Asanoyama Hiroki

Asanoyama Hiroki - 朝乃山広暉 (born March 1, 1994) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyama City, Toyama. He made his debut in March 2016 and currently wrestles for Takasago stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 2017 and has 6 special prizes, 1 kinboshi and 1 top division championship. His highest rank as of 2025 is ozeki.

Early Life[]

Ishibashi was born with a bright personality and enjoyed attending nursery school. Ishibashi first competed in swimming during his first year at Toyama Municipal Kureha Elementary School. However this did not last long and he decided to take up both handball and sumo during his fourth year at elementary school.^[1]

20200323-OHT1I50195-T — Ishibashi shows off his sumo awards during his fourth year in elementary school

Ishibashi attended Toyama City Kureha Junior High School and decided to take sumo more seriously. He took part in the national championships in his third year but sustained an elbow injury which led to him considering quitting the sport. He later attended Toyama Prefectural Toyama Commercial High School where he formed a good relationship with the school's sumo club director.^[2] Ishibashi then attended Kinki University, where he studied economics at their Business Administration Department.^[3]

He won seven college titles and reached the top four in the All-Japan Sumo Championships.^[3] The seven titles he won were not major titles, however he still qualified for sandanme tsukedashi. Ishibashi was persuaded by Wakamatsu Oyakata (former maegashira Asanowaka), who was a coach at Takasago stable as well as a Kinki University graduate. The head coach of Takasago stable, former ozeki Asashio, was also an alumnus of Kinki University. Alongside with college teammate and close friend, Tamaki, Ishibashi joined Takasago stable and his sandanme tsukedashi qualification was granted by the Japan Sumo Association on January 28, 2016, the first of its type.^[4]

Career[]

Early Career[]

Ishibashi made his debut in 2016 at the bottom of sandanme and achieved a 5-2 kachi-koshi or winning record. The following two tournaments, Ishibashi produced two consecutive 6-1 records which earned him a spot in the makushita division for the September 2016 tournament. In his makushita debut, he produced yet another 6-1 record.^[5]

Ef306dae-1f30-4c00-9d51-5016c29285c7 — Ishibashi in his first sumo tournament (c. 2016)

He was promoted to makushita 14 for the November 2016 tournament, where he posted a 5-2 record. Ishibashi revealed his determination to reach juryo to honor the memory of his sumo coach at high school who had recently died of cancer, and that his resolve did not falter even though he lost two matches in November and had to wait for one more tournament to earn promotion. The following tournament, Ishibashi took the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. This earned him promotion to the juryo division for the March 2017 tournament. His promotion ensured that Takasago stable would once again have a sekitori, following the demotions of Asasekiryu and Asabenkei to makushita which had left the stable with no wrestlers in the top two divisions for the first time since 1878.^[6]

Juryo Career[]

Upon promotion to juryo, he was given the shikona "Asanoyama" (朝乃山). In his juryo debut in March 2017, Asanoyama recorded 10 wins to tie for the lead on the final day of the tournament but was beaten in a play-off for the juryo yusho, by the much more experienced Toyohibiki. After 8 wins in May he tied for the championship with 11 wins in July but again lost a play-off, this time to his near contemporary Daiamami. His efforts were enough to secure promotion to the top makuuchi division for the following September 2017 tournament. He was the second sandanme tsukedashi entrant to reach makuuchi following Yutakayama.^[5]

Makuuchi Career[]

In his first tournament in the top division Asanoyama was assigned the rank of maegashira 16. He stood at only 3–3 after Day 6 but then went on a five-match winning streak and was on the leaderboard towards the end of the tournament, trailing Goeido by just one win on Day 13. He finished with a 10–5 record and was awarded the Fighting Spirit Prize. After his final match Asanoyama commented, "I have fought with the spirit of a challenger over the 15 days and that has led to my finishing with double figures in wins. I am really happy about that."^[7] He was less successful in his second top division tournament, scoring only five wins against ten losses and barely avoiding demotion back to juryo. In January 2018 he produced a 9–6 record from the rank of maegashira 16. In July he was on the leader-board for much of the tournament and finished with an 11–4 record and a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. For the next few tournaments he remained in the middle of the maegashira ranks, mostly alternating between 8–7 and 7–8 records.^[5]

30f56f5159014765a0c68276d6ff60d9 640px — Asanoyama is awarded the Presidents Cup by U.S. President Donald Trump after his makuuchi championship.

In the May 2019 tournament, the first to be held in the Reiwa era, he was the sole leader with ten wins and just one loss on Day 11. He lost his second bout of the tournament on Day 12, but regained the sole lead on Day 13 with a controversial win over Tochinoshin. He appeared to have hit the ground first, but the judges ruled that Tochinoshin’s heel had touched out of bounds.^[8] By defeating Goeido on Day 14 he won the tournament after his only challenger Kakuryu was defeated by Tochinoshin, leaving Asanoyama two wins ahead with only one day to go. He was the first wrestler without previous sanyaku experience to win a yusho since Sadanoyama in 1961.^[9] He lost his final day match to Mitakeumi to finish on a 12–3 record. In addition to the tournament championship he won special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit and received the inaugural US President’s Cup from President Donald Trump.^[10] Speaking to reporters the day after his victory Asanoyama said that he never imagined he could win the championship within three years of his professional debut but that the next tournament would be different and he would be seeking a winning record.^[11] He was the first wrestler from Toyama Prefecture to win a top division championship in 103 years, and 25,000 people attended a parade in his hometown on June 16.^[12] In the July 2019 tournament he just missed out on a sanyaku debut, instead being ranked at maegashira 1. He fell one win short of his goal of kachi-koshi with a 7–8 record. On the fifth day of the September tournament he earned his first kinboshi or gold star for a win over a yokozuna, against Kakuryu. He held a share of the tournament lead after Day 10, but lost both his bouts on Days 11 and 12 and finished with a 10–5 record. He was awarded his second Outstanding Performance Prize, for defeating Kakuryu and two ozeki.^[5]

He made his sanyaku debut in November 2019, one of four komusubi on the banzuke in that tournament. He is the first komusubi from Takasago stable since Asasekiryu in 2006, the third post-World War II from Toyama Prefecture after Wakamiyama and Kotogaume, and the third from Kinki University after his stablemaster Asashio and Takarafuji.^[13] He was runner-up to Hakuho with an 11–4 record, and won his first Technique Prize. He also finished 2019 with 55 top division wins, more than any other wrestler that year. He is the first ranked below yokozuna or ozeki to achieve the most wins in a calendar year.^[14]

Ozeki Career[]

Jnl2003250001-f1 — Asanoyama celebrates promotion to ozeki after the March 2020 tournament.

In the January 2020 tournament Asanoyama made his debut at sekiwake and produced a 10–5 record. The demotion of Takayasu and the retirement of Goeido left only one ozeki on the March banzuke for the first time in 38 years, and Asanoyama told a press conference on 24 February, "There is another spot available for ozeki. I want to make the most of this opportunity."^[15] Asanoyama finished with an 11-4 record in the March tournament, good enough for a sumo advisory board to recommend his promotion to the ozeki rank.^[16] The Japan Sumo Association officially promoted him on 25 March.^[17] He is the first ozeki from Toyama Prefecture since the 22nd Yokozuna Tachiyama made the rank 111 years earlier; Asanoyama said he hoped to reach his level, and also inspire youngsters from his prefecture to join professional sumo.^[17]

In his ozeki debut in July 2020 Asanoyama was the tournament leader until Day 13 when he was defeated by former ozeki Terunofuji. Asanoyama was unable to take advantage of Terunofuji's defeat the following day to Shodai when he lost for the second day in a row, falling victim to Terutsuyoshi's ashitori leg grab. He finished the tournament runner-up on 12–3. He made a poor start to his September campaign, losing his first three matches, which led to him being criticized by former yokozuna and Takasago stable member Asashoryu.^[18] He then won ten in a row before being defeated by Shodai and Takakeisho on the last two days to finish on 10–5. He withdrew from the November 2020 tournament on Day 3, due to a deltoid muscle injury to his right shoulder suffered on the opening day. This was the first time in his career that he had been forced to withdraw from a tournament.^[19] On his return to competition in the January 2021 tournament, he achieved a winning record to retain his ozeki rank and ended as joint runner-up with fellow ozeki Shodai and sekiwake Terunofuji.^[5]

Investigation and Suspension[]

Asanoyama withdrew from the May 2021 tournament after Day 11 when it emerged that he had broken COVID-19 protocols.^[20] The Sumo Association's director of communications, Shibatayama, said at the time that Asanoyama had initially denied the allegations, which were first reported by the Shukan Bunshun magazine, but later admitted to them.^[21]

Img 2f53a1023157caadab887bde9da4e7f188412 — Picture evidence, posted by the Shukan Bunshun, shows Asanoyama visiting hostess clubs during the period where going out for non-essential reasons were banned by the JSA. (c. 2021)

The investigation into the matter was handled by the Sumo Association's compliance committee, headed by Oguruma (former ozeki Kotokaze).^[22] The committee found that Asanoyama had visited cabaret nightclubs ten times and dined out three times, all during a period when wrestlers were instructed not to go out for any non-essential reason. It was also discovered that a 44-year-old reporter for Sports Nippon who accompanied Asanoyama during his outings conspired with him to cover-up the incidents to investigators, with Asanoyama found to have destroyed evidence by deleting the reporter's text messages from his smartphone. When initially asked by investigators about the violations, Asanoyama claimed to have been seeking medical treatment, accompanied by the Sports Nippon reporter.^[23]

The compliance committee's report noted that Asanoyama had "seriously tarnished his dignity as an ozeki." An extraordinary session of the full Sumo Association body was scheduled on 11 June for final disposition. Prior to the meeting, it was revealed that Asanoyama had submitted his resignation two days after he withdrew from the May 2021 tournament.^[23]

2b921d1ce5b177c4a89027b5094da0d820210612110728270 — Asanoyama leaves a car during the time of his investigation (c. 2021)

The Sumo Association issued Asanoyama a one-year (six tournament) suspension from sumo and a 50% salary cut for six months, with his retirement papers held in case he causes any further trouble. Oguruma was quoted as saying that Asanoyama "...should have served as a role model for other sumo wrestlers" as an ozeki, adding that the punishment would not have been as harsh if he admitted to what he did in the first place. Asanoyama appeared at the meeting and apologized to the directors, saying that he lied because he feared what would happen if he had been more straightforward about it.^[22]

As his suspension will be treated as absences on the banzuke, Asanoyama will lose his ozeki title and fall out of the sekitori ranks completely — possibly to the fourth-tier sandanme division by the time he is eligible to return in July 2022.^[5]

In addition to Asanoyama's punishment, his stablemaster Takasago (former sekiwake Asasekiryu) was issued a 20% salary cut for three months.^[20] Sports Nippon later announced that the reporter that dined with Asanoyama had been dismissed following an internal inquiry. Asanoyama's former stablemaster Nishikijima (former ozeki Asashio IV) submitted his resignation after he was found to have violated COVID restrictions by inviting Asanoyama for dinner and drinks with his family and acquaintances.^[22]

One month after his suspension was finalized, Asanoyama, his stablemaster and seven lower-ranked rikishi in Takasago stable all tested positive for COVID-19.^[24]

Return to Competition[]

Asanoyama was demoted to the third-lowest division at the rank of west sandanme 22 for the July 2022 tournament in Nagoya following the completion of his six-tournament suspension. He changed his ring name for his return to competition, switching the first name of Hideki to his real given name of Hiroki. Speaking ahead of Asanoyama's return, his stablemaster Takasago said Asanoyama had not received any special treatment since his fall from the sekitori ranks and had been required to do chores around the stable with the other low-ranking wrestlers. At a training session in June, he won nine out of twelve bouts against juryo ranked Asanowaka.^[25]

AsanoyamaSandanme — Asanoyama falls back down to sandanme (c. 2022)

Asanoyama won his opening match on the second day of the July 2022 basho, which marked his first professional sumo contest in 418 days.^[26] He would go on to win the sandanme championship with a perfect record of 7 wins.^[5]

In September 2022 he was ranked at makushita 15 and would have been promoted back to juryo for November if he had produced another perfect score, but he lost one of his seven matches. At the November tournament in Kyushu he lost his sixth bout against makushita veteran Tamashoho and finished again at 6–1. Following the November basho the Sumo Association announced that Asanoyama would be promoted to juryo, returning to sekitori for the January 2023 tournament. Asanoyama won this tournament with a 14–1 record. His only defeat was to Daishoho on Day 11. After his victory Asanoyama said his goals for 2023 were to return to makuuchi and reach sanyaku by the end of the year.^[5]

Asanoyama rose to the top of the juryo division at 1 East for the March 2023 tournament. On Day 5 he defeated Tochinoshin in the first ever match between two former ozeki to take place in juryo.^[5]

Return to Makuuchi[]

Asanoyama would be back in the top makuuchi division at the May 2023 tournament for the first time since his suspension, having been promoted to maegashira 14. He stayed in the championship race until Day 13 when he was defeated by Yokozuna Terunofuji, the eventual top division champion of this basho. He finished the May 2023 tournament with a runner-up record of 12-3. This was his first runner-up performance in the top division since January 2021. At the July 2023 tournament he secured four wins before having to withdraw after partially tearing his left bicep in his loss to Hoshoryu on Day 7. It was his first absence from a tournament since concluding his suspension. Nevertheless, Asanoyama decided to return to competition on the twelfth day, his return match being against maegashira Tobizaru. During the jungyo of August, Asanoyama also withdrew from the tour to heal his biceps injury.^[27]

AsanoyamaWakamotoharu — Asanoyama defeats Wakamotoharu (c. 2023)

During the October tour, Asanoyama also suffered an injury, the medical report following his injury citing a "torn left calf muscle." Eleven days before the start of the November tournament, however, he reaffirmed his desire to take part in the competition and reach the sanyaku ranks, for the first time since his suspension, for the January tournament.^[28] Moreover, on 3 November, Asanoyama was also bereaved by the loss of his former master Asashio IV, who had raised him to the rank of ozeki, having died at the age of 67.^[29] Asanoyama announced that he would be absent at the start of the November tournament because of slow recovery of his calf muscle. He entered competition on Day 8, winning his first match of the tournament over ozeki Takakeisho.^[30]

Asanoyama was the undefeated sole leader after seven days of the January 2024 tournament, but in his loss to Tamawashi on Day 8 he appeared to twist his right ankle. Asanoyama withdrew from the tournament the following day.^[31] His stablemaster Takasago indicated that he would see how Asanoyama's ankle improved, with a possibility that he could return to competition.^[32] Despite having withdrawn from the tournament (and conceding a default victory to Onosho in the process), Asanoyama returned to the tournament on Day 13 and immediately secured a kachi-koshi score with an eighth victory over Gonoyama. At the following tournament, in March 2024, Asanoyama, then at the top of the rank-and-file wrestling ranks, scored an eighth victory over Komusubi Abi, raising hopes in the press of a re-promotion in the san'yaku ranks for the May tournament; his first since his demotion from sekiwake after the September 2021 tournament. On Day 14, he defeated the tournament's sole leader, Takerufuji, handing him his second defeat to record a ninth victory. With his score at 9–6, Asanoyama commented on his return to the san'yaku ranks for the first time since his return to the top division with some concern, notably emphasizing that being now older he would have to rely on his experience and technique to be on equal footing with younger and physically stronger wrestlers.^[33]

AsanoyamaIchiyamamoto — Asanoyama tears his left ACL in a match against Ichiyamamoto (c. 2024)

Asanoyama first return to san'yaku status was made official at the banzuke unveiling for the May 2024 tournament. Near the end of the spring regional tour, however, Asanoyama suffered a MCL injury to his right knee. The diagnosis of the injury at a hospital in Chiba Prefecture indicated that it would need about three weeks of treatment. With 2 1⁄2 weeks until the start of the next grand tournament, Asanoyama told reporters that he had to start treatment immediately.^[34] The severity of his injury was all the more worrying as Asanoyama made his return at the top of makuuchi, even declaring that it would be difficult for him to adapt, as this was his first leg injury.^[35] On May 8, it was announced that Asanoyama would not be taking part in the tournament, as he declared that he was unable to compete in training and his doctors warned him that his injury would worsen if he took part in the tournament.^[36] At the start of the tournament it was reported that he would need about three more weeks of treatment.^[37]

On Day 4 of the July 2024 tournament Asanoyama, with three wins under his belt, fell awkwardly in his bout against Ichiyamamoto. Unable to stand on his own, he was taken away from the ring in a wheelchair and went to a local hospital. He was later diagnosed with a tear of his left ACL. Stablemaster Takasago said that Asanoyama would consult with the doctors on a recommended course of action, though Takasago suggested that he have surgery.^[38] Asanoyama's medical certificate indicated he would need two months of treatment, but Takasago predicted that he would need more than half a year to fully recover and return to competition. This would likely drop him out of salaried status once again, possibly to the third-lowest sandanme division by the time he would be able to return. On 23 October, it was confirmed that Asanoyama was not planning to compete until March 2025, the latter mentioning his intention to become the first wrestler in sumo history to lose and regain his makuuchi status twice.^[39]

Personal Life[]

Asanoyama is a big fan of Sayaka Isoyama, who is a Japanese gravure idol, entertainer, actress, and sports writer who is represented by the talent agency, Hori Agency.^[40]
Asanoyama's hobbies include watching mix martial arts, especially boxing and K-1 (a mix martial art promotion). He stated that he found professional wrestling too violent and painful, so he does not watch.^[41] Asanoyama's favorite foods include grilled yellowtail, sushi, baked sweets (especially shortcake), and Toyama black ramen.^[42] During the summer 2018 jungyo tours, he would survive the heat by eating 4 melons each day (around 2 kg).^[43]
Asanoyama is sponsored by the Kita Nihon Shimbun, which is newspaper company located in his hometown of Toyama. They presented him with a kesho-mawashi of yellowtail fish, which happened to also be one of his favorite foods.^[44]
He has two other brothers, but none of them participated in sumo.^[45]

Fighting Style[]

Asanoyama has shown a preference for yotsu techniques which involve grasping his opponent's mawashi or belt. His most common kimarite or winning move is yorikiri, the force-out.^[46] His preferred grip is migi-yotsu, a right arm inside and left hand outside position, although in the run-up to the March 2020 tournament he worked on obtaining a left hand inside grip as well.^[47]