Ōhō Kōnosuke

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Ōhō Kōnosuke was born on February 14, 2000, as Kōnosuke Naya, the third of four sons, to former Sekiwake Takatōriki Tadashige and Mieko, the third daughter of the 48th Yokozuna Taihō Kōki. His birthplace is Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Kōtō, Tokyo. His family is steeped in the world of sumo and professional wrestling; his eldest brother, Yukio Naya, is a professional wrestler in Japan. His second-oldest brother, Takamori Naya (納谷幸林_{Naya Kōrin}^Japanese), joined Ōtake stable in 2020 after an amateur career at Chuo University and competes in the Makushita division. His younger brother, Kōsei Naya (夢道鵬幸成_{Mudohō Kōsei}^Japanese), joined the same stable in 2019 and also wrestles in Makushita. His great-grandfather was Markian Borisko, and his cousin is former sumo wrestler Wakagōri.

1.2. Childhood and Amateur Sumo Career

Ōhō began practicing sumo in elementary school at the Kōtō Seiryūkan dojo. In his fourth year, he secured a runner-up position at a national tournament and notably defeated Kōtarō Kiyomiya in the "Wanpaku Sumo Tokyo Tournament" that same year. By his sixth year of elementary school, he had already defeated Morirei, who would later become his stablemate, during practice sessions at Ōtake stable. He attended Omiya Nishi Junior High School in Saitama City before enrolling in the Health and Physical Education Department of Saitama Sakae High School, a school renowned for its strong sumo program. During his time at Saitama Sakae, he was a classmate of future Sekitori wrestlers Kotoshōhō, Kotonowaka, and Gōnoyama. In his third year of high school, Ōhō achieved significant success by winning two national championships, both in individual and team competitions at the National Sports Festival (Kokutai).

Following his high school graduation, Ōhō initially planned to make his professional sumo debut in the November 2017 tournament after the Kokutai. However, his victories at the Kokutai qualified him for the All Japan Sumo Championships in December, prompting him to postpone his professional entry. He competed in the All Japan Sumo Championships but was eliminated in the preliminary rounds. On December 19, 2017, he officially announced his entry into Ōtake stable, which was founded by his grandfather Taihō. He decided to make his debut in the January 2018 tournament, competing under his birth surname Naya, without waiting for his high school graduation. His fellow debutant in the same class, known as the "Hana no Ichi-ichi-gumi" (the 2000-born group), was Hōshōryū, the nephew of the 68th Yokozuna Asashōryū.

2.1. Early Career and Promotions

In December 2017, Ōhō officially began training at Ōtake stable, which was founded by his grandfather Taihō Kōki and was formerly run by his father Takatōriki. He started training with Sandanme and Makushita-ranked wrestlers even before competing in the lowest division, Jonokuchi. At the entrance exam for new recruits, he stood out as both the tallest and heaviest recruit. He made his professional debut in January 2018, competing under his birth surname, Naya (納谷^Japanese). During the presentation ceremony for new recruits, Ōhō wore a Keshō-mawashi that had belonged to his grandfather, symbolizing his family legacy.

In his initial bouts in Maezumō, he defeated all three of his opponents, including fellow debutant Hōshōryū. In his first official tournament on the Banzuke in March 2018, he won the Jonokuchi division championship with a perfect 7-0 record, defeating Hōshōryū again and inflicting his only defeat in that tournament. Since then, he and Hōshōryū have maintained a notable rivalry. He advanced to Jonidan for the May 2018 tournament, where he achieved a 6-1 record, suffering his first professional loss in his sixth bout. He then posted another 6-1 record in July, earning him promotion to Sandanme.

Ōhō reached the Makushita division in September 2018, where he posted a 3-4 losing record, his first as a professional. However, he quickly regained momentum, competing exclusively in Makushita in 2019 and 2020. He steadily climbed the rankings, achieving winning records in nine out of eleven tournaments during this period. In the March 2019 tournament, Ōhō was in contention for the Makushita championship but was defeated in his seventh match by eventual champion Churanoumi. In the November 2020 tournament, he achieved a strong 6-1 record from the top Makushita rank (Makushita 1 West), which earned him promotion to the Jūryō division.

Upon his promotion to Sekitori status, Ōhō adopted the Shikona Ōhō (王鵬^Japanese). His stablemaster, Ōtake (formerly Jūryō wrestler Dairyū), had considered giving him the shikona Taihō (大鵬^Japanese), but it was not possible due to Taihō being the name of a non-transferable elder share (Ichidai Toshiyori) within the Japan Sumo Association. As a result, the stablemaster replaced the character Dai (大^Japanese) with Ō (王^Japanese), a homophone, to evoke the memory of Taihō and reflect Ōhō's solid mentality. The character Ō (王^Japanese) is also commonly used by wrestlers of Ōtake stable in deference to both the founder (Taihō) and the current stablemaster (Dairyū). The character Hō (鵬^Japanese) is taken directly from Taihō's shikona. This promotion made him the second instance of a third-generation Sekitori, following Kotonowaka. Ōhō expressed his respect for his grandfather, stating that watching Taihō's sumo in videos during his childhood instilled in him an appreciation for the coolness of sumo. He also credited his diligent training for his promotion, remarking that he believed he worked harder than anyone else. In recognition of his achievement, a Keshō-mawashi depicting Namahage was presented to him by the town of Teshikaga in Hokkaido, his grandfather's hometown.

Ōhō's Jūryō debut in January 2021 resulted in a 5-10 losing record, leading to his immediate demotion back to Makushita. However, he swiftly returned to Jūryō by achieving a winning record in the March tournament. In his second stint in Jūryō in May 2021, Ōhō secured eight victories but suffered an injury to his right ankle on the final day, forcing him to withdraw and concede a default loss to his opponent Wakamotoharu. This marked the first injury absence of his career. Despite this setback, he posted double-digit winning records in two of the next three tournaments. His impressive 11-win performance at Jūryō 7 West in November 2021 earned him promotion to the top Makuuchi division for the January 2022 tournament.

2.2. Makuuchi Debut and Performance

Upon the announcement of the Banzuke for the January 2022 tournament, confirming his rank at Maegashira 18 East, Ōhō spoke to reporters, expressing his eagerness to compete in the top division. He also shared that he had visited his grandfather's grave to report his promotion and believed his grandfather, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 72, was cheering him on from heaven. In his Makuuchi debut, Ōhō started strongly with seven wins from his first ten bouts. However, he lost his last five matches, finishing with a 7-8 record. Ōhō attributed this late fade to a lack of concentration. The losing record resulted in his demotion to Jūryō for the March 2022 tournament. Yet, he quickly returned to Makuuchi in May 2022 at the rank of Maegashira 14 East, following a 10-5 record in Jūryō. He competed in Makuuchi for the remainder of 2022, consistently alternating between winning and losing records. In the July 2022 tournament, he secured his first Makuuchi kachikoshi (winning record) on Day 13, attributing it to gaining confidence from joint practice sessions with the Sadogatake stable.

Ōhō achieved his first double-digit win performance in the top division in the November 2022 tournament. On Day 12, he defeated Sekiwake Hōshōryū to improve his record to 10-2, sharing the lead with Hōshōryū and Takayasu. However, he lost to Takayasu the following day and ultimately finished with a 10-5 record. Despite not receiving a special prize, former Yokozuna Musashimaru (15th Musashigawa Oyakata) commented that Ōhō was deserving of one. Throughout 2022, Ōhō fulfilled his aspiration of competing in all six tournaments without injury.

In 2023, Ōhō solidified his status in the top division but struggled with consistency, posting losing scores in four of six tournaments. Nevertheless, he achieved a career-best record of 11-4 in the May tournament. In August of that year, after his rival Hōshōryū was promoted to the rank of Ōzeki, Ōhō reflected on the distance he still needed to cover, regretting his inability to compete at the San'yaku level in the first half of the year. During an autumn regional tour in October 2023, following a 5-10 record in the September tournament, Ōhō engaged in 12 practice bouts, the most among Makuuchi wrestlers, including 8 consecutive bouts (3 wins, 5 losses) against Ōzeki Hōshōryū. He expressed gratitude for Hōshōryū's challenge, stating his desire to maintain a high rank to face him again in championship contention.

2.3. San'yaku Promotion and Recent Achievements

Ōhō's 2024 started strong with a 10-5 record in the January tournament, leading to his promotion to a career-high rank of Maegashira 3 East for the March tournament. This marked his first time competing in the Jōi-jin (upper Maegashira ranks) where he would face all top-ranked wrestlers. In this tournament, he narrowly missed securing a winning record, finishing 7-8. However, on Day 5, he earned his first Kinboshi (gold star) by defeating Yokozuna Terunofuji with a yorikiri (frontal force out), a significant achievement in his first ever match against a Yokozuna. In the May tournament, he finished with a 6-9 record but notably defeated two Ōzeki, Kirishima (Day 6) and Hōshōryū (Day 7), and two Sekiwake, Abi (Day 9) and Wakamotoharu (Day 14). He also defeated Kotoshōhō on Day 12.

In the September 2024 tournament, Ōhō achieved a 9-6 winning record, which included a victory over Takakeishō on Day 2 in what proved to be the former Ōzeki's final professional bout. He also secured wins against Ōzeki Hōshōryū and Kotozakura. At the beginning of October, his stablemaster Ōtake announced that Ōhō would undergo surgery for an orbital fracture sustained in his Day 6 contest against Abi. Ōhō withdrew from the autumn regional tours but was expected to recover in time for the November tournament. In the November 2024 tournament, he posted a 6-9 record but continued his strong performance against high-ranked opponents, notably inflicting a defeat on Ōzeki Kotozakura. His father, Takatōriki, later claimed that the Japan Sumo Association's decision to not promote Ōhō to Sekiwake despite his strong performance was due to a personal grudge held by former Akinoshima (now Takadagawa Oyakata), one of Takatōriki's senior stablemates. Takatōriki also expressed regret for not nurturing Ōhō's "winning mentality" from childhood.

Ōhō's excellent form continued into the January 2025 tournament. He achieved a personal best six consecutive wins from the opening day, including victories against most of his better-ranked San'yaku opponents during the first week, and notably defeating Ōzeki Ōnosato on Day 5. On Day 7, coinciding with the anniversary of his grandfather Taihō's death, he suffered his first defeat at the hands of Yokozuna promotion-seeker Hōshōryū, which knocked him out of the leading group for the title. On Day 8, he incurred a second loss to Ōzeki Kotozakura. Despite these setbacks, Ōhō bounced back with three more consecutive wins before suffering a third defeat against Kirishima. Maintaining his position among the top contenders, Ōhō faced the tournament leader, Kinbōzan, on the final day, with a chance to force a playoff. Ōhō won the match, forcing a three-way playoff for the championship with Hōshōryū and Kinbōzan. Hōshōryū ultimately won the title by defeating Kinbōzan and Ōhō back-to-back. Due to his consistent and solid performance throughout the tournament, Ōhō received his first special prize, the Technique Prize, narrowly missing the Outstanding Performance Award because he did not win the championship.

Ōhō's strong showing in the January 2025 tournament led to his San'yaku debut at the rank of Sekiwake for the March 2025 tournament. This achievement equaled the career-high rank of his father, Takatōriki, and marked the seventh time in sumo history that a father and son pair had both reached the San'yaku ranks. Following his promotion, Ōhō expressed his happiness, stating that his persistent efforts had gradually built his strength. He emphasized his commitment to continue winning steadily and consistently.

3.1. Characteristics of Fighting Style

Ōhō prefers pushing and thrusting techniques (tsuki/oshi^Japanese) over grabbing his opponent's belt (四つ相撲_yotsu-zumo^Japanese). The majority of his wins are achieved by Oshidashi (frontal push out), Yorikiri (frontal force out), Tsukidashi (frontal thrust out), and Oshitaoshi (front push down).

3.2. Technical Weaknesses and Improvement Efforts

Prior to his promotion to Sekitori, Ōhō's sumo was characterized by a tendency to fight with a high stance and a light 腰_koshi^Japanese (hips), often leading to him being easily thrown or pushed out. However, as he gained muscle strength, his pushing and thrusting power significantly increased, which contributed to his Jūryō promotion.

Commentators and former wrestlers have offered critiques and observations on his style. Former Yokozuna Kitanofuji Katsuaki has criticized Ōhō for his reliance on pull-down attempts (引き癖_hiki-guse^Japanese), a weakness that persisted even as he approached San'yaku promotion. Former Yokozuna Musashimaru (15th Musashigawa Oyakata) pointed out in January 2021 that Ōhō's posture was too high and he lacked sufficient hand strength, advising him to focus on more fundamental practice, such as ぶつかり稽古_{butsukari-geiko}^Japanese (charging practice) and 鉄砲_teppō^Japanese (thrusting practice).

Upon Ōhō's Makuuchi debut, his stablemaster Ōtake commented that Ōhō had been working on correcting his "loose armpits" (脇の甘さ_{waki no amasa}^Japanese) and "high hips" (腰高_koshi-daka^Japanese), noting that these flaws were showing improvement. Starting in March 2022, Ōhō focused his training on ensuring his hands and feet moved forward properly, emphasizing running and adequate rest as crucial components of his preparation. In November 2022, former Yokozuna Wakanohana observed that Ōhō's previously "sloppy sumo" had improved, noting that he no longer fought with a high stance and had refined his thrusts, contributing to his strong performance. Musashimaru also praised his persistence, stating that he "doesn't run away" and that he would learn "how to win" as he gained more experience.

In January 2023, Kitanofuji again highlighted Ōhō's continuing tendency to pull, expressing his wish for the young wrestler to avoid seeking easy wins. After the May 2023 tournament, Ōhō stated in an interview that he "enjoys sumo every day," which prompted criticism from Kakuryū Oyakata (former Yokozuna), who suggested Ōhō lacked desperation and eagerness. By the summer regional tour following the July 2023 tournament, Ōhō expressed that his weakness when grabbed in a yotsu-zumo (belt-grappling) position had somewhat improved.

In January 2024, Tamanoi Oyakata (former Ōzeki Tochiazuma) commented that Ōhō's pulling habit had significantly diminished, and his experience with different types of Makuuchi wrestlers had made him more accustomed to the top division's atmosphere, allowing him to exert his full strength. Former Ōzeki Musōyama (Fujishima Oyakata) also praised Ōhō's straightforward, head-on sumo during the March 2024 tournament.

His father, Takatōriki, has critically remarked on Ōhō's mental aspect, suggesting he is "too kind" (人間が優しい_{ningen ga yasashī}^Japanese) after Ōhō fell behind Kotoshōhō in the Ōzeki promotion race. Musashimaru, in September 2024, acknowledged Ōhō's early tournament struggles but noted a significant improvement in his 腰_koshi^Japanese (hips), indicating a heavier, more stable lower body. Takatōriki also revealed that Ōhō, at age six, had a body fat percentage exceeding 60%, leading to fatty liver and circulatory issues. He credited Ōhō's six years at Saitama Sakae Middle and High School, with its vegetable-centered diet, for reducing his body fat to the 20% range. However, Takatōriki also observed that Saitama Sakae-trained wrestlers, including Ōhō, tend to lack "core strength" and have "stiff hip joints," hinting at potential areas for physical training improvement.

4.1. Interests and Hobbies

Ōhō is widely known as a "grandpa's boy" (おじいちゃん子_ojiichan-ko^Japanese) and is deeply respectful of his maternal grandfather, Taihō. According to reports, he makes it a point to visit his grandfather's grave without fail after each tournament. When his promotion to Jūryō was announced, he reported the news to Taihō's grave. Similarly, upon his Makuuchi debut for the January 2022 tournament, he again visited his grandfather's grave to share the news. In December 2020, during a visit to the Taihō Sumo Memorial Hall in Teshikaga Town, Hokkaido (his grandfather's hometown), Ōhō expressed his aspiration to become a wrestler deserving of his own memorial hall one day.

According to his official profile on the Japan Sumo Association's website, Ōhō's favorite foods are fruit and 唐揚げ_karaage^Japanese (Japanese-style fried chicken). His primary hobby is reading manga, with his favorite series being One Piece. He also enjoys watching the television show Ametalk!. In 2023, for a Tanabata (Star Festival) event, he wrote "Pokéka" on his wish strip, referencing the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which was experiencing a surge in demand and product shortages at the time. In August 2024, during a summer regional tour, Ōhō mentioned the challenges of getting practice bouts in large tour groups, stating that he rarely gets chosen, unlike in his smaller stable of eleven members.

5.1. Major Awards and Achievements

• Sanshō (Special Prizes):** 1
  • Technique Prize: 1 (January 2025 tournament)
• Kinboshi (Gold Stars):** 1
  • Against Terunofuji: 1 (March 2024 tournament)
• Division Championships:** 1
  • Jonokuchi: 1 (March 2018 tournament)

5.2. Career Record

Ōhō Kōnosuke's professional career record as of the January 2025 tournament is 268 wins and 211 losses over 42 tournaments. His Makuuchi division record stands at 138 wins and 132 losses over 18 tournaments.

5.3. Match-up Records Against Key Opponents

As of the January 2025 tournament, Ōhō has developed significant rivalries and notable records against high-ranking active and retired wrestlers. His overall performance against San'yaku or higher-ranked opponents in 2024 was 14 wins and 15 losses (winning percentage of 0.483), the highest among Maegashira-ranked wrestlers, with a remarkable 5 wins and 1 loss (winning percentage of 0.833) in the final match of the day.

• Against active Yokozuna and Ōzeki (as of Jan 2025):**
  • Hōshōryū** (Yokozuna): 3 wins, 3 losses. After Hōshōryū's promotion to Ōzeki, Ōhō's record is 2 wins, 3 losses. He has one loss in a championship playoff against Hōshōryū.
  • Kotozakura** (Ōzeki): 2 wins, 5 losses. After Kotozakura's promotion to Ōzeki, Ōhō's record is 2 wins, 3 losses.
  • Ōnosato** (Ōzeki): 1 win, 3 losses. After Ōnosato's promotion to Ōzeki, Ōhō's record is 1 win, 1 loss.
  • Against former Ōzeki (currently active Sekitori):**
    • Takayasu**: 0 wins, 3 losses. All bouts occurred after Takayasu's Ōzeki demotion.
    • Asanoyama**: 0 wins, 3 losses. All bouts occurred after Asanoyama's Ōzeki demotion.
    • Mitakeumi**: 1 win, 1 loss. Both bouts occurred after Mitakeumi's Ōzeki demotion.
    • Shōdai**: 2 wins, 3 losses. All bouts occurred after Shōdai's Ōzeki demotion.
    • Kirishima**: 2 wins, 3 losses. His record against Kirishima while Kirishima was Ōzeki is 1 win, 1 loss.
    • Against retired Yokozuna and Ōzeki:**
      • Terunofuji** (former Yokozuna, retired in 2024): 1 win, 0 losses. Ōhō secured a kinboshi in his first and only bout against Terunofuji in March 2024.
      • Tochinoshin** (former Ōzeki): 1 win, 0 losses.
      • Takakeishō** (former Ōzeki): 1 win, 2 losses. Ōhō's victory in September 2024 was Takakeishō's final professional bout. His record against Takakeishō while Takakeishō was Ōzeki is 0 wins, 2 losses.
      • Makuuchi Head-to-Head Records:**

      The following table details Ōhō's Makuuchi match-up records against other wrestlers, as of the January 2025 tournament. Figures in parentheses denote wins/losses by default. Wrestlers whose names are in bold are currently active Sekitori.
      
      

      Rikishi Name	Wins	Losses	Rikishi Name	Wins	Losses	Rikishi Name	Wins	Losses	Rikishi Name	Wins	Losses
      Aoyama	4	2	Tenkūkai	0	1	Asanoyama	0	3	Azumaryū	2	1
      Atamifuji	4	2	Abi	3	1	Ishiura	0	1	Ichiyamamoto	3	2
      Ura	2	6	Endō	1	2	Ōshōma	1	1	Abukuma	1	0
      Abishū	4	3	Ōnosato	1	3	Okinoumi	1	0	Kaisei	1	0
      Kagayaki	3	2	Kitanowaka	2	0	Kirishima	2	3	Kinbōzan	2	1
      Araoiyama	1	0	Gōnoyama	0	2	Kotoekō	4(1)	4	Kotozakura	2	5
      Kotoshōhō	6(1)	3	Sadanoumi	5	6	Shōdai	2	3	Shōnanoumi	0	2
      Ōami	0	1	Daieishō	4	2	Takakeishō	1	2	Takanoshō	5	2
      Takayasu	0	3	Hōfuji	4	2	Tamawashi	3	4	Minaminoumi	2	1
      Chiyoshōma	2	0	Chiyotaikai	2	0	Chiyomaru	1	2	Kenshō	5	1
      Terutsuyoshi	3	0	Terunofuji	1	0	Higashihakuryū	0	1	Tochinoshin	1	0
      Shōnanōzaru	3	3	Tomokaze	2	0	Nishikigi	2	2	Nishikifuji	3	3
      Hiradoumi	5	6	Bushōyama	2	1	Hōshōryū	3	3	Kitaōhō	2	2
      Hokutofuji	0	3	Mitakeumi	1	1	Mitoryū	0	4	Midorigi	4	2
      Myōgiryū	6	1	Meisei	0	4	Toyoyama	3	1	Ryūden	2	3
      Rōga	1	0	Wakatakakage	1	2	Wakamotoharu	2	6

      • Note: There is an additional loss to Hōshōryū in a championship playoff not reflected in the main head-to-head record.*

6.1. History of Shikona Changes

• Naya Kōnosuke** (納谷 幸之介^Japanese): January 2018 tournament - November 2020 tournament
• Ōhō Kōnosuke** (王鵬 幸之介^Japanese): January 2021 tournament - Present