Hakiai Akifumi

Hakiai Akifumi - 吐合 明文 (born May 11, 1982) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Matsuyama, Ehime. He made his debut in March 2005 and wrestled for Kitanoumi stable. His highest rank was makushita 2 and he retired in May 2015.

## **Early Life**

Hakiai began sumo wrestling during his third year of elementary school at a local dojo in Matsuyama, Ehime, and he often trained with Yamasaki. After graduating from Matsuyama Shiritsu Dogo Junior High School, he attended Takaoka Koryo High School in Toyama prefecture, which was known for its sumo program. After high school, he enrolled at Kinki University where he won the National Student Sumo Championships to earn the title of University Yokozuna. After graduating, Hakiaki chose to join Kitanoumi stable because he enjoyed Kitanoumi's sincerity. Moreover, his friend Yamasaki was a member of Musashigawa stable which belongs in the Dewanoumi Ichimon, or group of stables, alongside Kitanoumi stable.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in March 2005 and he was granted makushita tsukedashi due to his amateur accomplishments which allowed him to start at the rank of makushita 15. In his very first match, he defeated Yamasaki and finished with a 4-3 record. He followed with another 4-3 record in May 2005 and was promoted to the rank of makushita 5 for the July 2005 tournament. However, he finished with a poor 1-6 record in this tournament. Hakiai missed the following four tournaments due to an injury. He briefly returned to sumo in May 2006 but withdrew after the seventh day. By November 2006, Hakiai had completely fallen off the banzuke.

Hakiai returned to sumo in July 2007 and had to undergo maezumo (pre-sumo), becoming the first makushita tsukedashi entrant to do so. In November 2007, he finished with a perfect 7-0 record, but missed out on the jonidan yusho after losing to Kyokushuho in a playoff. In May 2008, he finished with another 7-0 record, but missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing to Ogata in a playoff. Nevertheless, he returned to makushita for the following July 2008.

In January 2012, Hakiai, while ranked at makushita 11, was aiming for the makushita yusho and he won his first six matches. However, he lost his final match to Satoyama to miss out on a guaranteed juryo promotion. Nevertheless, he was placed into an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho, but he lost to Sakumayama in the first round. He was promoted to a career-best makushita 2 rank for the following March 2012 tournament. On the third day of this tournament, he went up against juryo-ranked Satoyama, but lost by tottari, or arm bar throw. He eventually withdrew from the tournament on the ninth day after only managing one win.

## **Retirement from Career**

Hakiai remained in makushita for majority of his later career with brief spells in sandanme before retiring from sumo in May 2015. After retiring, Hakiai worked at a restaurant in Chiba prefecture and intends to open his own in the future.

## **Fighting Style**

Hakiai was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward oshidashi, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 183-166-43/348 (57 basho)
* **Makushita:** 141-155-12/295 (44 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 27-8-14/35 (7 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 10-1-10/11 (3 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2-7/7 (2 basho)

## **Gallery**

Hakiai gets recruited into Kitanoumi stable (c. 2005)Hakiai during his first professional sumo tournament (c. 2005)Hakiai awaits for his upcoming match (c. 2009)Hakiai loses the Makushita Yusho match to Satoyama (c. 2012)Hakiai prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2014)Hakiai after wrestling his final match (c. 2015)
## **Sources**

* Hakiai Akifumi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Hakiai Akifumi Rikishi Information