Shiden Takumi

Shiden Takumi - 紫雷 匠 (born December 24, 1991) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Machida, Tokyo. He made his debut in March 2014 and currently wrestles for Kise stable. He reached the juryo division in November 2014. His highest rank as of 2023 is juryo 8.

## **Early Life**

Born in Machida, Tokyo, Shiba's grandfather's love for sumo influenced him to join a local sumo dojo at a very young age. He attended Oyamada-minami Elementary School where he won a local child sumo tournament in the fourth grade. He went on to attend Machida Shiritsu Oyamada Junior High School where he wrestled in multiple national competitions. After graduating junior high school, he studied abroad at Saitama Sakae High School and was a member of the school's prestigous sumo club. During his third year, he won the national group sumo championship with his school and also left a strong record in the individual competitions. Upon graduating from high school, he enrolled at Nihon University's College of Commerce and was also a member of the university's sumo club. However, he did not win any major titles during his time in collegiate-level sumo. Nevertheless, he opted to turn professional upon graduation from college.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Shiba joined Kise stable because the stablemaster, ex-maegashira Higonoumi, was also an alumni of Nihon University and made his professional debut in March 2014. Despite injuring his left knee immediatley after joining professional sumo, Shiba managed a strong 6-1 record in his first tournament. He followed by winning the jonidan yusho in July 2014 after defeating stablemate Takagi in a playoff.

He reached makushita in November 2014 after only one tournament in each of the previous divisions. He immediatley established himself in makushita and won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in November 2015 after defeating up-and-comer Ura in a playoff. Even though he was promoted to the rank of makushita 3 for the following January 2016 tournament, Shiba failed to capitalize on a promotion to juryo and remained in makushita for the following six years.

In July 2020 he suffered an orbital floor fracture and sat out of the tournament. After undergoing successful surgery, he returned in September 2020 and gradually made his way back to the upper-levels of makushita. In November 2021, he produced a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 2 and was promoted to juryo for the following January 2022 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Upon promotion to juryo he was given the shikona "Shiden" (紫雷). On December 22, 2021, Shiden and his stablemate Hidenoumi were withdrawn by their stablemaster Kise Oyakata (the former Higonoumi) from the January 2022 tournament for suspected involvement in illegal gambling. As a result, he was demoted back down to makushita without wrestling any matches as a sekitori. After a year and a half in makushita, Shiden secured a re-promotion to juryo for the July 2023 tournament. In his return to juryo, Shiden finished with an 8-7 record.

## **Controversy**

### **Illegal Gambling Probe**

On 22 December 2021, Shiden and his stablemate Hidenoumi were withdrawn by their stablemaster Kise Oyakata (former maegashira Higonoumi) from the January 2022 tournament for suspected involvement in illegal gambling. Both were interviewed by the Saitama Prefectural Police on 7 January 2022. According to investigators, the illegal gambling operation ran out of a store in Soka. Employees and customers of the establishment were arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling when it was raided in September 2021. During the investigation suspicions were raised about the involvement of both Hidenoumi and Shiden, as well as other sumo wrestlers that may have possibly visited the establishment. It was later reported that prosecutors would likely not file charges against the two wrestlers.

On 15 January 2022, Japanese media outlets reported that the Sumo Association's compliance committee, after holding hearings, concluded that Hidenoumi and Shiden participated in illegal gambling. The committee found that Hidenoumi and Shiden visited the establishment on two occasions in July and August of 2021 during the time that the Sumo Association had relaxed COVID-related restrictions on going out. They both played an illegal slot machine, with a stake of less than 100,000 yen. The findings were reported to chairman Hakkaku on 13 January, and the full board of directors was expected to take up the matter during their regular meeting on 27 January. The committee's report recommended a suspension of one tournament for Hidenoumi and no suspension for Shiden. On 27 January, the Sumo Association accepted the committee's recommendation, suspending Hidenoumi for one tournament and also cutting his salary by 20% for two months. The suspension is retroactive to the January 2022 tournament, meaning that Hidenoumi can compete in the March basho in Osaka, likely back in the juryo division. Shiden was not issued any formal suspension, but his kyujo from the January basho will likely result in his demotion from sekitori status and a loss of salary. Stablemaster Kise was handed a warning.

## **Fighting Style**

Shiden is a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favors a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite is yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 239-169-23/407 (58 basho)
* **Juryo:** 23-22-15/45 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 197-145-8/341 (50 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (November 2015)
* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (July 2014)

## **Gallery**

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

Shiden Takumi - 2023 (Retrieved from the JSA)Shiden Takumi - 2021 (Retrieved from the JSA)Shiden's Tegata
### **Career Overview**

Shiba joins sumo alongside fellow Nihon alumni (c. 2014)Shiba defeats Ura to win the Makushita Yusho (c. 2015)Shiba wins the Makushita Yusho (c. 2015)Shiba prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2019)Shiba loses the Makushita Yusho playoff match (c. 2021)Shiba defeats Hiradoumi (c. 2021)Shiba ensures promotion to Juryo (c. 2021)Shiba becomes Shiden upon promotion to Juryo (c. 2021)Shiden defeats Roga after return from suspension (c. 2022)Shiden ensures re-promotion to Juryo (c. 2023)Shiden presented with his kesho-mawashi (c. 2023)Shiden defeats Chiyonoumi (c. 2023)
## **Sources**

* Shiden Takumi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shiden Takumi Rikishi Information