Fujikensho Ibuki

Fujikensho Ibuki - 藤健勝 歩紀 (born April 9, 1997) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ageo, Saitama. He made his debut in November 2021 and wrestled for Fujishima stable. His highest rank was makushita 50 and he retired in September 2023.

## **Early Life**

Suguro practiced judo from his first year at Kamogawa Elementary School until his third year at Ageoshi Ritsuminami Junior High School. From his 5th year of elementary school, he began attending a local sumo club to supplement judo. In his third year of junior high school he won third place at the Hakuho Cup. After graduating from high school, he attended Meiji Univ. Nakano Senior High School where he switched to sumo full time. In his second year and third year, he achieved top 16 at the National High School Sumo Championship. After high school, Suguro enrolled at Takushoku University where he advanced to the top eight of the National Student Sumo Championships during his third and fourth year, thus qualifying for sandanme tsukedashi. After graduating he got a business-related job at Nippon Express, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he could not participate in the corporate sumo scene. Inspired by wrestlers such as Fujiseun and his brother Fujitoshi, he decided to go pro and join Fujishima stable.

## **Career**

Suguro made his professional debut in November 2021 at the bottom of the sandanme division due to his amateur achievements. He finished with a 6-1 record in his first tournament with his only loss coming against Kinbozan. He reached makushita in May 2022 but sat out the tournament and was regulated back to sandanme. In July 2022, he faced off against former ozeki Asanoyama and lost. Nevertheless, he finished with a 6-1 record and was promoted back to makushita. However, he missed this tournament and continued to sit out of the following two tournaments. He returned to action in March 2023 and had fallen down to the second lowest jonidan division. In the March 2023 tournament, he won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. In September 2023, he was given the shikona "Fujikensho" (藤健勝).

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Fujikensho suffered from multiple retinal detachments during his short sumo career. In July 2023, he suffered from another retinal detachment in his left eye and had to withdraw from the tournament and he also subsequently missed the following September 2023 tournament. He underwent a total of five surgeries for retinal detachment in his left eye, and the doctor recommended that he retire. Fujikensho's retirement was announced after the September 2023 tournament. Fujikensho was the first sandanme tsukedashi entrant to retire without reaching the sekitori ranks.

## **Family**

* Suguro's younger brother Ryuki joined Fujishima stable in March 2021 and took the shikona Fujitoshi.

## **Fighting Style**

Suguro 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, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 35-8-34/43 (11 basho)
* **Makushita:** 0-0-14/0 (2 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 28-8-20/36 (8 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (March 2023)

## **Shikona History**

* Suguro Ibuki (2021.11 - 2023.07)
* Fujikensho Ibuki (2023.09 - 2023.09)

## **Gallery**

Suguro defeats Asatenmai (c. 2022)Suguro battles former Ozeki Asanoyama (c. 2022)Suguro wins his first Jonidan Yusho (c. 2023)Suguro after winning the Jonidan Yusho (c. 2023)Suguro wins his first Jonidan Yusho (c. 2023)Fujikensho's retirement ceremony (c. 2023)
## **Sources**

* Suguro Ibuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Suguro Ibuki Rikishi Information