Kizenryu Takashi

Kizenryu Takashi - 希善龍 貴司 (born April 30, 1985) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Zentsuji, Kagawa. He made his debut in March 2008 and wrestled for Kise stable. He reached the juryo division in May 2013. His highest rank was juryo 11 and he retired in July 2020.

## **Early Life**

Takashi Kamei was born in Zentsuji, Kagawa in April 30th, 1985. During his fourth year at Zentsuji Shiritsu Yogita Elementary School, he entered the sumo club from the recommendation of a teacher. He became an elementary school yokozuna for elementary students in Kagawa Prefecture.

He later attended Zentsuji Shiritsu Higashi Junior High School and was a member of the judo club and sumo club. In his third year in junior high school, Kamei won the prefectural sumo tournament. He later enrolled in Takamatsuminami High School and made sumo wrestling his sole focus. In his third year of high school, Kamei placed third place in the National Sumo Tournament (ex-sekiwake Tochiozan won the overall tournament).

After high school, Kamei enrolled in Nihon University's College of Commerce and was a member of the university's sumo club. He was teammates with future stablemates, Akiseyama and Kijuin. However, immediately after joining the sumo club, Kamei injured his knee and was ruled out for one whole year. Even though Kamei couldn't become a regular in team competition, he excelled in individual competition and was runner-up in the 135 kg weight division in the individual championship competition. In his fourth year, he was also named into the top 16 for the All Japan Sumo Championship.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After graduating from University, Kamei joined Kise stable which was a popular option for Nihon University alumni. Kise Oyakata (ex-maegashira Higonoumi) was a Nihon University alumni and his fellow stablemate, Kiyoseumi was also a Nihon University graduate.

Kamei made his debut on March 2008 alongside Kagawa native, Kotoyuki. Kamei produced a 6-1 record in his first tournament in jonokuchi and the following tournament won all seven bouts and took the jonidan yusho. The following tournament he won all seven bouts again, but lost the play-off for the championship against stablemate and fellow Nihon University graduate, Yamashita. This result promoted Kamei to the third highest makushita division.

Kamei produced a 6-1 record in his third tournament in makushita and was involved in an 8-man playoff, but lost the first round to Dewaotori. Kamei would remain in the mid-lower makushita levels and produced a variety of mixed results. After producing 3 straight 4-3 records, Kamei was promoted to makushita 7 for the March 2013 tournament. He won all seven matches and took the makushita yusho. This guaranteed Kamei a promotion to the juryo division for the first time in his career.

### **Juryo Career**

Kamei changed his shikona, or ring name, from his family name to the new name of 'Kizenryu'. He produced a lackluster 6-9 record at the rank of juryo 11 and was unluckily demoted down to makushita.

Kizenryu remained in makushita for around a year before earning re-promotion to juryo for the July 2014 tournament. After winning his first match, Kizenryu lost the next eight and finished with a 4-11 record. He was demoted back down to makushita for the following tournament. After three tournaments in makushita he was promoted back to juryo in March 2015. He produced a 6-9 record and was demoted back to makushita again. After spending two tournaments in makushita, Kizenryu was promoted back to juryo for the September 2015 tournament. He produced another 6-9 record and was demoted back down to makushita.

Kizenryu spent five tournaments in makushita and earned another promotion back to juryo for the September 2016 tournament. He scored a 5-10 record and was demoted back down to makushita. After one tournament he produced a 4-3 record and was promoted to juryo for the January 2017 tournament. He scored another 5-10 record and was demoted back down to makushita. After demotion to makushita, Kizenryu produced three straight 4-3 records and was promoted to juryo again for the September 2017 tournament. On the tenth day, Kizenryu injured his shoulder in a match against Kitaharima. The next day, Kizenryu injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a match against Osunaarashi. He would sit out for the rest of the tournament and finish with a 6-6-3 record. If it wasn't for the injury, Kizenryu had his best start ever of 6-5 and could have finished with his first kachi-koshi, or winning record as a sekitori.

After the injury, Kizenryu participated in the following tournament and produced a 4-3 record which was good enough for a promotion back to juryo for the January 2018 tournament. He produced a 3-12 record in the tournament and was demoted back down to makushita. After two tournament, Kizenryu earned promotion back to juryo for the July 2018 tournament for a record ninth time. He produced a 6-9 record and was demoted back to makushita and would not earn promotion back to juryo again.

### **Later Career**

Even though Kizenryu couldn't earn promotion back to juryo, he stayed in the upper makushita ranks for around two years and faced off mainly against former juryo wrestler and up and coming new wrestlers. He wrestled his last tournament in July 2020 and won has last match against former juryo wrestler, Asagyokusei.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Kizenryu announced his retirement on August 2, 2020. He cited that his left knee had deteriorated which affected his quality of sumo. When asked about his record of most re-promotions to juryo, Kizenryu replied that he was not embarrassed of his record and that he could not produce a single winning record, because majority of all sumo wrestlers could not even reach the ranks that he achieved. His retirement ceremony was held in his stable on August 16, 2020.

After retirement, Kizenryu works at the town hall in his hometown of Zentsuji, Kagawa, and he also voluntarily teaches sumo to elementary and junior high school students at a local sumo club.

## **Personal Life**

* Unlike many sumo wrestlers, Kizenryu never fought against another juryo-ranked wrestler before his official promotion to juryo. Most wrestlers ranked at makushita 4 or higher would wrestle some juryo-ranked wrestlers, however Kizenryu was ranked at makushita 7 before his promotion to juryo. He was promoted to juryo because he produced a perfect 7-0 record.
* Kizenryu was promoted to juryo a record nine times.

## **Fighting Style**

According to his Japan Sumo Association profile, Kizenryu's preferred grip on his opponent's mawashi is migi-yotsu, a left arm outside and right hand inside position. His favorite technique by far is uwatenage, or overarm throw, which accounts for 48% of his victories, while the average is only 5%.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 296-275-5/569 (73 basho)
* **Juryo:** 47-85-3/131 (9 basho)
* **Makushita:** 229-189-2/417 (60 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (July 2008)
	+ 2nd (March 2013)

### **Achievements**

* **Record:** Promoted to Juryo **9** times

## **Shikona History**

* Kamei Takashi (2008.03 - 2013.03)
* Kizenryu Takashi (2013.05 - 2020.07)

## **Gallery**

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

Kizenryu Takashi - 2018 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Kizenryu Takashi - 2014 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Kizenryu Takashi - 2013 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Kizenryu Takashi - 2013 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Kizenryu's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Kizenryu gets recruited into professional sumo (c. 2008)Kizenryu's early career in the unsalaried ranks (c. 2010)Kizenryu ensures Juryo promotion with Makushita Yusho (c. 2013)Kizenryu after promotion to Juryo (c. 2013)Kizenryu celebrates promotion to Juryo (c. 2013)Kizenryu presented with his kesho-mawashi (c. 2013)Kizenryu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2014)Kizenryu battles the much smaller Ishiura (c. 2015)Kizenryu throws and defeats Asasekiryu (c. 2016)Kizenryu during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 2017)Kizenryu battles Takagenji (c. 2018)Kizenryu after wrestling a bloody match (c. 2018)Kizenryu after winning a match (c. 2019)Kizenryu wins his final match (c. 2020)Kizenryu's retirement ceremony (c. 2020)An exhibition celebrating Kizenryu's career (c. 2021)
## **Sources**

* Kizenryu Takashi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kizenryu Takashi Rikishi Information