Shunba Sekito

Shunba Sekito - 駿馬 赤兎 (born December 18, 1981) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Suzu, Ishikawa. He made his debut in March 2004 and wrestled for Isegahama stable. His highest rank was makushita 22 and he retired in May 2019.

## **Early Life**

Shuji Nakaita was born on December 18, 1981, in Suzu, Ishikawa, and his parents ran an electronics store. He began sumo wrestling during his first year at Iida Elementary School and he continued practicing sumo at Suzu Shiritsu Midorigaoka Junior High School and Ishikawa Prefectural Iida High School.

Nakaita enrolled at Kyorin University's Faculty of Foreign Studies where he majored in Chinese Communication. He was unable to join the university's sumo club as he was too short. After graduating, he got a job as a teacher for a Japanese-language school in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China. However, he had a sudden urge to become a sumo wrestler again and subsequently joined Magaki stable. He was below the minimum height requirement of 173 cm but was allowed to make his debut after passing a secondary physical exam.

## **Career**

He made his professional debut in March 2004 alongside Kimurayama, Sagatsukasa, Satoyama, Shirononami, Masuraumi, Oiwato, and Takamifuji. He won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in November 2005 and was promoted to sandanme for the following January 2006 tournament. He was given the shikona "Shunba" (駿馬) in July 2006. He missed the November 2007 tournament due to injury and subsequently spent some time in jonidan, before resettling in sandanme in September 2008. After the closure of Magaki stable in 2013, he transferred to Isegahama stable.

Upon returning to sandanme in 2008, Shunba spent nearly 10 years in sandanme without any eventful results. However, in January 2016, he finished with a 6-1 record and was promoted to makushita for the March 2017 tournament. At the age of 35 years and 2 months, he was the oldest makushita debutant. In his first makushita tournament, Shunba finished with an impressive 6-1 record and was promoted to a career-best makushita 22 for the May 2017 tournament. However, he followed with two consecutive 1-6 records and was demoted back down to sandanme in September 2017.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Shunba fell back down to jonidan for the first time in 10 years in July 2018 and retired shortly after in May 2019. After retiring, he and former stablemate Wakatenro served as president of a management corporation and he also became a caretaker at a nursing home ran by former stablemate Wakanojo. In March 2022, he became the manager of the nursing home. In addition, he is also works as a job counselor where he helps assimilate former sumo wrestlers back to the general society.

## **Personal Life**

* Shunba served as future yokozuna Terunofuji's mentor during the yokozuna's early career. When Terunofuji reached the elite sekitori ranks, Shunba served as his personal servant, or tsukebito.
* Shunba got married in 2019.
* After retiring, Shunba gave his sagari (sumo belt cord) to Terunofuji who then lent it to Midorifuji in January 2020. Midorifuji then gave the safari to Nishikifuji in March of the same year.
* Shunba majored in Chinese while in university and helped serve as an interpreter when Magaki stable accepted Chinese wrestler Wakashoji.

## **Fighting Style**

Shunba 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. In July 2007, he defeated future sekiwake Kaisei by the extremely rare izori, or backwards body drop.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 303-302-25/603 (91 basho)
* **Makushita:** 8-13/21 (3 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 213-231-11/442 (65 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 76-57-14/133 (21 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (November 2005)

## **Shikona History**

* Nakaita Shuji (2004.03 - 2006.05)
* Shunba Sekito (2006.07 - 2019.05)

## **Gallery**

Shunba prepares for his upcoming matchShunba moves to Isegahama stable with Terunofuji (c. 2013)Shunba with his close friend Terunofuji (c. 2015)Shunba celebrates Terunofuji's Ozeki promotion (c. 2015)Shunba battles Toyonshima (c. 2017)Shunba's retirement ceremony (c. 2019)
## **Sources**

* Shunba Sekito Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Shunba Sekito Rikishi Information