Nishikifuji Ryusei

Nishikifuji Ryusei - 錦富士隆聖 (born July 22, 1996) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Towada, Aomori. He made his debut in September 2016 and currently wrestles for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 2022 and has 1 special prize. His highest rank as of 2025 is maegashira 3.

Early Life[]

Screen Shot 2020-12-05 at 12.34.31 PM — A young Ogasawara with yokozuna Asashoryu

Born in Towada, Aomori, Ogasawara began to wrestle in his third year of elementary school at Towada's Sanbongi Elementary School because his mother encouraged him to take up the sport, although he himself was reluctant to get involved in wrestling.^[1] Ogasawara continued to practice throughout his time at Towada's Junior High School, where he placed in the top eight at the National Junior High School Sumo Tournament in his sixth year.^[2]

In senior high school, he went on to Sanbongi Agricultural High School's Agricultural Machinery Department, a school famous for its sumo club,^[3] along Onosho, and while there he placed third in the individual division in the National High School Usa Tournament.^[2] After high school, he joined Kinki University along Midorifuji, but dropped out and the two decided to turn pro at the same time in 2016, both joining Isegahama stable.^[4] Since then, he and Midorifuji have maintained a friendly rivalry.^[5]^[6]

Career[]

Early Career[]

During the early years of his career, he wrestled under his real name Ogasawara and first served as tsukebito (assistant) to senior wrestler Aminishiki.^[7] In his first jonokuchi tournament, he tied with Midorifuji (then named Ihara) and the two faced off for the title in a playoff on the final day, with Nishikifuji emerging victorious. After his first two tournaments, he was given the shikona, or ring name, "Nishikifuji" (錦富士), from the kanji in Aminishiki's shikona (錦), because he took him under his wing and helped train him; and from his master (former yokozuna Asahifuji) old ring name (富士).^[8]^[2] After Aminishiki's retirement in 2019, Nishikifuji served as Terutsuyoshi's tsukebito.^[9] Then promoted to jonidan, Nishikifuji again faced Midorifuji for the division title, and the two clashed again in the playoff, with Nishikifuji emerging victorious once again. Their senior wrestler Terunofuji commented that the Isegahama stable particularly enjoyed seeing the two fight against each other.^[8]

NishikifujiKijuin — Nishikifuji pushes out Kiseoka (c. 2018)

In September 2019, Nishikifuji was ranked makushita 3, putting him in a position for possible promotion to the juryo division. He however injured his left elbow and had to undergo surgery during the same month.^[10] The recovery period after the surgery made him miss the November tournament.^[4] During this period he particularly thanked his mentor Aminishiki for his care.^[4] In March 2020, Nishikifuji claimed the makushita yusho with a perfect record, having defeated Kyokusoten who was also undefeated in his first 6 bouts.^[11]

Juryo Career[]

In August of the same year, Nishikifuji's promotion to the juryo division was announced, coinciding with his stablemate Terunofuji winning the July 2020 makuuchi tournament championship on his return to the top division.^[12] Commenting on these two championships won by the Isegahama stable during the same period, Nishikifuji confided that he and Terunofuji hoped to create a "whirlwind" by winning their respective divisions.^[6] However, following two poor tournaments, Nishikifuji was demoted to the makushita division for the January 2021 tournament. During this tournament, Nishikifuji competed for the makushita championship despite losing on Day 2 to Ichiyamamoto. Surprisingly, the playoff to determine the division winner was between nine wrestlers tied to just one defeat, a first since the 1996 July tournament in Nagoya. Despite winning his first match against Shohoryu, Nishikifuji was defeated by Shiba and was eliminated early from the title race, which that year went to Sakigake (from Shibatayama stable). His 6–1 score, however, saw Nishikifuji promoted back to the juryo division.^[11]

In May 2022, Nishikifuji won the juryo championship in a playoff against Oitekaze wrestler Daiamami. His championship also coincided with his stablemate yokozuna Terunofuji's seventh top division championship.^[13] The May 2022 championship was also the last tournament before the danpatsu-shiki ceremony of Nishikifuji's mentor, Aminishiki, which took place on the 29th of the same month. Commenting on his mentor's retirement, he shared his satisfaction at having won the championship before the ceremony.^[13]

Makuuchi Career[]

Due to his juryo championship the previous tournament, Nishikifuji was promoted to sumo's top division, debuting in the rank of maegashira 17. At the time of his promotion he confided his desire to face his former classmate Onosho, who had made his debut in the makuuchi division in May 2017.^[14] He went on to get double-digit wins, finishing the basho with a 10-5 record. That same tournament he was granted the Fighting Spirit special prize, for finishing his debut in the top division with a strong winning record. During the May 2023 tournament, Nishikifuji injured the ligaments in his right leg and finished the tournament with a poor result. His condition did not improve as the July tournament of the same year approached, stating that he felt his participation was "forced".^[15]

Personal Life[]

Nishikifuji made his debut alongside college teammates Midorifuji and Uehara. They all dropped out of Kinki University during their second year to gain a head start in their sumo career. Nishikifuji and Midorifuji joined the same stable while Uehara joined Musashigawa stable.^[16] Nishikifuji and Midorifuji would make the salaried ranks, however, Uehara retired just three tournaments into his sumo career.
A few days before the start of the May 2023 tournament, Nishikifuji married a 24-year-old Japanese woman that he had been dating for a year and a half. The ceremony was held at Tokyo's Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, the same shrine where both his stablemaster Isegahama (the 63rd yokozuna Asahifuji) and his stablemate Terunofuji were married.^[17] Shortly before the start of the November 2023 tournament, the couple announced the birth of twins on 13 October.^[18]
Nishikifuji's hobby is playing the game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, his favorite food is sushi, his favorite artist is AK-69, and his favorite manga is Detective Conan.^[19]

Fighting Style[]

Nishikifuji is a yotsu-sumo wrestler who favors clinch fighting techniques as opposed to pushing and thrusting (oshi-sumo). His preferred grip on his opponent's mawashi or belt is hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position.^[19] His favorite winning kimarite or technique is a straightforward yorikiri, or force out.^[20]

Nishikifuji also worked to develop his thrusts and pushes techniques.^[21] It has been noted that Nishikifuji has great difficulty maintaining his weight during tournaments, forcing him to take his weight gains more seriously. On his promotion to the rank of juryo he also communicated about his endurance work, which he considered weak and wished to strengthen.^[22]