Gonoumi Shunsuke

Gonoumi Shunsuke - 豪ノ湖瞬佑 (born May 19, 2004) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Omihachiman, Shiga. He made his debut in January 2023 and currently wrestles for Takekuma stable. His highest rank as of 2025 is makushita 52.

Early Life[]

Shunsuke Saito began sumo wrestling in the 6th grade at a local club in Omihachiman, Shiga. During his third year at Hachiman Higashi Junior High School, Saito was runner-up at a national prefectural tournament and made it to the top eight at the national level. He then attended Saitama Sakae High School, renowned for its sumo club, and during his second year Saito finished third at the National High School Selection Tournament. In his third year, he won the National High School Sumo Championship and earned the title of High School Yokozuna. After high school, Saito joined Takekuma stable.^[1]

Career[]

He made his professional debut in January 2023 and was given the shikona "Gonoumi" (豪ノ湖). Despite holding the title of High School Yokozuna, many observers had doubts on Gonoumi's success in sumo as he was only able to win three out of his five matches in maezumo (pre-sumo). Regardless, he finished with a strong 6-1 record in the following March 2023 tournament. In September 2023, Gonoumi won his first six matches and was aiming for the sandanme yusho before losing his final match to former maegashira Kitaharima. Nevertheless, he was promoted to makushita for the following November 2023 tournament after less than a year in professional sumo. However, he finished with a poor 1-6 record in his makushita debut and was demoted back down to sandanme for the January 2024 tournament.

In January 2024, Gonoumi tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, along with damage to the meniscus and medial collateral ligament (MCL). The injury would typically take about a year to heal and underwent surgery in February, after which he continued his rehabilitation.^[2]

He continued to withdraw from tournaments until he reached the lowest division, jonokuchi, in September 2024. It was his first time in the division since his debut in March 2023. To avoid being completely removed from the banzuke, he competed in just one match, defeating Raiho—who had also withdrawn from recent tournaments and, interestingly, was participating that day for the same reason.

In November 2024, he made a full return to the ring, completing an entire tournament for the first time in a year. He won all his matches, securing the jonokuchi yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and reigniting his climb up the ranks.^[3]

Fighting Style[]

Gonoumi is proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position.^[4] His most often used winning kimarite is oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).^[5]