Wakarikido Seiya

Wakarikido Seiya - 若力堂聖也 (born December 23, 1986) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyota, Aichi. He made his debut in March 2002 and wrestled for Nishonoseki stable. His highest rank was makushita 31 and he retired in January 2016.

Early Life[]

Seiya Hamada was born on December 23, 1986, in Toyota, Aichi. After Matsugane Oyakata (former ozeki Wakashimazu) failed to recruit future ozeki Kotomitsuki, he settled for Hamada who came from the same region.^[1] Already standing at 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) and weighing 150 kg (331 lb) at only 15 years old, Hamada was still an extremely big recruit. After graduating junior high school, he joined Matsugane stable.^[2]

Career[]

He made his professional debut in March 2002 and initially struggled due to his inexperience in the sport. In July 2003, he was given the shikona "Wakarikido" (若力堂) and he reached the sandanme division in January 2005. In November 2006, he finished with a perfect 7-0 record and defeated Minanosato in a playoff to clinch the jonidan yusho. In March 2009, he finished with another perfect 7-0 record and defeated Maeta in a playoff to claim the sandanme yusho. He was promoted to makushita for the following May 2009 tournament.^[2]

Wakarikido was suspended for two tournaments in September and November 2010 due to illegal gambling on baseball (see controversy section for more information) and was demoted back down to jonidan in January 2011.^[3] Nevertheless, he quickly returned to makushita by September 2011. In March 2013, he finished with a perfect 7-0 record, but missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing to former maegashira Tosayutaka in a playoff. He reached a career-best makushita 31 in November 2013.^[2]

Retirement from Sumo[]

After missing the March 2014 tournament, Wakarikido spent the remainder of his career in sandanme. Plagued by a chronic herniated disc, he retired from sumo after winning his first match at the January 2016 tournament.^[4]

Controversy[]

Gambling Scandal[]

It was revealed on August 12, 2010 in a follow up to the June investigation into baseball gambling, that Wakarikido, along with Matsutani (future komusubi Shohozan) from his stable had also been involved in gambling, but had not come forward, and had participated in the July, 2010 tournament while other wrestlers who were implicated or who admitted involvement had been suspended. He, along with his stablemate and his coach, apologized to the public in a press conference soon after. In September, the Japan Sumo Association handed down the decision not to dismiss the wrestlers, but to suspend them for two tournaments (September and November).^[3]

Fighting Style[]

Wakarikido was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was migi-yotsu, a left hand outside, right hand inside position.^[5] His most often used winning kimarite was oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).^[6]