Wakayama Satoshi

Wakayama Satoshi - 若山聡 (born April 26, 1992) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Katsuura, Chiba. He made his debut in July 2011 and wrestled for Onomatsu stable. His highest rank was makushita 6 and he retired in January 2022.

Early Life[]

Satoshi Wakayama was born on April 26, 1992, in Katsuura, Chiba. His parents were both national level judokas and he practiced judo from an early age. He also practiced sumo wrestling on the side. After enrolling at Takushoku University Koryo High School, he solely devoted his time to sumo and he achieved 5th place at National Sports Festival of Japan in Chiba prefecture. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Daito Bunka University where he was a member of the school's sumo club.^[1] However, he was eager to enter professional sumo and dropped out after two months at the school to join Onomatsu stable.^[2]^[3]

Career[]

Wakayama made his professional debut in July 2011 and he took the jonokuchi and jonidan championships in his first two professional tournaments with perfect 7-0 records. He remained in sandanme for around two years before reaching makushita in September 2013. On the 4th day of the November 2015 tournament, Wakayama ruptured his right knee's anterior cruciate ligament in a match against Daiki and withdrew from the tournament. He underwent surgery in December and missed the following five tournaments. As a result, Wakayama had to redo maezumo (pre-sumo) in November 2016.^[4] He took the jonokuchi and jonidan championships in January and March 2017 and returned to makushita in March 2018. Wakayama reached a career-best makushita 6 in January 2021, but he could only manage a 2-5 record.^[5]

Retirement from Sumo[]

Wakayama retired from sumo in January 2022. His retirement ceremony, or danpatsu-shiki, was held on February 20 and he plans to attend a vocational school after retirement.^[6]

Personal Life[]

From 2013 to 2015, Wakayama was in charge of performing comic sumo displays (初っ切り, shokkiri) with stablemate Tennozan.^[7]
Wakayama's hobby is playing the guitar.^[1]

Fighting Style[]

Wakayama 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.^[8]