Kyokushori Tatsuaki

Kyokushori Tatsuaki - 旭将里 龍明 (born March 10, 1995) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Amagasaki, Hyogo. He made his debut in January 2013 and currently wrestles for Oshima stable. His highest rank as of 2024 is makushita 50.

## **Early Life**

Tatsuaki Sanjo was born on March 10, 1995, in Amagasaki, Hyogo. By the time he was in the fourth grade, he weighed 90 kg (198 lb) and following his mother's recommendation, Sanjo began playing baseball in the fifth grade. During that time, he could not even run 10 meters, but as a year passed, he gradually adapted to the training. Sanjo started enjoying baseball, participated in games, and practiced rigorously aiming for the national tournament. When he reached the sixth grade, his body continued to grow, and just as jokes about him becoming a sumo wrestler were circulating, Sanjo saw a recruitment notice for the "Wanpaku Sumo Tournament" and applied. He subsequently achieved second place in the tournament and earned the attention of sumo scouts.

Sanjo attended Meitoku Gijuku High School where he was a member of the school's strong sumo club, however, he did not achieve particularly strong results in the high school sumo scene. After high school, he joined Tomozuna stable (later renamed Oshima stable).

## **Career**

Sanjo made his professional debut in January 2013 and was given the shikona "Kaiho" (魁鵬). In May 2013, Kaiho was aiming for the jonidan yusho and won his first six matches before losing his final match to Shineiyama. Nevertheless, he reached sandanme in July 2013, after only three tournaments in professional sumo, but he struggled to break through the sandanme wall and was stuck in the division for several years.

Prior to the July 2016 tournament, Kaiho seriously injured his right knee and had to miss several tournaments. As a result, Kaiho had to redo maezumo (pre-sumo) in March 2017. In the following May 2017 tournament, while ranked in the lowest jonokuchi division, he continued to sit out until the 13th day where he returned to face Hattorizakura in order to avoid falling completely off the banzuke. In July 2017, Kaiho completed his first full tournament since May 2016 and finished with a strong 6-1 record.

In January 2018, Kaiho finished with a perfect 7-0 record and defeated Shingaku in a playoff to claim the jonidan yusho. He was finally promoted to makushita in January 2020, however, he was unable to establish himself in the division. Kaiho continued to struggle with injuries and regularly fall back down to the lowest jonidan and jonokuchi divisions.

In November 2021, he finished with a 7-0 record, but missed out on the jonidan yusho after losing to Yurkisho in the playoff. Shortly after, he was given the new shikona "Kyokushori" (旭将里) in May 2022.

## **Personal Life**

* Kyokushori initially used Ashiya, Hyogo, as his shusshin (birthplace) when joining sumo, before switching to Amagasaki, Hyogo.
* In 2015 a video of himself, Amakaze and Takatenshu attempting a 40-yard dash while on a tour in Wakayama went viral.

## **Fighting Style**

Kyokushori is an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used is a straightforward oshidashi (push out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 194-153-94/346 (66 basho)
* **Makushita:** 7-14-7/21 (4 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 104-110-45/214 (37 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 64-25-23/88 (17 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 19-4-19/23 (6 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (January 2018)

## **Shikona History**

* Sanjo Tatsuaki (2013.01 - 2013.01)
* Kaiho Tatsuaki (2013.03 - 2022.03)
* Kyokushori Tatsuaki (2022.05 - )

## **Gallery**

Kyokushori joins Tomozuna stable (c. 2013)Kyokushori battles future Komusubi Ura (c. 2015)Kyokushori wins his first Jonidan Yusho (c. 2018)Kyokushori pushes out and defeats Taiyo (c. 2021)Kyokushori loses the Jonidan Yusho playoff to Yurikisho (c. 2021)Kyokushori prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2022)
## **Sources**

* Kyokushori Tatsuaki Rikishi Information
* Abema Blog Post about Kyokushori