Tōhakuryū Masahito

Tōhakuryū Masahito
東白龍 雅士
Personal information
BornShiraishi Masahito 白石 雅仁
17 April 1996
Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight131 kg (289 lb)
Career
StableTamanoi
UniversityToyo University
Current ranksee below
DebutMay 2019
Highest rankMaegashira 15 (November, 2023)
Championships1 (Sandanme)
* Up to date as of 28 August 2023.

Tōhakuryū Masahito (Japanese 東白龍雅士, born April 17, 1996, as Masahito Shiraishi) is a professional Japanese sumo wrestler from Tokyo. Debuting in May 2019 as a sandanme tsukedashi, his highest rank is maegashira 15 and he currently wrestles for Tamanoi stable.[1]

Early life and sumo experience

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Born in Tokyo, Shiraishi began sumo wrestling in the 4th grade of elementary school, going on to attend sumo classes at a dojo in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward.[2] He attended Toyo University and in 2018 during his 4th year at the school, he won the individual division of the 97th All Japan Student Sumo Championship.[3] Even though he was a skilled wrestler, he did not initially indicate interest in pursuing professional sumo,[4] but he said that seeing the success of Takakeishō, whom he had wrestled with in elementary school, and Mitakeumi who had been his senior at Toyo University, encouraged him to join professional sumo.[5] While still in school, he had been invited to a party at Tamanoi stable and as such, when he graduated from Toyo University in May 2019, he chose to join Tamanoi as a wrestler. [5]

He made his debut as a sandanme tsukedashi entrant, beginning his career in the fourth highest sandanme division.[6] A perfect 7–0 record saw him win the sandanme championship or yūshō in his first tournament.[6] Recording only one make-koshi or losing record on his way up the ranks, he had to sit out the September 2020 tournament after a COVID-19 outbreak at his stable, but he returned in November to earn promotion to the jūryō division after a 4–3 record at makushita 2.[7] Up until this point he had been fighting under his family name of Shiraishi, but to mark the occasion he was given a new shikona of Tōhakuryū.[7] He recorded a solid 8–7 record in his debut at sekitori level in January 2021, and has remained in the division since then, reaching a highest rank of jūryō 2 in July 2022.[6] He had to withdraw from Day 11 of that tournament after a COVID-19 outbreak at Tamanoi stable.[8]

Fighting style

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According to his Japan Sumo Association profile, Tōhakuryū favours thrusting and pushing (tsuki/oshi) techniques. His most common winning kimarite are hatakikomi (slap down) and oshidashi (push out).[9]

Career record

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Tōhakuryū Masahito[6]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March
Haru basho, Osaka
May
Natsu basho, Tokyo
July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September
Aki basho, Tokyo
November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
2019 x x Sandanme tsukedashi #100
7–0
Champion

 
West Makushita #55
5–2
 
East Makushita #42
4–3
 
West Makushita #35
6–1
 
2020 West Makushita #13
2–5
 
East Makushita #29
6–1
 
West Makushita #10
Tournament Cancelled
0–0–0
West Makushita #10
6–1
 
West Makushita #2
Sat out due to COVID rules
0–0–7
West Makushita #2
4–3
 
2021 West Jūryō #14
8–7
 
East Jūryō #11
7–8
 
East Jūryō #11
10–5
 
East Jūryō #4
5–10
 
West Jūryō #7
4–11
 
East Jūryō #12
9–6
 
2022 East Jūryō #8
10–5
 
West Jūryō #3
7–8
 
West Jūryō #4
9–6
 
West Jūryō #2
3–8–4[10]
 
West Jūryō #2
8–7
 
East Jūryō #1
5–10
 
2023 East Jūryō #4
9–6
 
West Jūryō #1
7–8
 
West Jūryō #2
4–11
 
West Jūryō #4
7–8
 
West Jūryō #4
10–5
 
East Maegashira #15
5–10
 
2024 West Jūryō #2
8–7
 
East Jūryō #2
6–9
 
East Jūryō #4
6–9
 
East Jūryō #5
5–10
 
East Jūryō #10
8–7
 
East Jūryō #6
4–9–2
 
2025 West Jūryō #11

 
x x x x x
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: MakuuchiJūryōMakushitaSandanmeJonidanJonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: YokozunaŌzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashira

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tohakuryo Masahito". sumo.or.jp. Nihon Sumo Kyokai. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. ^ "貴景勝の高校時代のライバル 白石 玉ノ井部屋入門「自分もやってみたいと思った」". Sponichi.com. Sports Nippon Newspapers. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. ^ "東洋大・白石雅仁、後輩の城山を破り初V 学生相撲". nikkansports.com. Nikkan Sports News. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. ^ "東洋大・白石雅仁、貴景勝の活躍刺激もプロ明言せず". nikkansports.com. Nikkan Sports News. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b "白石雅仁が新弟子検査終え決意新た「まず体づくり」". nikkansports.com. Nikkan Sports News. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "Tohakuryu Masahito Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b "白石改め東白龍が新十両「まだ実感ない。うれしい」 (Shiraishi, now Tōhakuryū, new juryo - "it hasn't sunk in yet, I'm glad")". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 25 November 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. ^ "佐渡ケ嶽、玉ノ井部屋全力士が休場 コロナ禍が優勝争いにも影響、土俵上に物足りなさも (Sadogatake, Tamanoi wrestlers all withdraw)". Nikkan Sports. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Wins of Tohakuryu". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  10. ^ Withdrew on Day 11 due to COVID protocols
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