1. Early life and family background
Wakamotoharu Minato comes from a distinguished sumo family, with a lineage deeply intertwined with the sport. His upbringing in Fukushima and his family's influence played a significant role in his path to professional sumo.
1.1. Childhood and education
Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Wakamotoharu was raised in Fukushima. He was a notably active child among his three brothers, enjoying outdoor activities like splashing in puddles and climbing trees. He began practicing sumo in the second grade of elementary school, alongside softball and judo. Despite his initial dislike for sumo, he possessed a natural talent for the sport, often achieving the best results in tournaments among his siblings. He also showed a creative side, being skilled at drawing and crafting.
Wakamotoharu focused solely on sumo from junior high school. Although he once confessed to his father that he "really disliked sumo," he had written in his elementary school graduation essay that he aspired to become a sumo wrestler whose name everyone would recognize. His father observed that Wakamotoharu would win easily if promised a reward like a manga, but would lose just as easily without one, noting that his son's talent often led to victories, which made it difficult for him to quit sumo despite his initial reluctance.
As a high school student at Gakuhō Fukushima High School in Fukushima City, he was a victim of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. During the post-disaster reconstruction, he and his younger brother, Wakatakakage, temporarily moved to the Arashio stable in Tokyo for a month of training and shelter, facilitated by his elder brother, Wakatakamoto, who was already a wrestler there. This experience, and the stable's hospitality, led Wakamotoharu to decide to pursue a professional sumo career in the same stable as a gesture of gratitude.
1.2. Family background
Wakamotoharu is part of a prominent sumo family. His grandfather, Wakabayama Sadao, achieved the rank of komusubi. His father, who wrestled in the Makushita division (reaching West Makushita 51), now operates a chankonabe restaurant in Fukushima. Wakamotoharu has an elder brother, Wakatakamoto, and a younger brother, Wakatakakage. All three brothers became professional wrestlers between 2009 and 2017 and currently belong to the Arashio stable.
While Wakatakamoto has not advanced beyond the makushita division, Wakatakakage was the first to surpass their grandfather's highest rank, reaching sekiwake in 2022. The ring names (shikona) of the three brothers were inspired by the "three arrows" parable of the 16th-century warlord Mōri Motonari. Wakamotoharu's shikona is derived from the first Kanji of his grandfather's shikona and the name of the second son in the parable, Kikkawa Motoharu. The "Waka" (若) character in their names comes from their grandfather Wakabayama and father Wakashinobu.
1.3. Amateur career
Wakamotoharu started sumo in elementary school and continued through high school. During his time at Gakuhō Fukushima High School, he was a scholarship student and participated in the Inter-High School Championships (National High School General Athletic Meet) individual competition for three consecutive years. In his third year, he achieved runner-up in the Tohoku regional tournament. Although he primarily used a left-hand grip (hidari-yotsu) from elementary school, his father once encouraged him to try pushing techniques during a warm-up in his third year of junior high, which unexpectedly led him to the top eight in that tournament. Despite his talent, he lacked strong ambition, often winning easily when a reward was offered but losing without one.
2. Professional sumo career
Wakamotoharu Minato's professional sumo career has seen him rise through the ranks, overcoming challenges and achieving significant milestones, including reaching the sekiwake rank and earning special prizes.
2.1. Debut and early career
Wakamotoharu made his professional debut in Maezumo in November 2011, initially using the shikona 荒大波AraonamiJapanese. In his first official tournament (honbasho) in January 2012, under the new shikona 剛士GoshiJapanese, he won the Jonokuchi championship (yūshō) with a perfect 7-0 record. He continued to progress, and in July 2013, he achieved a makushita division championship with an undefeated 7-0 record, a victory that coincided with the return of his stablemate Sōkokurai to the ring after a legal battle.
In May 2017, he adopted his current shikona, Wakamotoharu. In January 2019, he secured another makushita division championship with a perfect 7-0 score, earning him promotion to the Jūryō division alongside Kiribayama. This promotion made him and his younger brother Wakatakakage the twentieth pair of brothers in sumo history to achieve the status of sekitori (a wrestler in the top two divisions). However, his master, former komusubi Ōyutaka, expressed reservations, stating that the promotion was "three years too late" and criticizing Wakamotoharu's perceived lack of effort in training. Senior wrestler Sōkokurai also noted that he had to encourage Wakamotoharu to put in the necessary effort for promotion since late 2018.
In his debut jūryō tournament, Wakamotoharu only managed five wins and was demoted back to makushita. However, he quickly returned to jūryō after achieving a 6-1 record at makushita 1 in September 2019.
In November 2019, Wakamotoharu was involved in a social media incident when a picture of him bound to a chair and gagged with tape was posted by fellow wrestler Abi. This prank was widely criticized for seemingly making light of past incidents of violence within sumo stables. The Japan Sumo Association responded by issuing a warning to Abi and Wakamotoharu and subsequently banning sumo wrestlers from having individual social media accounts.
In January 2021, Wakamotoharu, along with his stablemaster and ten other wrestlers from Arashio stable, tested positive for COVID-19. This led to his absence from the January 2021 tournament. Despite the full absence, his rank was only lowered by one due to the circumstances.
2.2. Makuuchi career and promotions
In December 2021, Wakamotoharu was promoted to the top Makuuchi division for the January 2022 tournament, joining his younger brother Wakatakakage. They became the 12th pair of brothers in history to be ranked in the top division simultaneously. He was the second wrestler from Arashio stable to reach the top division after Wakatakakage, and the first since the current stablemaster, former Maegashira Sōkokurai, took over. Reflecting on his promotion, Wakamotoharu noted the difficulty of starting 2021 by sitting out the January tournament due to COVID-19 but ending it with his best result as a sekitori, an 11-4 record in November, which secured his promotion. He expressed a desire to surpass his younger brother in the rankings. Upon his promotion, his hometown supporters' association in Fukushima presented him with a replica of the keshō-mawashi worn by his grandfather Wakabayama, which depicts a lion dance scene and is displayed in his parents' chanko restaurant.
In his makuuchi debut at the January 2022 tournament, Wakamotoharu secured a winning record (kachi-koshi) on Day 14 by defeating Tobizaru. He followed this with another 9-6 winning record in the March 2022 tournament, defeating Endō on Day 12 to reach 8-4.
During the July 2022 tournament, his bout against Yokozuna Terunofuji was controversially stopped after two minutes when Wakamotoharu's mawashi came undone. After a lengthy mono-ii (consultation) and a reset of positions, Terunofuji quickly defeated him with an underarm throw. Wakamotoharu later commented that he had put in his full effort and wished people would focus on that rather than the mawashi incident.
After achieving consecutive 10-5 winning records in the top maegashira ranks, Wakamotoharu was promoted to Komusubi for the January 2023 tournament. He secured a winning record in his san'yaku (the three highest ranks below yokozuna) debut on Day 14. This promotion marked the third time in history that brothers simultaneously held san'yaku ranks, and the fourth pair of brothers to achieve san'yaku status, following Wakanohana and Takanohana in 1992. He maintained his komusubi rank for the March banzuke, where he reached 10 wins by Day 13 before finishing with an 11-4 record, defeating Kotonowaka on the final day.
In May 2023, he was promoted to sekiwake, making him and Wakatakakage the fourth siblings in history to reach sumo's third-highest rank, and the first since the Takanohana and Wakanohana brothers in the early 1990s. During the May tournament, he notably defeated Ōzeki Takakeishō on Day 14. He concluded the tournament with a 10-5 record and was awarded the Technique prize.
Following the May tournament, the possibility of Wakamotoharu's promotion to ōzeki was discussed, with the chairman of the judging committee, Sadogatake, indicating that the July tournament would be a key one for his ōzeki bid if he achieved good results. Wakamotoharu would need 12 wins at the July basho to reach the typical ōzeki promotion requirement of 33 wins in the san'yaku ranks over three consecutive tournaments. He expressed surprise at being an ōzeki-tori (candidate for ōzeki), having spent most of his career trying to catch up to his younger brother, Wakatakakage. He also mentioned his aspiration to emulate former ōzeki Kaiō and Chiyotaikai.
Before the July tournament, Wakamotoharu received a new keshō-mawashi from his Fukushima patronage association. Designed by his mother, who had a background in the design industry, the mawashi features flowers and fruits from Fukushima Prefecture, evoking the beauty of Hanamiyama Park. However, during the tournament, Wakamotoharu's ōzeki promotion chances diminished when he suffered his fourth defeat on Day 12 to the returning ōzeki Kirishima. He finished the tournament with a 9-6 record, falling short of the 12 wins needed for ōzeki consideration. His performance on Day 14, where he used a henka (side-step) against Hōshōryū, drew criticism from Chairman Hakkaku, who questioned if such sumo was what fans wanted to see from an ōzeki.
Wakamotoharu lost his san'yaku status for the first tournament of 2024, being demoted to the rank of maegashira 1. On Day 2 of the tournament, he claimed his very first kinboshi (gold star) with an upset victory over Yokozuna Terunofuji in a match lasting 1 minute and 42 seconds. This was followed the next day with a victory over ōzeki Takakeishō. Wakamotoharu finished the tournament with 10 wins, a record that earned him promotion back to the san'yaku ranks. For his achievement in beating the yokozuna and several other san'yaku-ranked opponents, he received the Outstanding Performance Prize.
At the May 2024 tournament, Wakamotoharu withdrew on the seventh day due to a left toe injury sustained during training. He later returned on Day 11 but was defeated by Hiradoumi, resulting in a losing record. After two strong tournaments in September and November 2024, the press again discussed Wakamotoharu's potential for ōzeki promotion if he could perform well in January 2025, buoyed by his brother Wakatakakage's return to san'yaku.
2.3. Major achievements and awards
Wakamotoharu Minato has accumulated several significant achievements and awards throughout his professional sumo career:
- Divisional Championships (Yūshō):**
- Jonokuchi Division: 1 (January 2012)
- Makushita Division: 2 (July 2013, January 2019)
- Special Prizes (Sanshō):** 2
- Technique Prize: 1 (May 2023)
- Outstanding Performance Prize: 1 (January 2024)
- Gold Stars (Kinboshi):** 1
- Against Yokozuna Terunofuji (January 2024)
3. Fighting style
Wakamotoharu Minato's fighting style is characterized by his preference for grabbing his opponent's mawashi (belt) rather than relying on pushing or thrusting techniques. His favored grip is hidari-yotsu, where his right hand is outside and his left hand is inside his opponent's arms. His most common winning technique (kimarite) is a straightforward Yori-kiri, or force out.
According to former yokozuna Wakanohana, Wakamotoharu possesses considerable strength when pulling his opponent forward, and he is adept at cutting the mawashi. Wakamotoharu himself has stated that his sumo "form is decided" and that he aims to strengthen his ability to bring bouts into his preferred hidari-yotsu position. In May 2023, Chairman Hakkaku praised Wakamotoharu's established style of left-hand grip and right-hand pushing, noting his quickness in securing an outside grip and powerful squeezing.
Around 2022, the Utchari (backward pivot throw), a relatively rare technique in modern sumo, also became one of his specialties. In the May 2023 tournament, he executed an utchari against Hokuseihō, which impressed Chairman Hakkaku, who commented on Wakamotoharu's "powerful" and decisive move. However, Wakanohana suggested that Wakamotoharu should develop more attacking options beyond simply pulling with his right hand to become even stronger. As he settled into the san'yaku ranks around 2023, he began to lose more bouts from his preferred left-hand grip, leading him to rely more on pushing techniques. In 2024, his most common winning technique became Oshi-dashi (push out), surpassing yori-kiri. Former yokozuna Musashimaru (Musashigawa oyakata) has praised Wakamotoharu's strong hidari-yotsu sumo, noting his ability to resist initial charges and bring the bout into his preferred style, stating that Wakamotoharu "will become an ōzeki without rushing."
4. Personal life
Wakamotoharu Minato is married and has a daughter. He announced his marriage in November 2021, following a three-year relationship. His daughter was born in 2020, a fact he revealed at his wedding reception in February 2025.
Outside the sumo ring, Wakamotoharu has diverse interests. He is a fan of singers Ed Sheeran and Aiko, and enjoys professional wrestling, particularly WWE and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His interest in wrestling began with the Kinnikuman series. He is known to favor heel wrestlers and is seen wearing Suzuki-gun bath towels in the preparation room. He also has a friendship with professional wrestler Taiji of Just 5 Guys. Additionally, he is a fan of the Japanese comedy duo Chocolate Planet. His favorite Oden ingredient is chikuwabu.
In April 2023, Wakamotoharu appeared on the television show "Dancing Sanma Palace" with his father. His father humorously claimed that Wakamotoharu resented him due to strict childhood coaching, never reported anything to him, and gave no gifts. When his father offered advice via LINE before bouts, Wakamotoharu admitted he would only mark them as "read" but not actually read them, leading to him being described as "still in his rebellious phase at 29." However, in a separate interview with NHK in April 2023, Wakamotoharu expressed a desire to inherit his father's former shikona, Wakashinobu, if he reached jūryō, viewing it as a way to honor his father, suggesting a good underlying relationship.
Wakamotoharu uses a keshō-mawashi designed by his mother, who graduated from art school and worked in the design industry. This mawashi, which he began wearing for his makuuchi ring entrance in July 2023, features flowers and fruits from Fukushima Prefecture, evoking the imagery of Hanamiyama Park. He also uses a replica of his grandfather Wakabayama's keshō-mawashi, which depicts a lion dance scene, a design he began using upon his promotion to makuuchi.
5. Career record
| Year | January | March | May | July | September | November |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | x | x | x | x | x | Maezumo |
| 2012 | East Jonokuchi 15 7-0 Champion | West Jonidan 10 5-2 | West Sandanme 78 6-1 | East Sandanme 20 3-4 | East Sandanme 39 6-1 | West Makushita 54 2-5 |
| 2013 | West Sandanme 19 3-4 | East Sandanme 34 6-1 | East Makushita 45 3-1-3 | East Makushita 55 7-0 Champion | East Makushita 7 2-5 | West Makushita 19 2-5 |
| 2014 | West Makushita 36 3-4 | West Makushita 43 4-3 | East Makushita 37 4-3 | East Makushita 29 3-4 | East Makushita 37 3-4 | East Makushita 46 3-4 |
| 2015 | East Makushita 55 3-4 | West Sandanme 6 6-1 | East Makushita 33 3-4 | West Makushita 44 5-2 | East Makushita 28 2-5 | East Makushita 46 0-0-7 (absent) |
| 2016 | East Sandanme 26 5-2 | East Sandanme 1 6-1 | East Makushita 29 4-3 | East Makushita 22 4-3 | East Makushita 16 4-3 | East Makushita 12 4-3 |
| 2017 | East Makushita 8 4-3 | East Makushita 5 3-4 | West Makushita 9 3-4 | East Makushita 14 3-4 | West Makushita 18 5-2 | East Makushita 11 4-3 |
| 2018 | East Makushita 6 3-4 | East Makushita 12 4-3 | East Makushita 10 5-2 | East Makushita 4 2-5 | West Makushita 14 5-2 | East Makushita 7 4-3 |
| 2019 | West Makushita 3 7-0 Champion | West Jūryō 10 5-10 | West Makushita 1 3-4 | West Makushita 5 5-2 | East Makushita 1 6-1 | West Jūryō 11 5-10 |
| 2020 | West Makushita 1 6-1 | East Jūryō 11 8-7 | Tournament Cancelled | West Jūryō 8 9-6 | East Jūryō 3 6-9 | West Jūryō 6 8-7 |
| 2021 | East Jūryō 5 0-0-15 (quarantined due to COVID-19) | East Jūryō 6 6-9 | East Jūryō 9 9-6 | East Jūryō 3 7-8 | East Jūryō 3 8-7 | West Jūryō 1 11-4 |
| 2022 | East Maegashira 15 9-6 | West Maegashira 9 9-6 | West Maegashira 6 9-6 | East Maegashira 4 6-9 | East Maegashira 6 10-5 | East Maegashira 4 10-5 |
| 2023 | West Komusubi 2 9-6 | East Komusubi 1 11-4 | West Sekiwake 2 10-5 T | West Sekiwake 2 9-6 | West Sekiwake 1 9-6 | West Sekiwake 1 6-9 |
| 2024 | East Maegashira 1 10-5 O ★ | West Sekiwake 1 9-6 | East Sekiwake 1 4-8-3 (withdrew Day 7, re-entered Day 11) | East Maegashira 2 6-9 | West Maegashira 3 11-4 | East Komusubi 1 10-5 |
| 2025 | East Sekiwake 1 6-9 | West Maegashira 1 |
Sanshō key: =Fighting spirit; =Outstanding performance; =Technique Also shown: =Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi
Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira
6. Name changes
Wakamotoharu Minato has used the following ring names (shikona) throughout his professional sumo career:
- Araonami Minato (荒大波 港Araonami MinatoJapanese) - November 2011 tournament
- Goshi Minato (剛士 港Goshi MinatoJapanese) - January 2012 tournament to March 2017 tournament
- Wakamotoharu Minato (若元春 港Wakamotoharu MinatoJapanese) - May 2017 tournament to present
7. Head-to-head records
Wakamotoharu Minato's win-loss records against prominent contemporary wrestlers (as of the end of the January 2025 tournament):
| Wrestler | Wins | Losses | Wrestler | Wins | Losses | Wrestler | Wins | Losses | Wrestler | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aoyama | 4 | 1 | Tenkūkai | 1 | 0 | Asanoyama | 1 | 3 | Azumaryū | 1 | 0 |
| Atamifuji | 5 | 1 | Abi | 5 | 9 (1) | Ishiura | 1 | 0 | Ichiyamamoto | 2 | 1 |
| Ura | 9 | 2 | Endō | 6 | 1 | Ōshōma | 2 | 0 | Ōnami | 4 | 1 |
| Ōhō | 6 | 2 | Ōnosato | 1 | 4 | Okinoumi | 1 | 0 | Kirishima | 5 | 8 |
| Gōnoyama | 3 | 2 | Kotoekō | 2 | 1 | Kotonowaka | 5 | 9 | Kotoshōhō | 1 | 2 |
| Sadanoumi | 3 | 3 | Shimanoumi | 2 | 0 | Shōdai | 4 | 7 | Shōnannoumi | 1 | 0 |
| Daieishō | 7 | 9 | Takakeishō | 5 (1) | 5 | Takanoshō | 2 | 2 | Takayasu | 2 (1) | 5 |
| Takarafuji | 2 | 0 | Takerufuji | 0 | 1 | Tamawashi | 5 | 1 | Minonami | 1 | 0 |
| Chiyoshōma | 2 | 0 | Chiyotaikai | 1 | 2 | Chiyomaru | 0 | 1 | Kenshō | 2 | 1 |
| Terutsuyoshi | 2 | 1 | Terunofuji | 1 | 3 | Tochinoshin | 1 | 3 | Tobizaru | 13 | 3 |
| Nishikigi | 6 | 2 | Nishikifuji | 1 | 1 | Hiradoumi | 1 | 4 | Hōshōryū | 2 | 11 |
| Hokuseihō | 1 | 0 | Hokutofuji | 5 | 4 | Mitakeumi | 4 | 2 | Midōfuji | 5 | 1 |
| Myōgiryū | 4 (1) | 0 | Meisei | 8 | 0 | Yutakayama | 1 | 0 | Ryūden | 2 | 0 |
(Numbers in parentheses indicate wins or losses by default or forfeit. Bold indicates an active wrestler as of the end of the January 2025 tournament.)
8. External links
- [http://www.arashio.net/goushi.html Wakamotoharu profile at the Arashio stable official website]