[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Asahifuji- what next?

[Jeff A]

Moti


Best regards,
Gaijingai

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Asahifuji- what next?
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


The highly-anticipated rikishi East Makushita 11 Asahifuji (Isegahama ),
achieved a remarkable feat. He won four consecutive yusho from his debut,
from Jonokuchi, Jonidan, Sandanme, and Makushita. This was the first time
this had happened since the six-tournament-a-year system was established in
1958. In his fifth bout, he was pushed out by former Juryo Nabatame, ending
his winning streak from Jonokuchi at the third-highest in history at 25.
However, in the Makushita yusho playoff among seven rikishi who were tied
with 6 wins and 1 loss, he avenged his loss to Nabatame in the first round,
then defeated Fudouhou in the semi-finals and Wakamiyabi in the final to
win the yusho. "I'm happy. I concentrated on each and every match," he
said, but also reflected that "there are more things to reflect on," and
vowed to "study hard and aim higher in the rankings."

If he had also won all seven of his matches in Makushita, his winning
streak from his debut would have reached 28, surpassing Sakumayama's (later
Komusubi Joukouryuu) record of 27 and guaranteeing his promotion to Juryo
in the coming basho, a new record of only 5 tournaments from the lower
divisions. However, this dream did not materialize. Nevertheless, his
challenge to break records continues. If he achieves a good result in the
upper ranks of Makushita in Aki and secures promotion to  Juryo, it would
be a rapid rise of only 6 tournaments from the lower divisions, tying him
with Itai, Tosayutaka, and Joukouryuu for the all-time record. If he wins
the Makushita yusho again in the next tournament, he will further extend
his record of consecutive championships from the Jonokuchi division.

Although it is an unofficial record, it would also tie the record of
Haguroyama from the pre-war era when there were only two tournaments per
year. After moving to Tokyo from Niigata Prefecture, Haguroyama worked at a
public bath in Ryogoku, but his good physique led to his entry into the
Tatsunami stable. Having previously turned down scouting offers from
several sumo stables, he entered the sumo world at the relatively late age
of 19, but he grew stronger by training under Futabayama. At the age of 20,
he won the Jonokuchi yusho at the Haru basho (January 1935), and went
undefeated in both the Jonidan and Sandanme divisions. He also won the
Makushita division (which was then an 11-day tournament) with a record of
10 wins and 1 loss, securing his promotion to Juryo with four consecutive
tournament yushos. Furthermore, he won his debut Juryo tournament in March
of 1937 with a record of 9 wins and 2 losses, achieving five consecutive
tournament yusho. He achieved an unparalleled speed of promotion, passing
through each division in just one tournament to reach Makuuchi, and
eventually became the 36th Yokozuna. He overcame two Achilles tendon
ruptures and won seven Makuuchi yushos, becoming a great Yokozuna.

Asahifuji, who is from Mongolia, studied at Asahigaoka High School in
Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating, he joined Isegahama beya, but
because he waited for a foreigner's spot to open up, he made his debut at
the late age of 23. However, he was able to train rigorously against the
heya's top-ranked rikishi for four and a half years before making his
debut, which has led to his remarkable rise through the ranks. To date,
only Haguroyama and Tochiazuma (now Tamanoi Oyakata) have won yushos in all
six divisions from Jonokuchi to Makuuchi. Even Aonishiki, a prime example
of rapid rise in recent years, has not won yushos in Sandanme, Makushita,
or Juryo. With the expectations placed upon him, Asahifuji, who inherited
the title of a former Yokozuna, is ready to challenge for the third-ever
achievement in history, so we can look forward to seeing what he does next.
(Maki Atsushi)

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