Hiradoumi Yuki - 平戸海 雄貴 (born April 20, 2000) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hirado, Nagasaki. He made his debut in March 2016 and currently wrestles for Sakaigawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 2022 and has 1 special prize. His highest rank as of 2025 is komusubi.
Early Life[]
Sakaguchi began sumo wrestling during his first year at Himosashi Elementary School and he competed at the Wanpaku National Sumo Tournament from his fourth to sixth year.[1] He also played baseball and volleyball in elementary school before solely focusing on sumo when entering Hirado Shiritsu Chubu Junior High School. During his time in junior high school, Sakaguchi participated in the National Junior High School Sumo Championships for his second and third year.[1]
After graduating, he received sumo offers from multiple high schools, but he opted to become professional and joined Sakaigawa stable.[2] He did so because the stable's head coach (former komusubi Ryogoku) is also from Nagasaki and because he felt that the stable gave him a good feeling, as it was made up of five active sekitori at the time.[3]
Career[]
Early Career[]
Sakaguchi made his professional debut in March 2016 alongside Asanoyama, Yutakayama, and Churanoumi. In March 2017, he was given the shikona "Hiradoumi" (平戸海) which was derived from his hometown Hirado.[4] During his years at the stable he struck up a friendship with Tsushimanada, with whom he maintains a friendly rivalry, competing with him at the time to see who would be promoted to sekitori ahead of the other.[5] During his years in the lower divisions, he served as tsukebito (assistant) to Ozeki Goeido.[6] He was promoted to sandanme in July 2017 and makushita in March 2019. In September 2021, while ranked at makushita 2, Hiradoumi finished with a 5-2 record and was promoted to juryo for the following November 2021 tournament.[7]
Juryo Career[]
Hiradoumi defeats Kaisei by amiuchi (c. 2022)
He is the first wrestler within his stable to reach the sekitori ranks since Shironoryu, who reached the juryo division in 2010. Hiradoumi finished with a 7-7-1 record in his first tournament as a sekitori. He withdrew on the final day due to an injury to his right ankle.[8] He followed with an 8-7 record in January 2022. Following a strong performance in the July 2022 tournament, he was promoted to the makuuchi division. It was the first time in eleven years that a wrestler from Nagasaki prefecture was promoted to the top division. The last wrestler was Sadanofuji, Hiradoumi's coach at Sakaigawa stable, who made his makuuchi debut at the Kyushu tournament in 2011.[9]
Makuuchi Career[]
Hiradoumi entered the top division during the September 2022 tournament, at the rank of maegashira 16. However, he suffered a narrow loss in his first tournament, achieving a 7-8 make-kochi record. In the following tournament of November, he managed to maintain his makuuchi rank due to the balance of promotion and demotion of other wrestlers. Even with a losing record, his performance received praises, notably from former yokozuna Kitanofuji, who praised his energy and his "unrivaled training enthusiasm".[10] In the last tournament of 2022, he managed his first kachi-koshi in the top division by the twelfth day. He was listed as a potential Fighting spirit prize recipient but was shelved because he did not reach the majority of the attending committee members votes.[11] In the first banzuke of 2023 Hiradoumi was ranked maegashira 10. He secured kachi-koshi at the January tournament on day 14 with a win over Kotoeko. Reaching his highest rank, Hiradoumi notably won his match against former ozeki Takayasu on Day 8 but suffered a close losing record. After a good tournament in March 2023, Hiradoumi was promoted to Maegashira 5 for the July tournament of the same year. However, he suffered a negative record (make-koshi) and had to declare himself kyujo for the final day of the tournament, having been seen limping after his fight against Abi.[12]
Hiradoumi defeats Tobizaru (c. 2024)
During the November 2023 tournament, Hiradoumi stood out by recording a victory on Day 10 over Ichiyamamoto, the tournament's sole leader, jeopardizing his lead in the title race. The victory was also Hiradoumi's seventh in a row, having started the tournament with three defeats. During the 2024 March tournament, he stood out again by defeating ozeki Kirishima on Day 10. During the April 2024 tour, Hiradoumi received advice from Yokozuna Terunofuji during a training session, winning two of his seven matches.[13] Terunofuji also commented that he had chosen Hiradoumi as his partner because he wanted to test motivated and dynamic wrestlers.[14]
At the May 2024 tournament, Hiradoumi stood out by inflicting defeat on ozeki Takakeisho (on Day 1) and on one of the tournament co-leaders, Onosato (Day 9), threatening his chances of winning the title. During the July tournament, Hiradoumi scored ten victories, beating higher-ranked wrestlers such as Kirishima and Onosato. For his performances, he won his first special prize (for Technique) and established a solid foundation for eventual promotion to the rank of ozeki.[15] Because of the balance of the banzuke, disturbed with the demotion of Takakeisho and the good performance of the four sekiwake of the time, Hiradoumi did not receive promotion, however, securing his status as komusubi.[16]
Personal Life[]
- Hiradoumi has four brothers and sisters. He regularly cites his two youngest siblings as his driving force.[5]
- Hiradoumi is an avid Central League baseball fan. He has been a fan of the Yomiuri Giants since childhood, and his favorite player is Kazuma Okamoto.[17]
- His favourite food is omurice.[3] His hobby is karaoke and his favorite artist is Ketsumeishi.[18]
Fighting Style[]
Hiradoumi defeats Onosato by oshidashi (push out)
Hiradoumi is proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi is migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position.[18] His most often used winning kimarite is yorikiri (force out), followed by oshidashi (push out).[19]
At the time of his promotion to makuuchi for 2022, he was described as a wrestler who never backs down and frequently uses pushing techniques.[20] More specifically, his style consists mainly of quick, aggressive attacks and dodges aimed at overwhelming his opponent.[16] One of the wrestlers who inspires him most in his sumo style is Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, whose matches he watches to perfect his own style.[21]
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 298-248-8/545 (55 basho)
- Makuuchi: 130-125/254 (17 basho)
- Juryo: 40-34-1/74 (5 basho)
- Makushita: 52-39/91 (13 basho)
- Sandanme: 41-29/70 (10 basho)
- Jonidan: 24-18-7/42 (7 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 11-3/14 (2 basho)
Achievements[]
- Special Prize: Technique (1)
Shikona History[]
- Sakaguchi Yuki (2016.03 - 2017.01)
- Hiradoumi Yuki (2017.03 - )
Gallery[]
JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]
Career Overview[]
(c. 2022)
(c. 2024)
External Links[]
- Hiradoumi Yuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
- Hiradoumi Yuki Rikishi Information
- Hiradoumi Yuki JSA Profile Page
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BBM Sumo April 2016 Issue p. 109
- ↑ BBM Sumo November 2016 Issue p. 59
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chunichi: Hiradoumi reveals the "story" of how he became a self-made sumo wrestler
- ↑ BBM Sumo November 2021 Issue p. 23
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 NHK: An interview with Hiradoumi
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: Hiradoumi defeats Ichiyamamoto
- ↑ Hiradoumi Rikishi Information
- ↑ Jiji Press: Hiradoumi out due to an injury to his right foot
- ↑ NHK Sports: Hiradoumi aiming for double-digit wins
- ↑ Chunichi: Kitanofuji: Hiradoumi, is truly amazing
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: November 2022 sansho recipients
- ↑ Sponichi Annex: Hiradoumi is out of the tournament
- ↑ Hochi Sports: Hiradoumi was nominated by yokozuna Terunofuji and won two of his seven matches
- ↑ Hochi Sports: Terunofuji nominated Hiradoumi to fight seven consecutive bouts
- ↑ Daily Sports: Hiradoumi satisfied with the performance in the Sanyaku ranks
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Nikkan Sports: Komusubi Hiradoumi defeats Kirishima for fourth win
- ↑ Hochi Sports: Hiradoumi: 'I gave it my all' in a total of 17 bouts
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Hiradoumi JSA Profile
- ↑ Hiradoumi Kimarite Information
- ↑ Sponichi Annex: Hiradoumi aiming for double digits
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: 23-year-old Hiradoumi studies the great Yokozuna Chiyonofuji