Nihonyanagi Wataru

Nihonyanagi Wataru - 二本柳亘 (born May 31, 2000) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Adachi, Tokyo. He made his debut in November 2019 and currently wrestles for Onomatsu stable. His highest rank as of 2025 is makushita 12.

Early Life[]

Wataru Nihonyanagi was born on May 31, 2000, in Adachi, Tokyo. He began sumo wrestling during his first year at Ayase Elementary School.^[1] Nihonyanagi won third place at the All Japan Elementary School Sumo Tournament during his third year and made it to the top 16 at the National Wanpaku Sumo Tournament during his fifth year.^[1] He went on to attend Katsushika City Daido Junior High School where he made it to the top 32 at the National Junior High School Sumo Championship during his third year.^[1] After graduating from junior high school, he attended Saitama Sakae High School and was a member of the school's powerhouse sumo program.^[1] In his third year, he suffered an injury to his right knee's anterior cruciate ligament,^[2] but he still forced himself to participate at the Kokutai Sumo Tournament and the National High School Sumo Championship where he won the group championship with his school.^[3]

Career[]

After graduating high school, Nihonyanagi joined Onomatsu stable and was set to make his professional debut in November 2018, however, due to his right knee injury he suffered in high school, his debut was delayed until November 2019.^[2] In January 2020, he won the jonokuchi yusho with a perfect 7-0 record. In the following March 2020 tournament, Nihonyanagi won his first six matches, but missed out on the jonidan yusho after losing to Nankairiki in his final match.

In July 2020, Nihonyanagi had to withdraw mid-tournament due to a sprained right ankle.^[4] He returned to the dohyo in September 2020 where he won his first six matches, but he lost to high school classmate Hokutenkai in his final match to miss out on the sandanme yusho. He reached the makushita division in January 2021 where he finished with a strong 6-1 record and was placed in a nine-man playoff for the yusho, however, he lost to Fukamiyama in the first round.^[5]

Fighting Style[]

Nihonyanagi is an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used are a straightforward oshidashi (push out) and yorikiri (force out).^[6]