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Shunba Sekito

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Shunba Sekito - 駿馬 赤兎 (born December 18, 1981) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Suzu, Ishikawa. He made his debut in March 2004 and wrestled for Isegahama stable. His highest rank was makushita 22 and he retired in May 2019.

Early Life[]

Shuji Nakaita was born on December 18, 1981, in Suzu, Ishikawa, and his parents ran an electronics store. He began sumo wrestling during his first year at Iida Elementary School and he continued practicing sumo at Suzu Shiritsu Midorigaoka Junior High School and Ishikawa Prefectural Iida High School.[1]

Nakaita enrolled at Kyorin University's Faculty of Foreign Studies where he majored in Chinese Communication. However, he was unable to join the university's sumo club as he was too short. After graduating, he got a job as a teacher for a Japanese-language school in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China. However, he had a sudden urge to become a sumo wrestler again and subsequently joined Magaki stable. He was below the minimum height requirement of 173 cm but was allowed to make his debut after passing a secondary physical exam.[2]

Career[]

He made his professional debut in March 2004 alongside Kimurayama, Sagatsukasa, Satoyama, Shirononami, Masuraumi, Oiwato, and Takamifuji. He won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in November 2005 and was promoted to sandanme for the following January 2006 tournament. He was given the shikona "Shunba" (駿馬) in July 2006. He missed the November 2007 tournament due to injury and subsequently spent some time in jonidan, before resettling in sandanme in September 2008. After the closure of Magaki stable in 2013, he transferred to Isegahama stable.[3]

Upon returning to sandanme in 2008, Shunba spent nearly 10 years in sandanme without any eventful results. However, in January 2016, he finished with a 6-1 record and was promoted to makushita for the March 2017 tournament. At the age of 35 years and 2 months, he was the oldest makushita debutant. In his first makushita tournament, Shunba finished with an impressive 6-1 record and was promoted to a career-best makushita 22 for the May 2017 tournament. However, he followed with two consecutive 1-6 records and was demoted back down to sandanme in September 2017.[4]

Retirement from Sumo[]

DSC8505

Shunba after retiring from sumo (c. 2019)

Shunba fell back down to jonidan for the first time in ten years in July 2018 and retired shortly after in May 2019. His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on May 26, 2019.[5] After retiring, he and former stablemate Wakatenro served as president of a management corporation and he also became a caretaker at a nursing home ran by former stablemate Wakanojo.[6] In March 2022, he became the manager of the nursing home.[7] In addition, he also works as a job counselor where he helps assimilate former sumo wrestlers back to general society.[8]

Personal Life[]

  • Shunba served as future yokozuna Terunofuji's mentor during the yokozuna's early career. When Terunofuji reached the elite sekitori ranks, Shunba served as his personal servant, or tsukebito.[9]
  • After retiring, Shunba gave his sagari (sumo belt cord) to Terunofuji who then lent it to Midorifuji in January 2020.[10] Midorifuji then gave the sagari to Nishikifuji in March of the same year.[11]
  • Shunba majored in Chinese while in university and helped serve as an interpreter when Magaki stable accepted Chinese wrestler Wakashoji.[2]

Fighting Style[]

Shunba's Fighting Style

Shunba defeats Aratoshi by oshidashi (push out)

Shunba was an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward oshidashi, or push out. In July 2007, he defeated future sekiwake Kaisei by the extremely rare izori, or backwards body drop.[12]

Record[]

Division Results[]

  • Total: 303-302-25/603 (91 basho)
  • Makushita: 8-13/21 (3 basho)
  • Sandanme: 213-231-11/442 (65 basho)
  • Jonidan: 76-57-14/133 (21 basho)
  • Jonokuchi: 6-1/7 (1 basho)

Championships[]

  • 1 Jonidan Championship (November 2005)

Shikona History[]

  • Nakaita Shuji (2004.03 - 2006.05)
  • Shunba Sekito (2006.07 - 2019.05)

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Daily Sports: Will Shunba become the oldest man to be promoted to the new Makushita division?
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Weekly Post May 26, 2017 Issue
  3. ↑ Sponichi Annex: Magaki stable to close after Spring Tournament, Transfer to Isegahama stable
  4. ↑ Shunba Rikishi Information
  5. ↑ Isegahama Beya: May 2019 final day celebration: Shunba's hair-cutting ceremony
  6. ↑ BBM Sumo July 2019 Issue p. 80
  7. ↑ Tokyo Shimbun: Next up in the nursing profession: A former sumo wrestler runs a facility
  8. ↑ Osumo3: Retirement commemoration project! The life story of "Shunba Sekito"
  9. ↑ "Big Talk! Sumo Wrestling Opening Up" (Shinkosha, 2016) p. 51-52
  10. ↑ Daily Sports: Midorifuji gets his fifth win and is promoted to the new juryo division
  11. ↑ Nikkan Sports: Nishikifuji "aimed for it" to win makushita division
  12. ↑ Shunba Kimarite Information
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