Wakatsutomu Hiroki

Wakatsutomu Hiroki - 若孜 浩気 (born February 13, 1973) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Wakayama City, Wakayama. He made his debut in November 1995 and wrestled for Matsugane stable. He reached the makuuchi division in May 2001. His highest rank was maegashira 12 and he retired in July 2006.

## **Early Life**

Nakao started sumo wrestling in elementary school. After entering Meiji Univ. Nakano Junior High School he achieved strong results in local and national tournaments and was also classmates with future yokozuna Takanohana. In high school, he won the individual and team competitions in the national tournament. After graduating high school, he enrolled in Chuo University and was a member of the school's sumo club. In college. Nakao won the team championship with his school and achieved third place in the individual competition.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduation, he joined Matsugane stable in November 1995 and was given makushita tsukedashi status due to his amateur accomplishments, which meant that he made his debut in the bottom of makushita instead of maezumo. Nakao initially struggled and even fell down to sandanme in September 1996. He eventually recovered and won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in November 1998. He was promoted to juryo two tournaments later in March 1999.

### **Juryo Career**

Upon juryo promotion, he changed his shikona from his family name to "Wakatsutomu" (若孜). He struggled in his juryo debut and produced a 6-9 record. As a result he was demoted back down to makushita. He returned to juryo in September 2000 and produced a slid 9-6 in his return. In March 2001 he produced a 10-5 and defeated Toki in a playoff for the juryo yusho. As a result he was promoted to makuuchi in May 2001.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Wakatsutomu lost his last match against Minatofuji to finish with a 7-8 record. In the following tournament he produced another 7-8 record but still maintained a spot in the top division. In the September 2001 tournament, Wakatsutomu produced a disastrous 3-12 record and was demoted back down to juryo after three tournaments. He did not return to makuuchi.

### **Later Career**

After demotion from makuuchi, Wakatsutomu could only manage to stay as a sekitori for one more tournament as a 2-13 record brought him back down to makushita. Suffering from a knee injury, he fell back down to sandanme in September 1992. He also reverted his shikona to his family name of "Nakao" in this tournament. He returned to juryo in May 2003 after winning the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. Nakao remained in juryo for five more tournaments before gettin demoted in March 2004. He won his third makushita yusho in July 2005. He changed his shikona back to "Wakatsutomu" in March 2006.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Nakao announced his retirement on July 23rd, 2006, after a fall back down to sandanme was guaranteed. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on September 2nd, 2006, at the Nippon Express Headquarters in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

After retirement, Nakao opened up a yakiniku restaurant called Yukidaruma Nakano in Nakano, Tokyo. In March 2009 he opened up a second branch in Ichikawa, Chiba. In June 2012 he opened up a third branch called Genghis Khan Yukidaruma Ryogoku (ジンギスカンゆきだるま中野部屋一門 両国部屋) in Sumida, Tokyo. In June 2014, he opened his fourth branch in Koto, Tokyo. In addition, he also works as a part-time sumo coach for Keio University's sumo club.

## **Personal Life**

* Wakatsutomu's hobby is bowling.
* Wakatsutomu was born in Nakano, Tokyo, but initially used Ichikawa, Chiba, as his shusshin (birth-place). He later changed his shusshin to Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, and never used his actual birthplace as his shusshin.

## **Fighting Style**

Wakatustomu was a tsuki/oshi specialist, who prefers pushing and thrusting at his opponents rather than fighting on the mawashi or belt. His most common winning kimarite or technique is oshidashi or a straightforward push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 275-243-49/517 (65 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 17-28/45 (3 basho)
* **Juryo:** 72-83-10/154 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 174-130-39/304 (49 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 12-2/14 (2 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (March 2001)
* 3 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (November 1998)
	+ 2nd (March 2003)
	+ 3rd (July 2005)

## **Shikona History**

* Nakao Hiroki (1995.11 - 1999.01)
* Wakatsutomu Hiroki (1999.03 - 2002.07)
* Nakao Tsunahiro (2002.09 - 2006.01)
* Wakatsutomu Hiroki (2006.03 - 2006.07)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures**

Wakatsutomu Hiroki - 2001 (Retrieved from the JSA)
### **Career Overview**

Wakatsutomu during his college sumo daysWakatsutmu gets measured as he joins professional sumo (c. 1995)Wakatsutomu after promotion to Juryo (c. 1999)Wakatsutomu after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 2001)Wakatsutomu battles Aogiyama (c. 2001)Wakatsutomu falls to the unsalaried ranksWakatsutomu's retirement ceremony (c. 2006)Wakatsutomu's restaurant
## **Sources**

* Wakatsutomu Hiroki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Wakatsutomu Hiroki Rikishi Information