combination of his father's Tomonori (智徳) and mother's Takayo (貴代).[13] During the interview introducing the new jūryō wrestlers, the now Kihō expressed regret at having fallen behind the promotion records of his stablemate Hakuōhō, vowing to overtake him in the rankings.[12] Upon promotion, Kihō became the smallest active sekitori, replacing his stablemate Enhō, and complementing Hokuseihō, another stablemate, who was the tallest sekitori at the time.[13] At 115 kg (254 lb) he was also, along with Midorifuji, the lightest active sekitori.[14]

Unusually, he took part in his first jūryō tournament with the iconic golden shimekomi of his coach Magaki-oyakata.[15] Speaking about this unusual situation, since wrestlers promoted to jūryō have their own competition mawashi custom-made, he explained that his silver shimekomi had only been delivered the day before the tournament, too late to use it. As he resolved himself to use his coach's, the observers saw it as a passing of the baton between Ishiura, who had just retired, and Kihō, who had just been promoted to jūryō; the two also sharing the same build and sumo style and Kihō declaring "I will do my best to carry on his will."[16][17] On the seventh day of the tournament, Kihō faced amateur scene rival and Nishonoseki stable wrestler, Ōnosato, who fought in makushita. Kihō had never managed to beat Ōnosato on the amateur scene, and the latter had even stolen the college yokozuna title from him at the 2022 championships.[18] Kihō nevertheless managed to defeat Ōnosato by hatakikomi and thus inflicted on him his second consecutive defeat, further delaying Ōnosato's promotion to jūryō.[19]

On the eighth day of the same tournament, he received a keshō-mawashi from his former school Buntoku High School. As he won that day against Tsushimanada, he commented that this gift, designed by his former sumo coach, was a good omen for his tournament.[20] On the eleventh day of the same tournament, Kihō, who was then recording a score of 7 wins, lost his match against Akua by the rare kimarite (winning technique) abisetaoshi, or 'backward force down'. Wounded during the fight, he had to be taken to the arena infirmary in a wheelchair,[21] before submitting a medical certificate and declaring himself kyūjō the next day; mentioning a lisfranc injury requiring a month's treatment.[22]

However, Kihō was listed among the wrestlers participating in the September 2023 tournament. In stable condition on his injured leg, he nevertheless injured his other leg on the first day of the tournament, when Ōnosato pushed his opponent Asakōryū out of the ring, the latter falling on top of Kihō. Now wrestling under painkillers in both legs due to torn muscles in both thighs, he won his second match over Shimanoumi the following day.[23] On the twelfth day of the same tournament, however, Kihō had to declare himself absent for the second consecutive jūryō tournament, after suffering a right hamstring muscle tear during his match against Chiyomaru, requiring around a month's treatment. Due to his absence Kihō recorded an eighth defeat by default, increasing the risk of relegation to the makushita division.[24]

When the banzuke for the November tournament was announced, it was indeed confirmed that Kihō would lose his sekitori status. At the same time, it was announced that he had undergone reconstructive surgery to treat his lisfranc joint ligament injuries and his metatarsal fracture, injuries he had sustained earlier in the year. His period of remission, expected to be of long duration, led to comments about his possible relegation to the sandanme division.[25] During his absence from the ring, it was confirmed that Kihō and all the wrestlers and coaches from Miyagino stable would be transferred to Isegahama stable for an indefinite period of time following the abuse case and the retirement of then-Miyagino's top ranker, Hokuseihō.[26] On the occasion of the May 2024 tournament, Kihō changed his shikona, or ring name, returning to his legal name he used at the start of his career.[27]

Fighting style[edit]

Despite his small stature of 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) tall and weighing 110 kg (240 lb), Kihō uses his momentum and flexible body as a weapon to perform a variety of techniques.[7] A versatile wrestler, Kihō favores an unusual grip on his opponents' mawashi with a moro-zashi, or double underarm grip. Most of his wins are by frontal push out or force out. His master Miyagino said that even though "he is handicapped by his weight and height, he still fights on and wins" adding that Kihō "is fun to watch".[7] Referring to Kihō's technical skills, Hakuhō also commented that he had the impression of seeing a "small Hakuhō" when Kihō wrestled.[1][7] He is also known for his variety of techniques he uses at the tachi-ai.[20]

Personal life[edit]

Kihō is the only boy in his family and has two sisters.[13]

Career record[edit]

　 　　 　　 　　 　　 　　 　 　　 　　 　　 　　 　　 　
Kihō Tomotaka[28]
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
2022xxxx Makushita tsukedashi #15
4–3
 		East Makushita #13
5–2
 
2023East Makushita #7
5–2
 		West Makushita #3
4–3
 		West Makushita #1
5–2
 		West Jūryō #13
7–5–3
 		East Jūryō #13
4–8–3
 		 East Makushita #2
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
2024 West Makushita #42
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Sandanme #23
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Sandanme #84
–
 		 x x x
Record given as wins–losses–absencies    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)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "学生横綱・川副圭太が宮城野部屋入門会見　相撲を始めたきっかけは「女の子に投げられちゃって」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ^ "元学生横綱・川副圭太を宮城野親方が絶賛「小さい白鵬を見ているよう」「新しいスターを見せたい」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. ^ "95キロの小兵・東俊隆が三段目で4連勝　同学年の尊富士はデビューからの連勝が17でストップ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 18 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b Gunning, John (24 November 2021). "Terunofuji's challengers likely to emerge from amateur ranks". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  5. ^ "輝鵬が申し合いで伯桜鵬に勝ち越し　新十両場所の目標は「全勝」のち「11勝」師匠と弟弟子超えへ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 4 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  6. ^ Gunning, John (17 August 2022). "Threatened by rivals, Nichidai continues to produce elite sumo talent". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d "学生横綱新弟子・川副圭太に宮城野親方期待「小さい白鵬を見ている感じ。相撲もうまい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b "新弟子の川副圭太「倒しにいきます」朝乃山と対戦熱望　内臓検査合格なら秋場所で幕下15枚格デビュー". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 24 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ^ "【秋場所】川副「圧力がすごかった」朝乃山の実力に舌巻く　ほろ苦デビューも「すごい良い経験」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  10. ^ "夏場所新十両に藤青雲、時疾風、千代栄は復帰　ヤクルト村神様の"旧友"川副は昇進逃す". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 29 March 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  11. ^ "獅司がウクライナ出身として初の関取、新十両３人と再十両２人を発表". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "新十両の川副改め輝鵬「本当に悔しかった」新入幕決定的な弟弟子落合にライバル心". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "川副改め輝鵬が新十両会見「これからどんどん輝いていけるように」…現役関取最小１６７センチ". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  14. ^ "関取衆の最新の身長体重発表…最重量は201キロ水戸龍　最軽量、最長身、最短身は？". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  15. ^ "新十両の川副改め輝鵬が十両初白星「ホッとした気持ち」間垣親方と喜びのグータッチ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 10 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  16. ^ "新十両・川副改め輝鵬は黒星発進「めっちゃ緊張した」引退した兄弟子・石浦の金色の締め込み着用". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 9 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  17. ^ "新十両・輝鵬が関取初白星　ケガで引退の元石浦・間垣親方の金色締め込みを使用「意志を継いでいます」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 10 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  18. ^ Gunning, John (8 December 2022). "Wrestlers with amateur backgrounds becoming new normal in sumo". The Japan Times. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  19. ^ "大の里プロ初の連敗「詰めの甘さ出た。土俵際が落とし穴だった」輝鵬のはたきに前のめりに落ちる". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 15 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  20. ^ a b "新十両・輝鵬が鮮やかな変化で5勝目「何してくるか分からない不思議な力士ってのもいいかな". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 16 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  21. ^ "関取衆最小兵166cm輝鵬、天空海の浴びせ倒しで左足親指痛め車いすで診療所＆風呂場に向かう". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  22. ^ "新十両の輝鵬が休場「左足リスフラン関節靱帯損傷で１カ月の安静を要する」診断書を提出". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  23. ^ "十両・輝鵬が今場所初白星「これからですね」前日土俵下で右足負傷のアクシデントにもめげず". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  24. ^ "十両・輝鵬が休場　左足、右足、左太腿に続いて右ハムストリングも負傷…満身創痍で幕下転落へ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  25. ^ "幕下2枚目の輝鵬が休場　今月初旬にリスフラン関節靱帯再建手術…長期離脱の可能性も". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Sumo: Wrestlers from scandal-hit Miyagino stable to join Isegahama". Kyodo News. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  27. ^ "大関琴ノ若が琴桜に　序二段では伊藤改め翔大夢（しょうたいむ）も　改名力士は１５人　大相撲夏場所番付発表". Daily Sports (in Japanese). 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Kiho Tomotaka Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 18 July 2023.

External links[edit]

  • Kawazoe Keita's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage
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