Kihonoumi Yuki

Kihonoumi Yuki - 希帆ノ海勇樹 (born June 4, 1984) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kariwa, Niigata. He made his debut in March 2000 and wrestled for Dewanoumi stable. His highest rank was makushita 2 and he retired in November 2020.

Early Life[]

While attending Kariwa Sonritsu Kariwa Junior High School, Yamasaki aspired to become a sumo wrestler. When Dewanoumi stable visited Joetsu, Niigata, for a regional tour, Yamasaki met Dewanoumi Oyakata (former sekiwake Washuyama) for dinner and directly requested to join the stable. After graduating from junior high school, he moved to Tokyo and joined Dewanoumi stable on February 15, 2000.^[1]

Career[]

He made his professional debut in March 2000 and made his debut alongside Ryuo, Hochiyama, and Hitenryu. He was given the shikona "Kihonoumi" (希帆ノ海). he was promoted to sandanme in March 2002, but he was unable to establish himself as a sandanme regular. He was given the new shikona "Ettoryu" (越闘龍) in March 2004 and he was able to establish himself in sandanme by May 2004. He reached the makushita division in November 2005. After a series of mediocre showings, he reverted back to the Kihonoumi shikona in May 2007. Two tournaments later in July 2007, he won all seven matches, but missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing to Minami in a playoff.^[2]

In September 2011, he suffered an injury during a match against Kakizoe on 5th day and subsequently withdrew from the tournament. He sat out of the following November 2011 tournament and eventually fell back down to sandanme in March 2012. He immediately returned to makushita in May 2012 after winning the sandanme yusho in the previous March 2012 tournament.^[2]

In September 2013, Kihonoumi won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to the rank of makushita 6 for the November 2013 tournament. In this tournament, he posted a solid 4-3 record and was promoted to makushita 2 in January 2014. In this tournament Kihonoumi got off to a good start and even defeated juryo-ranked Sakigake on the 4th day to finish with a 2-1 record. However, he went on to lose his following four bouts to finish with a 2-5 record, thus missing out on a promotion to juryo.^[2]

Retirement from Sumo[]

After bouncing back and forth between makushita and sandanme for nearly four years, Kihonoumi retired from sumo after the November 2020 tournament. His official retirement ceremony, or danpatsu-shiki ceremony, was held in Niigata prefecture on May 15, 2021, with former sekiwake Washuyama taking the final cut.^[3]^[4] After retiring, he plans to return to his parent's home and take over the family business.^[5]

Fighting Style[]

Kihonoumi is proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His preferred grip is the migi-yotsu, or a left hand outside, right hand inside grip on the opponent's mawashi.^[6] His most often used winning kimarite is yorikiri (force out), followed by oshidashi (push out).^[7]