University Banzuke 2015

[mikawa 1,794]

Someone on the internet compiled a banzuke for university rikishi, taking into account all of their results from last year. Very useful for getting to know all the contenders in the college sumo scene:

Kurokawa Kojiro (黒川 宏次朗) Takushoku University Y Turbold (トゥルボルド) Nihon University

Ishibashi Hiroki (石橋 広暉) Kindai University O Oyanagi Ryota (小柳 亮太) Tokyo University of Agriculture

Kizaki Shinji (木崎 信志) Nihon University S Miwa Hayato (三輪 隼斗) Nippon Sport Science University

Murata Ryo (村田 亮) Toyo University K Sasaki Kodai (佐々木 耕大) Nihon University

Kajisako Haruki (楮佐古 明輝) Tokyo University of Agriculture M1 Ikegawa Yuki (池川 勇気) Kindai University

Tamaki Kazuma (玉木 一嗣磨) Kindai University M2 Osanai Takuma (長内 拓磨) Kindai University

Yago Taiki (矢後 太規) Chuo University M3 Miyashita Haruya (宮下 治也) Takushoku University

Nishikata Wataru (西方 航) Nippon Sport Science University M4 Yoshimoto Yuto (吉本 雄斗) Chuo University

Sawada Hideo (沢田 日出夫) Nihon University M5 Takemasa Shinnosuke (武政 進之介) Meiji University

Nishino Tomonori (西野 倫理) Toyo University M6 Furukawa Takahiro (古川 貴博) Nihon University

Shiroishi Masahito (白石 雅仁) Toyo University M7 Uchiyama Shota (内山 翔太) Chuo University

Futoda Masabumi (太田 雅章) Toyo University M8 Nakajima Nozomi (中島 望） Nihon University

Osanai Riki (小山内 力樹) Nihon University M9 Nakajima Ryosuke (中嶋 亮介) Toyo University

Torioka Ryosuke (鳩岡 良祐) Takushoku University M10 Omura Taihei (大村 泰平) Kyushu Institute of Info Sciences

Muramatsu Yusuke (村松 裕介) Nippon Sport Science Uni. M11 Nishizawa Motoyasu (西澤 元康) Nippon Sport Science University

Nakamura Yuya (中村 友哉) Kanazawa Gakuin University M12 Yamagushiku Shogo (山城 将吾) Nihon University

Kizaki Shinnosuke (木崎 伸之助) Nihon University M13 Furukawa Haruki (古川 晴貴) Nihon University

Nakai Takumi (中井 巧) Kyushu Institute of Info Sciences M14 Nakamura Soki (中村 壮希) Kindai University

Minami Yuta (南 友太) Nippon Sport Science Uni. M15 Hashimoto Yukikazu (橋本 幸一) Kyushu Institute of Info Sciences

Saito Shin (齋藤 真) Tokyo University of Agriculture M16 Nagata Shoki (永田 将輝) Kindai University

Ichiki Takaya (一木 隆冶) Kyushu Institute of Info Sciences M17 Nakamura Ryutaro (中村 竜太郎) Kindai University

Edited June 11, 2016 by mikawa

[robnplunder 976]

The list is very helpful, thanks. I can now put names to the faces. Looks like some have joined the pro ranks in '16 - Oyanagi, Ishibashi, Tamaki, Ikegawa, et. al. Others like Turbold & Kurokawa (?) are going strong in '16.

[shumitto 418]

I've found some videos about these guys on youtube. It is worth checking.

The most frustrating aspect of following college sumo is that many promising sumotori don't go pro. You seldom see that in other sports.

[Gurowake 4,109]

So I guess I wasn't too far off base with my thought that Ishibashi and Oyanagi seemed to have very similar results and I just flipped a coin for who to pick for Pick the Yusho Winners, even if Oyanagi has shown himself to be the stronger of the two so far.

[robnplunder 976]

I've found some videos about these guys on youtube. It is worth checking.

The most frustrating aspect of following college sumo is that many promising sumotori don't go pro. You seldom see that in other sports.

I'd guess it's b/c it is a tough way to make a living and there is no guarantee to make it big. I remember watching Satoyama two bashos ago and saying to myself, "man, that's a tough way to support a family."

[mikawa 1,794]

Now that Collegiate Ozeki East has become an Ozumo Ozeki, why don't we take a look at the other sanyaku members from this banzuke? This is also to kickstart the amateur sumo banzuke season for 2019-2020, which I will post here in the Amasumo Section over the next few weeks.

Yokozuna East: Kurokawa Kojiro (黒川 宏次朗)

Currently working as a member of staff at Takushoku University.

Yokozuna West: Turbold (トゥルボルド)

Currently in Juryo, his shikona is Mitoryu.

Ozeki East: Ishibashi Hiroki (石橋 広暉)

Our new Ozeki Asanoyama.

Ozeki West: Oyanagi Ryota (小柳 亮太)

Currently in Makuuchi, his shikona is Yutakayama.

Sekiwake East: Kizaki Shinji (木崎 信志)

Currently in Juryo, his shikona is Churanoumi.

Sekiwake West  Miwa Hayato (三輪 隼斗)

Middleweight World Champion, currently part of the Itoigawa Sports Association in Niigata.

Komusubi East: Murata Ryo (村田 亮)

Injury has set him back, or else he would have been a sekitori long ago. Back in Makushita now with a 6-1 record this basho. His shikona is Murata.

Komusubi West: Sasaki Kodai (佐々木 耕大)

Currently working in the Tottori Prefectural Office, occasionally coaches at Tottori Johoku High School with Ishiura's dad.

Edited March 25, 2020 by mikawa

[Yamanashi 3,909]

An impressive class, results-wise.

[Katooshu 3,335]

The maegashira ranks are just as interesting, with an abundance of current pros there--some who are sekitori, some who are trapped in makushita or headed back after paid stints. It's interesting to look at cases where a guy was right up there as an amateur (such as Ikegawa/Hokutoyo), but then fails to cut it in the pros and ends up surpassed by numerous rikishi who were significantly less accomplished in college. Injury is definitely playing a part, but I wonder what other factors may be at play..

Wakatakakage was also active in college sumo at this time but evidently didn't make the cut for 2015. Incidentally, there seems to be a bit of an injury issue with recent Toyo grads--Murata and Terasawa have both been set back by this, I think Shiraishi has a shoulder or elbow issue, and perhaps the one with the best potential, 2017 and 2018 banzuke topper Shiroyama, didn't even make it out of his final year at college due to a rumored injury. 

If college events end up being cancelled but the pro tournaments continue, I wonder if we will see a larger than normal group of college dropouts joining ozumo.

Edited March 26, 2020 by Katooshu