Raiko Hajime

Raiko Hajime - 雷光 肇 (born May 5, 1978) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nishinari-ku, Osaka City, Osaka. He made his debut in March 1994 and wrestled for Hakkaku stable. He reached the juryo division in September 2005. His highest rank was juryo 11 and he retired in March 2008.

## **Early Life**

Hajime Yamaguchi was born the eldest son of a firefighter in Nishinari Ward, Osaka. He attended a local dojo between the 2nd and 6th grades of Senbon Elementary School and he was a member of the judo club at Seinan Junior High School. He began sumo wrestling in his third year of junior high school and participated in a tournament at Osaka City. At this tournament he was recruited by an accquiantance of Hakkaku Oyakata. After graduating junior high school, he joined Hakkaku stable in March 1994.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Initially wrestling under the shikona "Oyamaguchi" (大山口), he gradually rose up the ranks of the lower divisions. In July 1995, he was given the shikona "Raiko" (雷光). He was promoted to sandanme in March 1996 and makushita in July 1999. However, Raiko could not establish himself in makushita until November 2002. In January 2004 he was promoted to the top of makushita, but he could only manage two wins. In July 2005 he was promoted to the rank of makushita 2 where he produced a strong 5-2 record which secured him a promotion to the juryo division.

### **Juryo Career**

Raiko was expected to perform well due to his large size and he defeated Takanotsuru in his first match as a sekitori. However, he began to struggle and lost the next six matches. He finished the tournament with a disastrous 3-12 record and was demoted back down to makushita. This was his only appearance as a sekitori.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After demotion, Raiko remained mainly in the upper-levels of makushita, but he could not return to juryo due to his insignificant results. He announced his retirement after the March 2008 tournament, one tournament after his brother Hokutojo announced his retirement.

## **Personal Life**

* Raiko's hobbies are collecting model guns and survival games.
* Raiko's younger brother Isao was also a sumo wrestler from Hakkaku stable and he wrestled under the shikona Hokutojo. He retired one tournament before Raiko announced his retirement.
* His shikona was derived from the chankonabe restaurant "Raiko" which is ran by former makushita wrestler Raikozan (雷光山).

## **Fighting Style**

According to his Japan Sumo Association profile, Raiko's favored techniques are yori (forcing) and hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most common winning kimarite is a straightforward yorikiri or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 310-282-4/592 (85 basho)
* **Juryo:** 3-12/15 (1 basho)
* **Makushita:** 167-165-4/332 (48 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 74-59/133 (19 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 62-43/105 (15 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Oyamaguchi Hajime (1994.03 - 1995.05)
* Raiko Hajime (1995.07 - 2008.03)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata**

Raiko Hajime - 2005 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Raiko's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Raiko after promotion to juryo (c. 2005)Raiko trains for the only time as a sekitori (c. 2005)Raiko awaits for his upcoming match in Juryo (c. 2005)Tamakasuga throws Raiko (c. 2005)Raiko loses to future sekitori Wakanoho (c. 2006)Raiko prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2007)
## **Sources**

* Raiko Hajime Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Raiko Hajime Rikishi Information