Nihon University campus
Nihon University (日本大学, Nihon Daigaku), abbreviated as Nichidai (日大), is a private research university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School (currently the Department of Law), was founded by Yamada Akiyoshi, the Minister of Justice, in 1889. It is one of Japan's leading private universities. The university's name is derived from the Japanese word "Nihon" meaning Japan. The number of students exceeds 70,000 and is the largest in Japan.
Sumo Club Overview[]
From left to right: Higonoumi, Hamanoshima, Yotsukasa, and Ohinode with their Nihon University kesho-mawashi's
The University is also known for its strong sumo program and has produced the largest number of sekitori out of any other colleges. Notable rikishi include yokozuna Wajima and ozeki Kotomitsuki. A list of all wrestlers who were members of Nihon University's sumo club is provided below.
As of 2023, 76 members of Nihon University's sumo club have turned professional with 56 reaching the elite sekitori ranks.
Trivia[]
- Nihon University has 30 National Student Sumo Championships which is the most of any school.
- The color of the mawashi worn in tournaments is black with scarlet letters that read "Nichidai" (日本).
- There was a time where university-educated makuuchi wrestlers was overtaken by Nippon Sports Science University, however, Nihon University wrestlers have since overtaken the top spot.
- When Nihon University wrestlers reach the elite sekitori ranks, they are given a kesho-mawashi by Nihon University. The design consists of a white background with a golden school crest. Only Ichihara was presented with a different designed kesho-mawashi which consisted of Nihon University's bright red "N dot" logo.
- The Nihon University stable and dormitory is located in Asagaya, Suginami, Tokyo, which is also the former location of Hanakago stable.
List[]
- Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.
- Green row indicates wrestler reached the elite sekitori ranks.
| Ring Name | Real Name | Stable | Debut | Highest Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yokoyama | Masahiro Yokoyama | Dewanoumi | 1967.09 | Makushita 30 |
| Wajima | Hiroshi Wajima | Hanakago | 1970.01 | Yokozuna |
| Arase | Hideo Arase | Hanakago | 1972.01 | Sekiwake |
| Dewanohana | Soichi Nomura | Dewanoumi | 1974.03 | Sekiwake |
| Onoumi | Takashi Ishikawa | Hanakago | 1975.03 | Maegashira 4 |
| Kotohanada | Yasushi Hanada | Sadogatake | 1979.03 | Makushita 21 |
| Hanaarashi | Kazuyoshi Kotani | Hanakago | 1980.03 | Juryo 9 |
| Hananofuji | Shozo Narimatsu | Hanaregoma | 1981.03 | Juryo 1 |
| Tochitsukasa | Tetsuo Goto | Kasugano | 1981.03 | Sekiwake |
| Ryogoku | Hideaki Kobayashi | Dewanoumi | 1985.03 | Komusubi |
| Fuchita | Nariaki Fuchita | Kitanoumi | 1987.03 | Makushita 3 |
| Kushimaumi | Keita Kushima | Dewanoumi | 1988.01 | Maegashira 1 |
| Daishoyama | Naoki Yamazaki | Tatsunami | 1989.01 | Maegashira 2 |
| Daishoho | Masami Murata | Tatsunami | 1990.01 | Komusubi |
| Mainoumi | Shuhei Nagao | Dewanoumi | 1990.05 | Komusubi |
| Hamanoshima | Keishi Hamasu | Mihogaseki | 1992.01 | Komusubi |
| Higonoumi | Naoto Sakamoto | Mihogaseki | 1992.01 | Maegashira 1 |
| Ohinode | Takaaki Nishida | Tatsunami | 1992.01 | Maegashira 9 |
| Tomonohana | Shinya Narimatsu | Tatsunami | 1992.03 | Komusubi |
| Otsukasa | Nobuhide Ouchi | Irumagawa | 1993.03 | Maegashira 4 |
| Oyamato | Toyo Shirasaki | Irumagawa | 1993.03 | Juryo 12 |
| Hokutomori | Fumihito Tsuruga | Hakkaku | 1994.01 | Makushita 11 |
| Narimatsu | Yukio Narimatsu | Mihogaseki | 1994.01 | Makushita 49 |
| Tamanohana | Shigejiro Fuku | Kataonami | 1994.01 | Makushita 8 |
| Hokutohikari | Yasuhito Tsutsumiuchi | Hakkaku | 1995.01 | Juryo 10 |
| Kaiho | Ryoji Kumagaya | Hakkaku | 1996.01 | Komusubi |
| Masutsuyoshi | Nobuyuki Yanagawa | Mihogaseki | 1996.01 | Juryo 6 |
| Yotsukasa | Daishi Suzuki | Irumagawa | 1996.01 | Maegashira 11 |
| Dewataira | Shinichi Taira | Dewanoumi | 1997.03 | Juryo 4 |
| Hokutoiwa | Osamu Harada | Hakkaku | 1997.03 | Juryo 10 |
| Daishodai | Tsuyoshi Nishino | Oitekaze | 1998.03 | Juryo 1 |
| Hayateumi | Naohito Saito | Oitekaze | 1998.03 | Sekiwake |
| Hamanishiki | Tatsuro Takahama | Oitekaze | 1999.03 | Maegashira 11 |
| Kotomitsuki | Keiji Tamiya | Sadogatake | 1999.03 | Ozeki |
| Takamisakari | Seiken Kato | Azumazeki | 1999.03 | Komusubi |
| Daishoma | Takahito Saeki | Oitekaze | 2001.01 | Makushita 4 |
| Narita | Junya Narita | Oitekaze | 2001.01 | Jonokuchi 29 |
| Omiryu | Masaaki Kitamura | Hanaregoma | 2001.03 | Makushita 13 |
| Futeno | Izumi Uchida | Dewanoumi | 2003.01 | Komusubi |
| Satsumariki | Kazuma Kurazono | Onoe | 2004.01 | Makushita 34 |
| Homasho | Yosuke Yamamoto | Shikoroyama | 2004.03 | Komusubi |
| Satoyama | Kosaku Satoyama | Onoe | 2004.03 | Maegashira 12 |
| Shirononami | Nobuhiro Shiraishi | Onoe | 2004.03 | Juryo 4 |
| Maeta | Masaru Maeta | Shibatayama | 2005.03 | Makushita 3 |
| Sakaizawa | Kenichi Sakaizawa | Onoe | 2006.03 | Maegashira 15 |
| Wakakeisho | Keisho Shimoda | Oitekaze | 2006.05 | Makushita 1 |
| Kiyoseumi | Takayuki Ichihara | Kise | 2007.01 | Maegashira 13 |
| Tenkaiho | Takayuki Minami | Onoe | 2007.01 | Maegashira 8 |
| Yamamotoyama | Ryuichi Yamamoto | Onoe | 2007.01 | Maegashira 9 |
| Daishoumi | Tomoki Mori | Oitekaze | 2007.03 | Juryo 10 |
| Akiseyama | Mitsuhiko Fukao | Kise | 2008.01 | Maegashira 12 |
| Kijuin | Hiroshi Yamashita | Kise | 2008.01 | Makushita 2 |
| Kizenryu | Takashi Kamei | Kise | 2008.03 | Juryo 11 |
| Jokoryu | Takayuki Sakuma | Kise | 2011.05 | Komusubi |
| Daikiho | Masahiro Yamaguchi | Miyagino | 2012.03 | Maegashira 16 |
| Hidenoumi | Takuya Iwasaki | Kise | 2012.05 | Maegashira 6 |
| Ishiura | Masakatsu Ishiura | Miyagino | 2013.01 | Maegashira 5 |
| Endo | Shota Endo | Oitekaze | 2013.03 | Komusubi |
| Tsurugisho | Kentaro Abiko | Oitekaze | 2014.01 | Maegashira 6 |
| Daishomaru | Shogo Kawabata | Oitekaze | 2014.03 | Maegashira 5 |
| Shiden | Takumi Shiba | Kise | 2014.03 | Juryo 6 |
| Tobizaru | Masaya Iwasaki | Oitekaze | 2015.01 | Komusubi |
| Daiamami | Genki Sakamoto | Oitekaze | 2016.01 | Maegashira 11 |
| Churanoumi | Shinji Kizaki | Kise | 2016.03 | Maegashira 7 |
| Tsushimanada | Masamitsu Umeno | Sakaigawa | 2016.05 | Juryo 9 |
| Mitoryu | Baasansuren Turbold | Nishikido | 2017.03 | Maegashira 13 |
| Kizakiumi | Shinnosuke Kizaki | Kise | 2018.03 | Juryo 3 |
| Hitoshi | Hitoshi Sawada | Oitekaze | 2021.05 | Juryo 11 |
| Kinbozan | Baltagul Yersin | Kise | 2021.09 | Maegashira 5 |
| Satsumasho | Ryuen Iwakiri | Oitekaze | 2022.01 | Sandanme 76 |
| Otani | Masatada Otani | Isegahama | 2022.07 | Makushita 27 |
| Kiho | Keita Kawazoe | Isegahama | 2022.09 | Juryo 13 |
| Takerufuji | Mikiya Ishioka | Isegahama | 2022.09 | Maegashira 6 |
| Kotosato | Nobuyuki Sato | Sadogatake | 2022.11 | Sandanme 5 |
| Haruyama | Mantaro Haruyama | Onoe | 2023.03 | Makushita 10 |
| Shiroma | Ryusei Shiroma | Onoe | 2023.03 | Makushita 18 |
| Inami | Koki Inami | Onoe | 2024.01 | Makushita 32 |
| Daikosho | Taiyo Shirakawa | Oitekaze | 2024.03 | Sandanme 79 |
| Kusano | Naoya Kusano | Isegahama | 2024.05 | Makushita 3 |
| Shimizuumi | Kosei Miyazaki | Sakaigawa | 2024.05 | Jonidan 5 |
| Kazuma | Kazuma Kawabuchi | Kise | 2024.07 | Makushita 49 |