Shonannoumi Momotaro - 湘南乃海 桃太郎 (born April 8, 1998) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Oiso, Kanagawa. He made his debut in March 2014 and currently wrestles for Takadagawa stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 2023 and has 1 special prize. His highest rank as of 2025 is maegashira 5.
Early Life[]
Tanimatsu had prior experience in sumo, but rather in baseball, a sport he played at Oiso Elementary School and on the baseball team at Oiso Junior High School.[1] His family is also linked with the sports, his father being a local baseball coach.[2][3] Tanimatsu first had a negative view of sumo wrestlers but changed his mind after seeing a documentary on Yokozuna Chiyonofuji.[4] His motivation to join sumo came from visiting Takadagawa stable when he was in junior high school in Oiso, Kanagawa.
In his third year of junior high school, he began to receive invitations from strong high school baseball teams, but decided to become a professional sumo wrestler (rikishi).[5] He began an intense training with his father to make up for lost practice.[6] Upon joining the world of professional sumo he vowed not to return to his hometown until he had reached the rank of sekitori.[4]
Career[]
Early Career[]
He made his professional debut in March 2014, alongside future ozeki Shodai. He was given the shikona, or ring name, "Shonannoumi" meaning "The Sea of Shonan", which is the region in Kanagawa prefecture where Oiso is located. His shikona first name, Momotaro, was given to him to encourage him to defeat strong opponents, just like the character from the myth.[2] He decided to join Takadagawa stable despite being invited by seven other stables because his master told him that the "disappointing Japanese wrestlers" would allow him to become a "hero".[7] Shonannoumi first served as tsukebito (assistant) to his fellow stablemate Ryuden.[5] He would steadily rise through the lower 3 divisions and he was promoted to the makushita division in November 2016. Because of his physique, his stable had high hopes for him although Shonannoumi suffered from the wall of the upper makushita ranks for a long time.[8]
Shonannoumi is accidentally concussed by Asagyokusei during a false start (c. 2021)
In the July 2020 tournament, he was put up against former maegashira Ura in makushita, who was making his comeback to the top division after an injury had sidelined him for 4 consecutive tournaments. At the moment of their bout, Ura was at a 18-bout win streak, but surprisingly, Shonannoumi won the bout, being Ura's first and only loss in the tournament.[8]
On 19 January 2021, Shonannoumi suffered a concussion in a makushita bout against Takasago wrestler Asagyokusei. Both wrestlers bumped into each other at the tachi-ai, forcing the match to be stopped as Shonannoumi was unable to get up and had symptoms of a concussion. After deliberating whether or not to allow him to continue, the shimpan decided on a rematch, respecting the will of Shonannoumi to continue. Shonannoumi won the bout but the Japan Sumo Association faced an online backlash because Shonannoumi was obviously dazed.[9] The Sumo Association established in the same month a new rule preventing wrestlers from competing if they have a concussion or any other physical abnormality, regardless of the wrestler's intentions.[10]
In the September and November 2022 tournaments, Shonannoumi was placed up against former ozeki Asanoyama (who was returning from a six tournament suspension) in both tournaments, however, he lost both the matches. Nevertheless, he had finish with consistent 5-2 results in both tournaments and was promoted to juryo for the following January 2023 tournament.[8]
Juryo Career[]
In 2022, Shonannoumi was finally promoted sekitori after nine years in professional sumo. During the party celebrating his promotion, former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, a patron of his stable, declared 'I knew this man would become someone. A fine sekitori has emerged from Kanagawa Prefecture'.[11] He initially chose a dark pink shimekomi for his first tournament because it's the color of the Saikijin Clinic in Hiroshima who offered him the mawashi,[12] and because he considers that color is his lucky charm.[3] In his first tournament in juryo, Shonannoumi finished with a strong 12–3 record. During the May 2023 tournament, Shonannoumi started the competition at its highest rank and finished with a score of 11–4. Looking back on his first tournaments as a sekitori, he commented that the public's expectations pushed him to do better and better in order to live up to the acclaim.[13]
Makuuchi Career[]
Shonannoumi prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2023)
After only three tournaments in juryo, Shonannoumi was officially promoted to the top makuuchi division in July 2023 with the rank of west maegashira 14. He became the eleventh wrestler from his prefecture to reach this rank since Kotokuzan in 2022, who, although born in the Philippines, was listed as coming from Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), where his father originated from.[1] Shonannoumi told reporters upon his promotion that he wanted to win ten matches and win a special prize at the upcoming tournament, adding that he wanted to make sure that in the weeks leading up to the July tournament he would be ready with confidence on Day 1.[14]
On Day 12, he scored an upset victory over one of the tournament leaders, maegashira Nishikigi, and thereby achieved a kachi-koshi record. Having scored a ninth victory, Shonannoumi was in line for one of the sansho prize but that award was conditional on a tenth victory. On the final day of the tournament, he defeated Myogiryu and won the Fighting Spirit prize.[8]
Shonannoumi was a contender for the top-division championship during the May 2024 tournament, taking the sole lead on Day 11 at the rank of maegashira 10 before falling out of the title race.[8]
Personal Life[]
- Shonannoumi's favorite pastime is listening to music. He is a particular fan of the band Shonan no Kaze, which hails from his home town.[5] In addition, his favorite food is sushi, his hobby is watching videos, and his favorite manga is Slam Dunk.[15]
Fighting Style[]
Shonannoumi defeats Onosho by oshidashi (push out)
Shonannoumi's favored techniques are listed at the Sumo Association as hidari-yotsu (a left hand inside, right hand outside grip on the opponent's mawashi), yori (forcing) and oshi (pushing).[15] His most common winning kimarite are hatakikomi (slap-down), oshidashi (push out) and yorikiri (force out).[16]
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 283-224/507 (62 basho)
- Makuuchi: 53-52/105 (7 basho)
- Juryo: 32-13/45 (3 basho)
- Makushita: 132-113/245 (35 basho)
- Sandanme: 34-29/63 (9 basho)
- Jonidan: 28-14/42 (6 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 4-3/7 (1 basho)
Achievements[]
- Special Prizes: Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
Shikona History[]
- Shonannoumi Momotaro (2014.03 - )
Gallery[]
JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]
Career Overview[]
(c. 2023)
External Links[]
- Shonannoumi Momotaro Japanese Wikipedia Article
- Shonannoumi Momotaro Rikishi Information
- Shonannoumi Momotaro JSA Profile Page
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NHK: "Makuuchi new comer! Shonannoumi, from Oiso, to a higher level!
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nikkan Sports: Shonannoumi, the sideways movement in baseball was also a big asset for me
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Asahi: Shonannoumi "carrying his hometown on his back with his shikona"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oiso Town News: His shikona is "Shonannoumi"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 NHK: Great success in juryo debut! Shonannoumi's goal is to become yokozuna.
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: New Juryo Shonannoumi's motivating force is "wanting his father's recognition"
- ↑ Jiji Press: Grand sumo nova - Shonannoumi: Sticking with a big body
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Shonannoumi Rikishi Information
- ↑ Japan Times: Shocking concussion incident should be wake-up call for sumo
- ↑ Asahi: In case of concussion in the ring "a rematch is not allowed", Kakukai has new rules"
- ↑ Chunichi Shimbun: Shonannoumi celebrated his promotion to juryo
- ↑ Osumo3: The hopes of the Takadagawa stable! Congratulations to new juryo Shonannoumi
- ↑ Sponichi Annex: Newly promoted Shonannoumi "has something different to carry"
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: Newly-entered Shonannoumi, taking advantage of his size to attack!
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Shonannoumi JSA Profile
- ↑ Shonannoumi Kimarite Information