Daidō Kenji
Encyclopedia
Daidō Kenji (born August 21, 1982 as Kenji Nakanishi, in Katsushika ward, Tokyo
) is a professional sumo
wrestler or rikishi. He made his debut in 2005
, reaching the top division four years later, debuting in the July, 2011 tournament. His highest rank has been maegashira #12.
he won the open weight division championship. Upon graduating he joined Onomatsu stable
and entered the professional sumo ring in March 2005.
As is often the custom, he chose his entry into jūryō to change his ring name from his family name to his current ring name of Daidō. The name he said comes from what he sees as the starting place of his way of sumo, his old junior high school, which is named Daidō. He entered the second tier jūryō division at the same time as Onomatsu
stablemate Masuraumi in March 2010. This was the first time that two wrestlers from the same stable had been promoted to jūryō simultaneously since Kimurayama and Tochinoshin from Kasugano stable
were promoted in January 2008. Daidō was the third wrestler from Senshu University
to achieve sekitori
status, following already retired Musoyama and Katayama
, the latter of whom was also from the same stable.
He made a smooth entry into jūryō posting two consecutive winning tournaments of 9-6 and 10-5. However, in the wake of an investigation by the national police into illegal baseball gambling by sumo wrestlers, Daidō was one of many wrestlers who admitted involvement. As punishment by the JSA
Daidō was compelled to sit out the July 2010 tournament. This tournament would have been his highest rank yet at jūryō #2. This was an ironic repeat of his "debut" in the top ranks of makushita in 2008 where his injury had forced him to sit out. As another stipulation of the punishment, Daidō and others implicated were demoted by one division in the following September tournament. This would put Daidō back to makushita #1. He would manage a 4-3 winning record in this tournament and return to jūryō in the November tournament. He achieved three consecutive winning tournaments, interrupted only by the March tournament that was cancelled due to match fixing allegations. During this period, in the ongoing police investigation into baseball gambling, Daidō was implicated as one of four still active wrestlers who had used a gambling ring operated by then active sumo wrestlers from Onomatsu stable to place bets on baseball. The prosecutor recommended charges, but ultimately no indictments were handed down due to lack of compelling evidence.
Daidō's performance was largely unaffected by the turmoil around the allegations and his successful tournaments earned him promotion to the top tier makuuchi
division in July 2011. He debuted at maegashira #12, but soon ran into trouble, losing most of his early bouts. However, he improved enough during the second half of the tournament to pull out a 6-9 record. Though it was his first losing tournament since May 2008, it was a good enough result that he was only demoted to maegashira 15 for the following September tournament. An 8-7 record would return him to maegashira #12 for the November tournament where he would again achieve a winning record, ensuring a return to makuuchi for 2012's opening tournament.
or belt as opposed to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip is migi-yotsu, with his left hand outside and right hand inside in his opponent's arms. His most common winning kimarite
is uwatenage, or overarm throw, followed by yori-kiri or force out.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
) is a professional sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler or rikishi. He made his debut in 2005
2005 in sumo
-Tournaments:*Hatsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 - 23 January*Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 13 - 27 March*Natsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 - 22 May*Nagoya basho, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 10 - 24 July...
, reaching the top division four years later, debuting in the July, 2011 tournament. His highest rank has been maegashira #12.
Early career
At the behest of his older sister, Nakanishi started participating in a sumo club in his neighborhood from 4th grade. He later participated in inter-high school tournaments. As a student at Senshu UniversitySenshu University
is a private university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Former "Senshu College" was founded in 1880, the first school in Japan comprising Economics and Law Departments to systematically offer a specialized educational curriculum in the Japanese language....
he won the open weight division championship. Upon graduating he joined Onomatsu stable
Onomatsu stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in its modern form on 1 October 1994 by Masurao Hiroo, who branched off from the now defunct Oshiogawa stable. His first wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division was Katayama in 2005....
and entered the professional sumo ring in March 2005.
Professional career
Nakanishi had a relatively trouble-free rise through the lower ranks. He took a 7-0 championship in both the jonokuchi and jonidan divisions in his first and second tournaments. He continued to post mostly winning records through 2005 and well into 2006, but began to struggle after reaching the higher ranks of the makushita division. He would then bounce back and forth between mid to high level makushita ranks, posting alternating winning and losing records, for the next two and a half years. He finally began to find some equilibrium in mid 2008, posting several consecutive winning tournaments. This streak was interrupted by a broken jaw that would force him to sit out the March 2008 tournament at what had been his highest rank to date at makushita #5. Though missing this tournament would send him back to makushita #45 in the next tournament, he did not let this slow him down and upon returning proceeded to post five consecutive winning tournaments, including one playoff loss for the championship in July 2009.As is often the custom, he chose his entry into jūryō to change his ring name from his family name to his current ring name of Daidō. The name he said comes from what he sees as the starting place of his way of sumo, his old junior high school, which is named Daidō. He entered the second tier jūryō division at the same time as Onomatsu
Onomatsu stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in its modern form on 1 October 1994 by Masurao Hiroo, who branched off from the now defunct Oshiogawa stable. His first wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division was Katayama in 2005....
stablemate Masuraumi in March 2010. This was the first time that two wrestlers from the same stable had been promoted to jūryō simultaneously since Kimurayama and Tochinoshin from Kasugano stable
Kasugano stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi group of stables. As of November 2007 it had 24 wrestlers. It is currently one of the most successful stables, with five sekitori wrestlers, including the Georgian Tochinoshin and the Korean born Tochinowaka, who uses the current head coach's...
were promoted in January 2008. Daidō was the third wrestler from Senshu University
Senshu University
is a private university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Former "Senshu College" was founded in 1880, the first school in Japan comprising Economics and Law Departments to systematically offer a specialized educational curriculum in the Japanese language....
to achieve sekitori
Sekitori
A sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
status, following already retired Musoyama and Katayama
Katayama
Katayama is a Japanese surname.People with the name include:*Sen Katayama , Communist activist*Tetsu Katayama , 46th Prime Minister of Japan*Kyoichi Katayama, , author*Ukyo Katayama, , F1 driver...
, the latter of whom was also from the same stable.
He made a smooth entry into jūryō posting two consecutive winning tournaments of 9-6 and 10-5. However, in the wake of an investigation by the national police into illegal baseball gambling by sumo wrestlers, Daidō was one of many wrestlers who admitted involvement. As punishment by the JSA
Japan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
Daidō was compelled to sit out the July 2010 tournament. This tournament would have been his highest rank yet at jūryō #2. This was an ironic repeat of his "debut" in the top ranks of makushita in 2008 where his injury had forced him to sit out. As another stipulation of the punishment, Daidō and others implicated were demoted by one division in the following September tournament. This would put Daidō back to makushita #1. He would manage a 4-3 winning record in this tournament and return to jūryō in the November tournament. He achieved three consecutive winning tournaments, interrupted only by the March tournament that was cancelled due to match fixing allegations. During this period, in the ongoing police investigation into baseball gambling, Daidō was implicated as one of four still active wrestlers who had used a gambling ring operated by then active sumo wrestlers from Onomatsu stable to place bets on baseball. The prosecutor recommended charges, but ultimately no indictments were handed down due to lack of compelling evidence.
Daidō's performance was largely unaffected by the turmoil around the allegations and his successful tournaments earned him promotion to the top tier makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division in July 2011. He debuted at maegashira #12, but soon ran into trouble, losing most of his early bouts. However, he improved enough during the second half of the tournament to pull out a 6-9 record. Though it was his first losing tournament since May 2008, it was a good enough result that he was only demoted to maegashira 15 for the following September tournament. An 8-7 record would return him to maegashira #12 for the November tournament where he would again achieve a winning record, ensuring a return to makuuchi for 2012's opening tournament.
Fighting style
Daidō is a wrestler who prefers to fight on the opponent's mawashiMawashi
In sumo, a mawashi is the belt that the rikishi wears during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a keshō-mawashi as part of the ring entry ceremony or dohyo-iri.-Mawashi:...
or belt as opposed to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip is migi-yotsu, with his left hand outside and right hand inside in his opponent's arms. His most common winning kimarite
Kimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
is uwatenage, or overarm throw, followed by yori-kiri or force out.