Hoshoryu Tomokatsu

Hoshoryu Tomokatsu - 豊昇龍智勝 (born May 22, 1999) is a Mongolian professional sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar. He made his debut in November 2017 and currently wrestles for Tatsunami stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 2020 and has 3 special prizes and 2 top division championships. He is the 74th yokozuna.

Early Life[]

Byambasuren Sugarragchaa was born on May 22, 1999, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as the second son of Yokozuna Asashoryu's eldest brother (Sugarragchaa Dolgorsürengiin), who has a background as a Mongolian wrestler. Described as a "city kid", he spent all his summer vacations, particularly long in Mongolia (from June to September) camping in yurts.^[1]

BabyHoshoryuWithAsashoryu — A three-year-old Hoshoryu (white shirt) plays with his uncle Asashoryu (c. 2003)

As a child, he was naturally athletic and learned to ride horses at the age of three. At the age of five, he began taking lessons in basketball and judo at the same club as fellow future-Ozeki Kirishima, saying that together they "were like friends".^[1] Born into a wrestling family, Sugarragchaa often socialized with other professional sumo wrestlers at dinner parties, notably with 73rd yokozuna Terunofuji, long before becoming a professional himself.^[2] He also watched his uncle's matches on television, and developed a great respect for him.^[3] Although he was not particularly fond of wrestling, he started taking bökh lessons at the age of 11 and achieved some local successes.^[1]

Upon graduation from middle school, he was scouted from Mongolia by the coach of Japan's NSSU Kashiwa High School sumo club, who visited the country to scout for international sports students.^[4] There, he was recognized because his coach saw his look, similar to his famous uncle's "who always seemed to be fighting something".^[4] Although he did not feel like wrestling yet, he decided to give in to temptation and took a trip to Japan. He was finally recruited and attended Kashiwa High School in Chiba Prefecture, along future professional sumo wrestlers Oshoma and Asahakuryu. There, he first joined the wrestling club, saying he was afraid of sumo,^[3] but in his first year he took part in a school trip and visited the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and became interested in the sport. After consulting with his uncle he committed to trying sumo at the high school level. Though he had no previous experience, he quickly started getting good results in amateur sumo tournaments and was seen as having great potential. In his third year, he was defeated by Tottori Johoku High School's wrestler Amartuvshin Amarsanaa at the Inter-High School Championships, allowing Amartuvshin to become the first foreign-born high school-yokozuna in history.^[5]

Career[]

Early Career[]

HoshoryuNaya — Hoshoryu with Naya, during their time in maezumo (c. 2018)

Hoshoryu joined Tatsunami stable after high school. During this time, he was in regular contact with his uncle who gave him such advice as "build on your own strengths" and "don't put on weight quickly or you'll risk injury."^[6]

Hoshoryu first stepped into the ring professionally in January 2018. In his maezumo (pre-sumo) debut, he was defeated by fellow debutant Naya, who was also garnering attention as the grandson of the greatly respected yokozuna Taiho.^[7] Because of their strong family ties to sumo, he commented that he and Naya (who later changed his shikona to Oho) felt close to each other.^[8] In his first official tournament on the banzuke in March 2018, Hoshoryu was close to winning the jonokuchi division championship after scoring six consecutive victories, but was defeated again by Naya, who went on to win the championship. Since then, the two wrestlers have maintained a certain rivalry.^[9]

In Hoshoryu's second tournament, he took the jonidan championship with a perfect 7-0 record. On his debut in the sandanme division, he went 6–1 when scoring a win in his final match against Hiradoumi, securing promotion to the makushita division. During the summer tours in June, Hoshoryu was unusually chosen by yokozuna Hakuho to participate in a training session^[10], showing that he took him under his wing after helping to train him when he was still in high school.^[11] In his first tournament in the makushita division, he recorded 3 consecutive victories before recording 3 defeats. In his 7th bout, he was paired against Naya, who also had a score of 3–3, putting both wrestlers in a position of potential demotion to the sandanme division. Hoshoryu defeated Naya by kubinage, the latter suffering the first make-koshi record of his career and being logically relegated to the lower division for the November tournament of the same year.^[12]

HoshoryuAkiseyama — Hoshoryu battles Akiseyama (c. 2019)

In January 2019, Hoshoryu faced former makuuchi wrestler Ura, who was rising through the ranks after being absent from the ring since the September 2017 tournament. Although Hoshoryu defeated him by kakenage, Ura injured his knee again during the match and had to withdraw from the tournament before missing another four consecutive tournaments due to injury. Hoshoryu later said he was nervous about facing a former maegashira but felt responsible for the injury, going to the arena infirmary after the match to ask Ura for forgiveness.^[13] In May, Hoshoryu also recorded an eighth positive record and had a remarkable match against Kotonowaka, where observers noticed the similarities between Hoshoryu's technique and that of his uncle.^[14] In July 2019, Hoshoryu, then ranked as makushita 2, faced competition against opponents who had mostly already been ranked in the juryo division. During this tournament he was called upon to wrestle in this upper-division with a match against juryo Kizakiumi, where he suffered a defeat. That month, he suffered his only losing tournament in his rise through the lower divisions.^[12]

Hoshoryu quickly bounced back the following tournament in September 2019 and, with a winning record of 4–3 (kachi-koshi), he earned juryo promotion for the November tournament in Fukuoka along with Kotoshoho. At a press conference, Hoshoryu vowed to surpass his uncle's 25 championships.^[15] He also received a kimono from his uncle at the time of his promotion.^[16]

Juryo Career[]

In his juryo debut, Hoshoryu began the tournament with a victory over Akiseyama, but suffered a make-koshi record on Day 14, with a loss to Sokokurai. Despite this setback he logged two 8–7 records in the next two consecutive tournaments. In the July 2020 tournament (held in Tokyo instead of the usual Nagoya due to COVID concerns) he took part in a rare situation, where six wrestlers were lined up for the championship with ten wins each. In the preliminary stages of the playoff, he defeated Kyokutaisei. The race for the title culminated in a three-man playoff (tomoesen) between three members of Tatsunami stable. This playoff comprised himself, Akua, and Meisei. Bouts between stablemates are only allowed in the case of playoffs, where two or more wrestlers end up with the same record, and is a rare occurrence. Hoshoryu was defeated by former makuuchi wrestler Meisei, who went on to defeat Akua to take the championship.^[12]

Makuuchi Career[]

HoshoryuIchinojo — Hoshoryu battles the much larger Ichinojo (c. 2020)

Hoshoryu's performance in July 2020 was enough to propel him into the top-tier makuuchi division for the September 2020 tournament. He is the 50th foreigner to reach the top division, and the 27th Mongolian. In his first match in the division, he won his first victory in the opening match, beating Ichinojo with the surprising kimarite (winning technique) of yorikiri, the two wrestlers having a 70 kg (150 lb) difference at the time.^[17]

In the July 2021 tournament Hoshoryu had his best result in the top division up to that point. On Day 11, he notably defeated ozeki Shodai by yoritaoshi, his fastest win to date. In total, he won ten bouts during the tournament, and was awarded his first special prize, the Technique prize. After the tournament, he also received public congratulations from the executives of the Japan Sumo Association, including Chairman Hakkuku and Nishikido.^[18] In October of the same year, Sports Hochi reported that after the July 2021 tournament he received a comment from the winner of the championship (yokozuna Hakuho) who passed the baton to him in the hope that he would occupy the top of the sumo world.^[19] His performance saw him promoted to a new highest rank of Maegashira 1 for September, but in that tournament he had to withdraw on Day 5 with only one win because of tonsillitis. He returned on Day 8 and won four of his remaining eight matches.^[20]

In the January 2022 tournament he produced a strong 11–4 record, and was then promoted to san'yaku for the first time, ranked at komusubi for the March 2022 tournament. He achieved winning records in three consecutive tournaments at komusubi, and earned a promotion to sekiwake for the September 2022 tournament. In the November tournament, Hoshoryu stood out by winning his fifth bout against Midorifuji with a rare kawazugake winning-move, a technique not seen in 10 years.^[21] He was the leader of the tournament after Day 11 with just one loss, but ultimately finished at 11–4. Still, it was his best performance to date in the san'yaku ranks. He received his second Technique Prize of his career by recording his eleventh victory over Kiribayama.^[12]

HoshoryuAbi — Hoshoryu battles Abi (c. 2022)

Hoshoryu had hopes of promotion to ozeki if he produced double-digit wins in the January 2023 tournament, but he withdrew on Day 10 with a sprained left ankle.^[22] He returned to the tournament on Day 12 having missed just one day, and preserved his sekiwake rank on the final day, winning his eighth match after his opponent Onosho was disqualified for a hair pull. In the March 2023 rankings, Hoshoryu retained his position as sekiwake. In that tournament he finished with a 10–5 record. Between March and May 2023, Hoshoryu won enough victories to reach double-digit records. After the May tournament, Judging Department chairman Sadagotake commented on the sekiwake results and announced that the July tournament would be one where promotion to ozeki would be considered if Hoshoryu's results were good enough.^[23] Hoshoryu would need 12 wins at the July basho to reach the normal ozeki promotion requirement of 33 wins at san'yaku in three tournaments.^[12]

Promotion to Ozeki[]

In early June, Hoshoryu returned to Mongolia for the first time in four years, to recover physically and mentally in preparation for his run (ozeki-tori) to the rank of ozeki. There, he benefited in particular from advice from his uncle Asashoryu and declared that he intended to approach the tournament like his previous ones, "as usual" and without worrying too much about promotion.^[24] Prior to the July tournament, Hoshoryu also received a kesho-mawashi designed by manga artist Rieko Saibara, depicting one of the patrons of his stable (Katsuya Takasu) as Genghis Khan and the "blue wolf", a Mongolian legend. Originally, the kesho-mawashi was to be offered after a possible promotion to the rank of ozeki, but Hoshoryu insisted on having it ready at the July tournament.^[25]

HoshoryuMidorifuji — Hoshoryu throws and defeats Midorifuji (c. 2023)

Hoshoryu began the July 2023 tournament by facing Maegashira Tobizaru. Despite designated the winner of the match, many spectators and journalists mentioned that Hoshoryu's hand had touched the ring floor before Tobizaru had fallen.^[26] In response to the growing criticism, the Nikkan Sports newspaper commented in an editorial that the judges had probably awarded the victory to Hoshoryu because he had shown himself to be dominant in the match and Tobizaru was not in a position to continue fighting.^[27] Nevertheless, Hoshoryu performed well in the following days, winning his second match against former ozeki Shodai, but lost to Maegashira Nishikigi, one of the tournament's surprise leaders, on Day 3. Hoshoryu bounced back, however, to win six consecutive victories to put him in the title race, including a notable one against Komusubi Abi by okurihikiotoshi, an unusual winning move. Between Days 10 and 12, however, he suffered two defeats to Komusubi Kotonowaka and title contender Hokutofuji. After defeating back-to-back ozeki Kirishima and ozeki promotion-seeker Wakamotoharu, he entered the final day of the tournament in a three-way tie for the lead with eight-year sumo veteran Hokutofuji and 19-year-old makuuchi-newcomer Hakuoho. Hoshoryu took on Hakuoho in their scheduled Day 15 contest with the winner then needing to face Hokutofuji, who by winning that day against Nishikigi had triggered the necessity of a playoff. Hoshoryu brought down Hakuoho, thus winning his 12th match of the tournament and his 33rd in three tournaments at a san'yaku rank, the threshold typically needed for ozeki promotion. Hoshoryu then went on to defeat Hokutofuji in the playoff to secure his first top-division championship and second overall title in professional sumo. Upon winning the playoff and leaving the dohyo, Hoshoryu could not contain his emotions. "I was just so overwhelmed with joy, I was trying to hold it back but the tears just came," he said.^[28] He added that he did everything he could and did not think about a possible promotion, and that he wanted to share his joy with his stablemaster Tatsunami and with his uncle.^[29]

Hoshoryu after winning his first Yusho (c. 2023)

Since he had reached the quota of victories required for promotion, the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association approved Hoshoryu's appointment to the rank of ozeki, after JSA Chairman Hakkaku accepted the request of Judging Department head Sadogatake to hold an extraordinary board meeting to discuss the promotion.^[30] On July 26, Hoshoryu made his formal acceptance speech at his stable's lodging house in Nagoya, with his parents who had flown in from Mongolia for the ceremony.^[31] In his speech, Hoshoryu said that he would work hard with a spirit of kihaku issen (気魄一閃, the mental strength to fight powerfully) so as to not tarnish the rank of ozeki.^[32] This promotion makes Hoshoryu the first wrestler promoted to the rank of ozeki from Tatsunami stable in 37 years, since Futahaguro Koji in 1986.^[33] He is also the seventh Mongolian ozeki to date, after Kirishima was elevated to the rank in May 2023. After the September banzuke was released, Hoshoryu noted that he had to work even harder than before because many people were offering congratulations to him during the summer regional tours and he became accustomed to people referring to him as an ozeki. He said that he had to win the September tournament by wrestling well.^[34]

Ozeki Career[]

Hoshoryu began his ozeki career in September 2023 by narrowly escaping a kadoban situation with an eighth victory on the final day of the tournament against Hokuseiho.^[12]

HoshoryuPreparesPic2024 — Hoshoryu prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2024)

During the November 2023 tournament Hoshoryu stood out on the fifth day of the tournament in his match against Gonoyama, a match during which the two wrestlers waited at the moment of the tachi-ai for a minute and a half, leading to three unsuccessful attempts to launch the initial charge.^[35] Although he won the match, Hoshoryu, due to his rank and three unsuccessful attempts was summoned by head judge Kumegawa to receive a verbal warning.^[35]

Hoshoryu was in contention of the top division championship during much of the January 2024 tournament. He aggravated his knee injury during his match with ozeki Kirishima, another championship contestant. He withdrew from the tournament the following day. Nevertheless, he had already achieved kachi-koshi.^[36] During the March tournament of the same year, Hoshoryu remained in the group of wrestlers still able to compete for the championship, notably standing out on Day 12 by beating Takerufuji, the newly promoted makuuchi who had been unbeaten until then. Hoshoryu's chances of staying in contention for the title came to an end on Day 14, however, after he was defeated by fellow ozeki Kotonowaka. Hoshoryu withdrew on the thirteenth day of the July tournament with a thigh injury, having however confirmed a ninth victory the previous day against fellow ozeki Kotozakura (the former Kotonowaka).^[37] During the August collective training sessions, however, the press reported his intention to take part in the September tournament, with Hoshoryu adding that he had put on 10 kg (22 lb) to support his form.^[38]

Hoshoryu entered the final day of the November 2024 tournament facing Kotozakura once again, who was tied with him at the top of the leaderboard with 13 wins. In the final and deciding match, Hoshoryu's attempt at an overarm throw was unsuccessful as he slipped and fell forward to the dohyo, leaving Kotozakura victorious. Despite missing out on the championship, Hoshoryu's strong performance was enough that the Sumo Association announced he would be a candidate for yokozuna promotion at the next tournament in January 2025.^[39] With Hoshoryu being designated by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council as an official candidate for the sport's supreme rank in the event of a championship victory, Kotozakura and Hoshoryu are the first two wrestlers in 55 years to be considered for promotion at the same time, since Kitanofuji and Tamanoumi in 1970.^[40]

HoshoryuKinbozan2025 — Hoshoryu battles Kinbozan in a playoff for the makuuchi yusho (c. 2025)

At the January 2025 tournament, Hoshoryu began with a solid four-win streak. He then fell behind in the title race, after suffering a Day 5 defeat to Atamifuji. Hoshoryu stayed one win behind the leaders after seven days but then suffered consecutive defeats to rank-and-file opponents Shodai and Hiradoumi, which had been seen as potentially thwarting his bid for promotion to yokozuna.^[41] On Day 12, Hoshoryu defeated then-tournament leader Kinbozan to bring himself back into the race for the championship, tied for second with three other wrestlers (Oho, Kirishima and Takerufuji). On days thirteen and fifteen, Hoshoryu faced and defeated the other two active ozeki, Onosato and fellow yokozuna promotion-seeker Kotozakura, to keep himself in the title race. With this latest victory, Hoshoryu secured his place in the first three-way playoff situation for a championship since the 2022 Kyushu tournament.^[42] This situation had been decided at the time of the match between Oho and Kinbozan, the latter having lost, and which was to set in motion at the very least a playoff between these two wrestlers. Hoshoryu won the draw to compete in the first bout, and he won the title after defeating Kinbozan and Oho one after the other. Unusually, Hoshoryu received the Prime Minister's Cup from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in person, a first since 2019.^[43]

Hoshoryu dedicated his championship to his old high school coach, Tomohiro Osawa, who had recruited him and brought him to Japan and who died in September 2024.^[44] During his championship interview, he mentioned that he would have liked to face Terunofuji one last time, as the latter had beaten him in the nine matches in which they had met.^[45]

HoshoryuClinchesYusho — Hoshoryu defeats rival Oho to claim second yusho and secure yokozuna promotion (c. 2025)

Once Hoshoryu's victory was assured, the Judging Department of the Japan Sumo Association customarily sent up a request for an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors on January 29 to discuss Hoshoryu's promotion to the supreme rank of yokozuna. Although the sport's only active yokozuna, Terunofuji, retired during the tournament, it was brought up that the department of the shimpan was not unanimous regarding the promotion, some supporting Hoshoryu and others criticizing him for his defeats at the hands of rank-and-file wrestlers.^[46] Although the judges were divided, Judging Department chairman Takadagawa (the former Akinoshima) was confident in the formalization of the promotion.^[47]

Promotion to Yokozuna[]

Meeting on January 27, 2025, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council received the formal request from the Sumo Association regarding Hoshoryu's promotion to the highest rank in professional sumo as the 74th yokozuna in the sport's history. After debate, the nine-member council unanimously recommended Hoshoryu's promotion.^[48]

On the day before his expected promotion it was reported that Hoshoryu would be adopting the Unryu ring-entering ceremony style, widely used by the Dewanoumi ichimon (or clan), to which Tatsunami stable belongs, and which was used not only by his uncle Asashoryu but also by Futabayama, another yokozuna raised in his stable.^[49] Commenting on his choice, Hoshoryu explained that he had decided on the Unryu style because it had made a particular impression on him as he watched his uncle perform this ceremony, feeling a strong sense of fighting spirit emanating from it.^[50] A member of the Dewanoumi ichimon, Hoshoryu was taught the style by Musashigawa (former yokozuna Musashimaru), who also used this style during his active career.^[51] Plans were also made for Hoshoryu to use a tachi and a set of kesho-mawashi that had belonged to Musashimaru for his first yokozuna ring-entering ceremony.^[52]

HoshoryuDohyoIri — Hoshoryu performs his first yokozuna dohyo-iri at Meiji Shrine (c. 2025)

On the morning of January 29, 2025, the full board of the Sumo Association accepted the council's recommendation and unanimously promoted Hoshoryu to yokozuna.^[53] Hoshoryu is the sixth Mongolian to be promoted to sumo's highest rank, and the first wrestler to be promoted to yokozuna since Terunofuji in July 2021. He is the sixth-fastest wrestler to reach the top rank since the six-tournament system was introduced in 1958, doing so in 42 tournaments.^[54] The promotion also occurred on the same date in 2003 that his uncle Asashoryu became the first Mongolian-born yokozuna.^[54]

Soon after the promotion was finalized Hoshoryu and his stablemaster were visited at Tatsunami stable by Sumo Association representatives Sakaigawa (former komusubi Ryogoku) and Onaruto (former ozeki Dejima), who gave the in-person notification of the promotion.^[55] In his customary acceptance speech, Hoshoryu said: "I will continue to work hard with a strong determination in order not to tarnish the title of yokozuna."^[54] He once again used the Japanese words kihaku issen (気魄一閃, the mental strength to fight powerfully), the same words he used for his promotion to ozeki, reproducing the choice his uncle Asashoryu had also made to use his same idiom twice for his two promotion ceremonies.^[56] Later, Hoshoryu told reporters that reaching the top rank was his dream since entering the sumo world. "I will try to elevate myself higher and higher," he said. "No matter what happens, I will stand strong."^[54]

Hoshoryu's first ring-entering ceremony as a yokozuna was held on 31 January at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine in front of about 3,500 people. Stablemate Meisei served as the tsuyuharai (dew sweeper), and Hiradoumi was the tachimochi (sword bearer). Among the members of Hoshoryu's family in attendance was Asashoryu, who had arrived in Japan the previous day.^[57]

Following the release of the March 2025 rankings Hoshoryu said that seeing his name at the top of the list was "a little scary," but he was also happy and had "a grave sense of responsibility."^[58]

Yokozuna Career[]

In preparation for the 2025 March tournament, Hoshoryu affirmed his attention to participating in the tournament although he appeared the day before his consecration ceremony at the Sumiyoshi-taisha with a brace on his right elbow, mentioning that he had torn cartilage.^[59]

Personal Life[]

According to his Japan Sumo Association profile, he has no hobbies, favorite artists, or favorite TV show. His favorite food is meat, Katsudon (pork cutlet and egg rice bowl). He dislikes seafood and tomatoes.^[60]^[61] His his favorite manga series is Hinomaru Sumo.^[62]
Hoshoryu regards Kashiwa, Chiba, as his hometown as he attended high school there. Upon promotion to ozeki, he immediately paid a courtesy visit to the city.^[63]

Family[]

HoshoryuAndAsashoryu — Hoshoryu with his uncle Asashoryu (c. 2023)

Hoshoryu comes from a prestigious wrestling family, his father (the eldest brother) and uncles all having wrestling backgrounds. In addition to former yokozuna Asashoryu, he also counts among his uncles Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar, a Mongolian politician and former Olympic freestyle wrestling athlete, and Dolgorsürengiin Serjbüdee, who was a professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. His paternal grandfather, Donrovyn Dolgorsüren, is also a renowned bökh wrestler, having achieved the status of Ulsyn zaan (Mongolian: Улсын заан), meaning 'National Elephant', which means he reached a semi-final in a national Naadam wrestling festival.^[64]^[65]

In October 2024, his cousin Luvsangombo Serjbüdee, son of Dolgorsürengiin Serjbüdee (the former Blue Wolf) also became a professional sumo wrestler at Shikoroyama stable, under the ring name Tenrosei.^[66]

Since Hoshoryu is the nephew of the 68th yokozuna Asashoryu, the latter regularly comments on his performances in the ring. Hoshoryu notably cited his uncle's anger when he suffered three consecutive defeats in March 2019^[67], and his uncle's criticism on Twitter of his style at the September 2019 tournament.^[15] Asashoryu is also not shy on the subject of encouraging his nephew's direct opponents, as was the case at the January 2025 tournament, when he called stablemaster Kise (the former Higonoumi), the master of Kinbozan (the wrestler then leading the championship), going so far as to say that Kinbozan should not lose to "this jerk" (あのヤロウ, anoyaro), referring to Hoshoryu.^[68] Hoshoryu maintains a complicated relationship with the aura his uncle has over professional sumo, feeling that he is "perpetually chasing his shadow."^[69] Reportedly, the two even got into a bad argument after he and Asashoryu had several disagreements, the former yokozuna insisting beyond reason and provoking in Hoshoryu the feeling of being harassed by his uncle.^[56] Hoshoryu also commented on his annoyance at being regularly compared to his uncle.^[70]^[71]

Fighting Style[]

Hoshoryu's Japan Sumo Association profile lists his preferred grip on his opponent's mawashi as migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position.^[62] He is fond of using shitatenage (underarm throw) and yorikiri (frontal force out). He also likes the outside leg trip, or sotogake, which is beginning to be seen as a trademark move of his.^[72] With his fierce fighting style, he makes full use of his speed and athleticism. Because of that, he has captured the attention of many fans early in his career.^[73]