New recruits for Haru 2018

[Akinomaki 41,906]

For Takadagawa-beya, Junya Ikeda (15, 173cm, 120kg) from Shimada-city middle school, Shizuoka pref. He's originally from Shimane pref., but after primary school the family moved to his father's hometown Shimada. He was a baseball kid, and began to long for the sumo world in 3rd year primary school, as he "saw on TV the image of rikishi in dynamic clash". As he started middle school, his mother searched on the net for a heya with an opportunity in the summer vacations for him, who had no sumo experience. He had 5 times an experience stay at Takadagawa-beya and that made him decide to join sumo: "First of all I'm aiming for makuuchi. I want to rise to there as fast as possible." The oyakata: "Don't hurry, grow slowly." http://www.at-s.com/sports/article/shizuoka/457920.html

http://sight-seeing.tokyo/shizuoka/kouhoushimada/163659

Edited February 15, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

Joining Arashio-beya is 15-year-old Taiga Tanji? (丹治 大賀) from Fukushima city. Currently a tall and slender 183cm and 68kg, he participated in rhythmic gymnastics from kindergarten through to the end of elementary school thanks to the influence of his Russian mother Natalia, who was herself a rhythmic gymnast. He made the unlikely switch to sumo in the second year of junior high. His initial goal is to become a sekitori, although of course his dream is to become the first Yokozuna from Fukushima. Arashio-oyakata (former Komusubi Oyutaka) is appreciative of Tanji's sporting background as he has great flexibility and core strength.

[orandashoho 720]

19 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

Joining Arashio-beya is 15-year-old Taiga Tanji? (丹治 大賀) from Fukushima city. Currently a tall and slender 183cm and 68kg, he participated in rhythmic gymnastics from kindergarten through to the end of elementary school thanks to the influence of his Russian mother Natalia, who was herself a rhythmic gymnast. He made the unlikely switch to sumo in the second year of junior high. His initial goal is to become a sekitori, although of course his dream is to become the first Yokozuna from Fukushima. Arashio-oyakata (former Komusubi Oyutaka) is appreciative of Tanji's sporting background as he has great flexibility and core strength.

That"s interesting. Gymnasts train from avery young age to attain the high degree of flexibility and reflexes required for their sport. This must stand them in good stead when they enter sumo and give them an edge over their contemporaries whose focus has been more on strength and weight. And like Ura, they must have a developed sense of their body in movement, which translates into a good ring sense. Being tall is a big plus. He has a big learning curve ahead of him but should be able to do well. One to watch out for -- imho, more than for Yokozuna brood like Kotokamatani who yet have to prove worthy of the hype .

[Katooshu 3,485]

I'm not sure if him being trained in gymnastics is nearly as significant as you're suggesting, but I will be interested to see how he does.

[Akinomaki 41,906]

Ishioka 石岡 澪 (15, 172cm, 111kg) from Matsuyama, Ehime, will enter Oitekaze-beya: "Rather than being anxious, I'm looking forward to it. I want to do my best."

He started sumo in 4th grade at the Matsuyama Kasugakan sumo dojo and took part at several tournaments all over the country (here 3rd with the team at the national wampaku tournament in 2014), most recent the 2 national middle school championships.

The oyakata noticed his fine sumo and approached him in Jan. 2016. Ishioka has visited the heya and decided to enter "My characteristics are tsuppari. I'm making good use of my feet and go forward"

http://www.ehime-np.co.jp/article/news201802210014

with the oyakata at Kuwabara middle school

Edited February 21, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,906]

On 2/8/2018 at 16:23, Akinomaki said:

Yuya Ueda (18, 167cm, 100kg) from Tokushima Myozai high, Ishii town enters Fujishima-beya.

He started judo in 3rd year primary school and in Ishii middle school in addition did sumo - after entering high school he concentrated on sumo alone. With then 66kg his impact power was weak and he kept losing to those his age. That made him train hard to acquire speed and flexibility, and last year he won the Tokushima pref. inter-high individuals and won 2 of his 3 bouts with the team at the national inter-high.

Fujishima-beya's Kiyomigata-oyakata (Bushuyama) is a college kohai of his sumo coach, that led to an invitation to join there. From Dec. 8th to 10th he took part in keiko at the heya, and this solidified his resolve to enter: "The heya has a good atmosphere,  I'm prepared for everything. Now that I'll be doing it, I want to get stronger and rise higher."

https://www.47news.jp/localnews/prefectures/tokushima/1533419.html

to read the whole article you have to be in Japan or use a proxy

Fujishima-oyakata will come to the school on the 24th for the official announcement to enter.

And the official announcement was quite a news event, for Ueda as the first from Tokushima for 8 years, now given as 101kg.

NHK local news with video http://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/tokushima/20180225/8020001315.html

Asahi shimbun with video http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL2S5RT4L2SPUTB00K.html

- on their YT channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02m2eIE8SPo

o o o

Mainichi

o

Tokushima shimbun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk_Dm8u5ySY - an article from this paper always needs a proxy: http://www.topics.or.jp/localSports/122545398109/2018/02/2018_15195233442816.html

Ueda: "I'll do my best to reach sekitori in as few days as possible."

The oyakata: "His body is small, but there is a sumo that suits those with small bodies." "In sumo it's the most interesting when the small bring down the big."

Edited February 27, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

Three new recruits for the new Nishiiwa-beya. Two will be competing at their home tournament, 15-year-old Osaka natives Koji Fujioka (藤岡 耕司) and Kizuku Matsunaga (松永 輝透). Fujioka was a member of the sumo club at school, while Matsunaga was a rugby player. The other new recruit is Akira Nakatani (中谷 晃), don't know much about him but I think he's from Fukuoka.

Nakatani is on the left. The two Osaka recruits are either side of the shisho to receive their "welcome to the heya" slices of cake - I think Fujioka is in the blue top, and Matsunaga in the red.

For the first basho since independence, Nishiiwa-beya will be based in the grounds of Minato Sumiyoshi Jinja, a short train ride away from the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Three yobidashi from the ichimon visited to create the keikoba.
 

Spoiler

The deshi watch as the yobidashi begin to prepare the keikoba dohyo.

The yobidashi prepare the tawara in the Osaka sunshine.

Completed dohyo.

First keiko in the Osaka keikoba - newcomer Nakatani on the far side, learning the basics by watching his senior stablemates Wakasatake and Wakanoguchi.

 

[Asashosakari 20,338]

Don't believe it was mentioned yet - the shindeshi examination will be on the 3rd.

[Akinomaki 41,906]

44 have applied for the shindeshi kensa. After 2 years of increases for Haru, the main point of entry, 12 less than last year - 46 in 2016 and 43 in 2015. http://mainichi.jp/articles/20180302/k00/00m/050/017000c

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

Joining Kasugano-beya is ? Kawamoto (川本 颯) from the sumo team at Takushoku University. No idea how his given name is intended to read. Takenawa-oyakata (former Sekiwake Tochinonada), an alumni from Takushoku, was there for the announcement along with director Masuda of the sumo department, who I believe is the brother of former Sekiwake Masudayama.

Joining Asakayama-beya is 15-year-old Hiromasa Kojima (小島 大尚) from Kagoshima prefecture. 180cm, 123kg at the moment. He has been visiting the heya for short stays since last year as he prepared to join ozumo.

Azumazeki-beya has a new recruit, but the only information so far is the family name Banba (馬場) and he is from Kyoto.

[Katooshu 3,485]

Kawamoto made the best 16 at the 2017 Student Championship, and on the NHK broadcast of that he's listed at 181cm 140kg.

Incidentally, he lost to and was denied Sd100TD status by Nihon University's Hiroo, who is the one person Naya managed to beat at the 2017 All-Japan tournament.

Edited March 1, 2018 by Katooshu

[Akinomaki 41,906]

2 for Yamahibiki-beya: Hayato Fukazawa 深沢颯斗 (18, 182cm , 150kg) from Moriguchi-city, Osaka, and Takumi Kamada 鎌田航海 (15, 185cm, 169kg) from Okayama.

Fukazawa did karate and judo in primary school and was a regular especially in national karate championships. He was introduced by former junior heya mate of the oyakata and now pro-wrestler Don Fujii. During middle school he went to the Haru basho: "I thought they look good" and got into sumo - quite late, but he then studied at sumo stronghold Tottori Johoku high. Last year he made it to the best 32 at the Ehime kokutai juniors. He already in 2nd year middle school had an experience stay in then Kitanoumi-beya, which led to the decision to enter the sumo world - and that heya.

Kamata's coach at the Okayama sumo club and the coach from the oyakata's hometown Ehime are friends. He won the pref. tournament and was several times at the national championships. "I thought I'll get strong quicker, the sooner I start, and decided" - he has started the life of a pro at the heya on Feb. 12th, and now in Osaka started with genuine training: "It was amazing!  Different quality and quantity. The muscular pain is immense."

The oyakata: "First of all I'm teaching them the shiko stamping. There's the saying of shiko-juryo in sumo - with proper shiko drill, you can reach sekitori." "I wanted to have Hayato start in Osaka, where his parents are."

http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20180302-OHT1T50143.html

Edited March 15, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,906]

All 43 who took part, passed the initial check (one  absent)

Kizaki o  o

Iwamori (18, 190cm, 190kg) - the one with no sumo experience

oo

Anzai (15) for Naruto-beya

o o

kyokushin karate champ Genki Kamitani (15, 183cm, 121kg) and Arakawa (16) from the same school in Miyazaki-city for Michinoku-beya

o

Iwamoto (15) from Kobe for Tamanoi

o

I'll post details from these new recruits later

Edited March 4, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

On ‎01‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 17:45, Yubinhaad said:

Azumazeki-beya has a new recruit, but the only information so far is the family name Banba (馬場) and he is from Kyoto.

No shortage of ambition from 18-year-old So Banba (馬場 蒼), a student at Shiga Yasu High School where he played as a goalkeeper in the soccer department. The school has an impressive background in soccer since winning the national school championships in 2005. Banba himself played in the tournament twice. Currently 181cm and 84kg, he wants to hone his physique by being the rikishi who does the most keiko in Azumazeki-beya, aiming for sekitori in three years and ultimately wants to become a muscular rikishi like Chiyonofuji.

 

Joining Musashigawa-beya is 15-year-old Yuta Tabara (田原 祐太) from Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture. Coming to the end of his studies at Mizuma Junior High School in Kurume. He has 7 years of judo experience and is currently 175cm, 129kg.

[Akinomaki 41,906]

2 from the same school in Miyazaki-city for Michinoku-beya: Genki Kamitani 神谷元気  (15, 183cm, 121kg) in 1st year middle school finished 2nd in his m1 age group at a kyokushin karate world tournament, and last year he won the national tournament in the m2/m3 age group. By introduction of his class teacher, he took part at the Miyazaki training camp of Michinoku-beya - and was frustrated that he had no chance against the older but smaller deshi: "I thought sumo was interesting" "I want to do it, let's go" - he begged Michinoku-oyakata to let him enter and got the permission. "Different from karate, one mustn't drop down. I think parts of the fist and palm thrusts in karate have something in common with sumo." He aims to become like Tamawashi. o o

He joins together with one year middle school sempai Arakawa 荒川翔伍 (16, on the right), who left high school - and apparently likes the piano.

Edited March 4, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,906]

Iwamoto  岩本舞斗 (15) from Kobe joins Tamanoi-beya. Till last summer he was in the school's judo club and in autumn decided to join sumo. Since December he trains at Tamanoi-beya and has gained 20kg in 2 months. http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/akashi/201803/0011033027.shtml

the oyakata came to the school on the 2nd - the teachers had made a "Gambare!" banner for Iwamoto

 

From Tottori Johoku high to Nichidai, Kizaki was 174cm, 146kg: "It's the path I've chosen, so I just think of doing my best. I want to get stronger and reach juryo in 1, 2 years." "At the pros, big guys are plenty. I want to gain weight and get stronger." His aim is to do quick oshi-sumo like Takekaze. Elder brother Kizaki is in reach of juryo now: "He told me to gambarize - I want to catch up with him quickly." http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20180303/sum18030318310005-n1.html

[Akinomaki 41,906]

On 3/3/2018 at 11:18, Akinomaki said:

All 43 who took part passed the initial check (one  absent)

Iwamori (18, 190cm, 190kg) - the one with no sumo experience

kyokushin karate champ Genki Kamitani (15, 183cm, 121kg) and Arakawa (16) from the same school in Miyazaki-city for Michinoku-beya

Kamitani is from Kawaminami town and started karate there in 2nd year primary school - his specialty are kicks, which he can't use on the doyho. Those around him were of course against his switch to sumo - karate is at the Olympics in 2020, and he got told "Also when you are grown up, (with karate) you can go to good posts." http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2018/03/04/kiji/20180303s00005000227000c.html

o

Iwamori  wasn't in a sports club in high school, but in the light music club and played bass in a copy band of Kana-Boon

o

at the medical check

 o

 

Masaki Kawami 川見将紀 https://twitter.com/masakikawami (18) from Daito-city, Osaka, judo club member at high school, enters Kokonoe-beya. Like new recruit Tanaka last basho, he last year had an experience stay at the heya and asked to join.

o o o

 

19 hours ago, Yubinhaad said:

No shortage of ambition from 18-year-old So Banba (馬場 蒼), a student at Shiga Yasu High School where he played as a goalkeeper in the soccer department. The school has an impressive background in soccer since winning the national school championships in 2005. Banba himself played in the tournament twice. Currently 181cm and 84kg, he wants to hone his physique by being the rikishi who does the most keiko in Azumazeki-beya, aiming for sekitori in three years and ultimately wants to become a muscular rikishi like Chiyonofuji.

Banba's father, who had done rugby, had recommended sumo to him before he entered high school, and he had a 1 week experience stay at the heya. He already then decided to join after high school. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/201803030000571.html

Edited March 4, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

Joining Oitekaze-beya is Yuki? Matsuoka (松岡 友希), coming out of Ashikita High School in Ashikita, Kumamoto prefecture. He will be the first new recruit from the town in 61 years. His shikona was also unveiled at the encouragement party - 大翔成, Daishosei?

Overlooked in the hoopla around Iwamori is the second new recruit for Hakkaku-beya, 18-year-old Tsukasa? Sasaki (佐々木 司) from Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture. Judo experience from high school.

Much headscratching with this name. Joining Nishikido-beya is デルザトコルヴィン 龍我, from the judo department at Yokosuka Technical High School in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture. He has a mixture of Italian, American and Japanese heritage but is a Japanese national. Ryuga Delzato-Colbin?

Anyway, here the okamisan measures him up for a kimono.

Onoe-beya has a new recruit, 15-year-old Shigeji? Hatakeyama (畠山 茂二) from Saitama, seen here with the okamisan.

[Asashosakari 20,338]

1 hour ago, Yubinhaad said:

Much headscratching with this name. Joining Nishikido-beya is デルザトコルヴィン 龍我, from the judo department at Yokosuka Technical High School in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture. He has a mixture of Italian, American and Japanese heritage but is a Japanese national. Ryuga Delzato-Colbin?

Corvin Ryuga Delzatto?

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

Two other recruits for Sadogatake-beya not mentioned so far, the shisho went to collect them both last month. One is Mizuki Maeda (前田 瑞稀) from Wakayama prefecture, I believe he is coming out of Seiwa Junior High School in Wakayama city. Apparently he has participated in the Hakuho cup in the past so he has some sumo experience.

The other one is Atsuki? Sumida (隅田 暖季), finishing his time at Kakamigahara Junior High School in Gifu prefecture.

-

Following the usual practice for Sadogatake recruits, they will compete as Kotosumida and Kotomaeda in maezumo.

[Akinomaki 41,906]

On 3/3/2018 at 15:56, Yubinhaad said:

18-year-old So Banba (馬場 蒼), a student at Shiga Yasu High School where he played as a goalkeeper in the soccer department. The school has an impressive background in soccer since winning the national school championships in 2005. Banba himself played in the tournament twice. Currently 181cm and 84kg, he wants to hone his physique by being the rikishi who does the most keiko in Azumazeki-beya, aiming for sekitori in three years and ultimately wants to become a muscular rikishi like Chiyonofuji.

On 3/4/2018 at 11:50, Akinomaki said:

Banba's father, who had done rugby, had recommended sumo to him before he entered high school, and he had a 1 week experience stay at the heya. He already then decided to join after high school.

The 1 week in Azumazeki-beya was at the Nagoya-basho.

On 3/3/2018 at 16:37, Akinomaki said:

Genki Kamitani 神谷元気  (15, 183cm, 121kg) in 1st year middle school finished 2nd in his m1 age group at a kyokushin karate world tournament, and last year he won the national tournament in the m2/m3 age group. By introduction of his class teacher, he took part at the Miyazaki training camp of Michinoku-beya - and was frustrated that he had no chance against the older but smaller deshi: "I thought sumo was interesting" "I want to do it, let's go" - he begged Michinoku-oyakata to let him enter and got the permission. "Different from karate, one mustn't drop down. I think parts of the fist and palm thrusts in karate have something in common with sumo." He aims to become like Tamawashi.

Kamitani also at first had done soccer and thought he'd increase his shooting power for that by making his legs and the whole lower body stronger with karate.

Among the 43 at the shindeshi kensa, 25 are graduating from middle school now.  http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/column/sumo/news/201803080000583.html

Kamitani and Banba measured by Tamanoi

NSK pics from the shindeshi-kensa, taken for BBM-sha sumo publications - 44 given as having taken the exam, though one was absent http://twitter.com/sumokyokai/status/971279545813921793

Kamitani was the one shown - without the name given

medical check

[RabidJohn 2,086]

19 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

In a roomful of dumplings, a slim youth like Banba catches one's eye, doesn't he?

I like that he's already developing his stare-down on the photographer.

[Naganoyama 6,063]

NSK data:
SHIKONA	KANJI	NAME	HEYA	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DOB	BIRTHPLACE
Aketa	緋田	Aketa Shunsuke	Irumagawa	176	124	01 - January - 2000	Okayama
Anzai	安齋	Anzai Yusuke	Naruto	176	114	06 - August - 2002	Tokyo
Arakawa	荒川	Arakawa Shogo	Michinoku	180	100	01 - October - 2001	Miyazaki
Banba	馬場	Banba So	Azumazeki	181	84	04 - August - 1999	Kyoto
Fujioka	藤岡	Fujioka Koji	Nishiiwa	166	112	16 - November - 2002	Osaka
Fukazawa	深澤	Fukazawa Hayato	Yamahibiki	181	156	06 - October - 1999	Tottori
Hara	原	Hara Hiroki	Takanohana	172	113	06 - November - 1999	Osaka
Harada	原田	Harada Junpei	Dewanoumi	170	88	24 - March - 2003	Aichi
Hatakeyama	畠山	Hatakeyama Shigeji	Onoe	172	98	18 - January - 2003	Tokyo
Hironaka	廣中	Hironaka Ryu	Asahiyama	167	68	10 - October - 1999	Hiroshima
Honda	本多	Honda Rikiya	Tagonoura	184	166	15 - June - 2002	Tochigi
Iguchi	井口	Iguchi Takahiro	Tamanoi	174	110	25 - September- 2002	Chiba
Ikeda	池田	Ikeda Junya	Takadagawa	175	121	19 - September- 2002	Shizuoka
Ishioka	石岡	Ishioka Rei	Oitekaze	173	111	06 - April - 2002	Ehime
Ito	伊藤	Ito Hikari	Sadogatake	174	108	01 - October - 2002	Akita
Iwamori	岩森	Iwamori Ryo	Hakkaku	190	190	18 - July - 1999	Hokkaido
Iwamoto	岩本	Iwamoto Maito	Tamanoi	180	97	29 - July - 2002	Hyogo
Kamada	鎌田	Kamada Takumi	Yamahibiki	186	169	21 - June - 2002	Okayama
Kamitani	神谷	Kamitani Genki	Michinoku	183	121	18 - June - 2002	Miyazaki
Kawami	川見	Kawami Masaki	Kokonoe	172	108	19 - January - 2000	Osaka
Kawamoto	川本	Kawamoto Hayate	Kasugano	180	127	04 - April - 1995	Kyoto
Kizakiumi (sandanme tsukedashi)	木崎海	Kizaki Shinnosuke	Kise	174	146	05 - May - 1995	Okinawa
Kizuka	木塚	Kizuka Aianryuji	Chiganoura	167	79	20 - September- 2002	Tokyo
Kojima	小島	Kojima Hiromasa	Asakayama	180	125	11 - September- 2002	Kagoshima
Kume	粂	Kume Kiyoshi	Sadogatake	182	134	17 - January - 2003	Yamagata
Maeda	前田	Maeda Mizuki	Sadogatake	167	104	15 - November - 2002	Wakayama
Matsunaga	松永	Matsunaga Kizuku	Nishiiwa	174	119	14 - December - 2002	Osaka
Matsuoka	松岡	Matsuoka Yuki	Oitekaze	171	116	22 - November - 1999	Kumamoto
Mimori	三森	Mimori Daisuke	Irumagawa	173	107	19 - January - 2000	Shizuoka
Morita	森田	Morita Ryuji	Fujishima	174	113	29 - May - 2002	Chiba
Nagaya	永谷	Nagaya Kodai	Shikoroyama	181	135	16 - December - 2002	Aichi
Nakatani	中谷	Nakatani Akira	Nishiiwa	179	121	03 - April - 2000	Fukuoka
Sasaki	佐々木	Sasaki Tsukasa	Hakkaku	187	125	24 - October - 1999	Hokkaido
Soma	相馬	Soma Kento	Fujishima	183	130	09 - January - 2003	Tochigi
Sumida	隅田	Sumida Haruki	Sadogatake	181	111	30 - October - 2002	Gifu
Tabara	田原	Tabara Yuta	Musashigawa	175	129	21 - June - 2002	Fukuoka
Takahara	高原	Takahara Kaisei	Takadagawa	177	100	30 - January - 1999	Tokushima
Tanaka	田中	Tanaka Akito	Shikoroyama	165	68	24 - October - 2002	Ibaraki
Tanji	丹治	Tanji Taiga	Arashio	183	69	13 - January - 2003	Fukushima
Terasawa	寺沢	Terasawa Itsuki	Takasago	182	126	22 - June - 1995	Niigata
Toya	戸谷	Toya Shunsuke	Tomozuna	179	78	21 - June - 1998	Chiba
Ueta	上田	Ueta Yuya	Fujishima	167	101	21 - December - 1999	Tokushima
Yoshizaki	吉崎	Yoshizaki Koki	Tagonoura	174	124	25 - October - 2002	Tokyo

 

[Yubinhaad 12,005]

Well, I guess we know who didn't turn up for the examinations. So long Corvin, we hardly knew ye.
 

Honda

本多

Honda Rikiya

Tagonoura

184

166

15 - June - 2002

Tochigi

Must be this guy?
 

Nagaya

永谷

Nagaya Kodai

Shikoroyama

181

135

16 - December - 2002

Aichi

Brother of this Nagaya?

[Akinomaki 41,906]

On 11.3.2018 at 14:27, Yubinhaad said:

Honda

本多

Honda Rikiya

Tagonoura

184

166

15 - June - 2002

Tochigi

Must be this guy?

first name and shusshin fit: 本多力也   栃木県那須烏山市出身 https://www.daily.co.jp/sumo/2015/08/10/0008291289.shtml

Edited March 12, 2018 by Akinomaki