THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 28, 2022 at 18:47 JST
A day after becoming the first new sekiwake in 86 years to win an Emperor's Cup, Wakatakakage said he believes his late grandfather, a former sumo wrestler himself, would have been proud of him.
The last time a new sekiwake clinched a top-division title was the 1936 summer tournament, won by Futabayama, who later rose to sumo’s highest rank of yokozuna.
Wakabayama, Wakatakakage’s grandfather and a former komusubi, served his apprenticeship under Futabayama, who was dubbed the “god of sumo.”
“I’m happy,” said Wakatakakage, 27. “I believe my grandfather would feel the same.”
He talked to the media on March 28, a day after defeating rank-and-filer Takayasu in a playoff on the final day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, in an online interview.
“It’s gradually sinking in,” Wakatakakage said.
His wife and children also watched the bout in person at Edion Arena Osaka.
“They (my children) may have yet to figure out exactly what I achieved, but they were delighted,” said Wakatakakage. “(My wife) congratulated me.”
Wakatakakage, who ended the tourney with a 12-3 record, said he received so many congratulatory messages that he hasn’t finished reading them yet.
Only five sumo wrestlers, including the legendary yokozuna Taiho, have ever won 12 victories or more in their debut tournaments as sekiwake, and all went on to become yokozuna or ozeki.
Wakatakakage’s 12 wins in the spring tournament will also bring him closer to promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki as he sets his sights on the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo in May.
“It is my goal (to be promoted to ozeki),” he said. “The next tournament will be crucial, so I’ll train hard for the tourney.”
Wakatakakage hails from Fukushima. When the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami hit his hometown on March 11, 2011, he took shelter at the Arashio stable, which his eldest brother belongs to. Wakatakakage himself later joined the stable.
“All I can do is show good bouts in the ring,” Wakatakakage said, referring to a powerful earthquake that struck Fukushima and other areas of the Tohoku region on March 16 during the spring tournament. “I was just thinking about doing my best during the 15-day tourney.”
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New sekiwake Wakatakakage speaks during an online interview on March 28, a day after he won his first Emperor's Cup. (Provided by the Japan Sumo Association)
