Kairyu Genki

Kairyu Genki - 海龍 元生 (born March 1, 1990) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kainan, Wakayama. He made his debut in March 2005 and currently wrestles for Dewanoumi stable. His highest rank as of 2023 is makushita 2.

## **Early Life**

Yamada began sumo wrestling during his fourth year at elementary school, but grew demoralized with the sport and stopped practicing during his fifth and sixth year of elementary school. During his sixth year at elementary school, Yamada was unintentionally recruited by Tagonoura Oyakata (former maegashira Kushimaumi) and he promised to enter Tagonoura stable after graduating from junior high school. He devoted himself to soccer during his time in junior high school and he subsequently joined Tagonoura stable shortly after his 15th birthday.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in March 2005 alongside Wakanoho, Takayasu, Daido, Ikioi, Asahisho, and Hishofuji. He was given the shikona "Kairyu" (海龍) which literally translates to sea dragon. He had a slow start to his career due to his limited sumo experience and he missed all of the September 2005 tournament due to acute renal failure. He spent his first year bouncing back and forth between jonokuchi and jonidan before earning a promotion to sandanme in March 2008. He eventually reached makushita in January 2010.

Kairyu posted a strong 6-1 record in his makushita debut, but followed with two losing records and was demoted back down to sandanme. He returned to makushita in November 2010 where he would establish himself as a makushita mainstay for the majority of his career. On February 13, 2012, his stablemaster, former maegashira Kushimaumi, passed away which led to the closure of his stable. He subsequently transferred to Dewanoumi stable. In the following March 2012 tournament, Kairyu felt that he needed to honor his deceased mentor and he went on to win all seven matches to claim the makushita yusho. This led to a promotion to the rank of makushita 4, but Kairyu was unable to capitalize on a juryo promotion.

In July 2013, while ranked at makushita 15, Kairyu won his first six matches, but lost his final match to Goshi which resulted in him missing out on a juryo promotion. Kairyu was promoted to makushita 3 for the following September 2013 tournament and in this tournament he defeated juryo-ranked Chiyomaru. However, he lost his final match to juryo-ranked Kitaharima and missed out on a juryo promotion as he finished with a 3-4 record.

Kairyu reached a career-best makushita 2 in January 2016 where his only win of the tournament came against juryo-ranked Chiyonokuni. He was promoted back to the rank of makushita 2 in January 2017, but he finished with a 3-4 record, missing out on yet another juryo promotion. In January 2022, while ranked at makushita 4, Kairyu lost his final match against juryo-ranked Chiyoarashi to finish with a 3-4 record.

## **Fighting Style**

Kairyu is an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used are oshidashi (push out), tsukidashi (thrust out), hikitoshi (pull down) and hatakikomi (slap down).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 401-360-10/760 (111 basho)
* **Makushita:** 292-266-3/557 (80 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 43-34/77 (11 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 51-47-7/98 (15 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 15-13/28 (4 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (March 2012)

## **Gallery**

Kairyu defeats Oniarashi to win the Makushita yusho (c. 2012)Kairyu with stablemates Mitakeumi and Dewahayate (c. 2015)Kairyu defeats Ura (c. 2019)Kairyu battles Yago in Juryo (c. 2022)Kairyu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2022)Kairyu loses to Kototebakari (c. 2022)
## **Sources**

* Kairyu Genki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kairyu Genki Rikishi Information