Former sekiwake Okinoumi announced his competitive retirement Saturday after pulling out of the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
The 37-year-old withdrew Friday from the 15-day meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan, where he was competing as a No. 12 maegashira, after opening with five straight losses.
He will remain attached to the Hakkaku sumo stable as an instructor, taking on the elder name Kimigahama.
Okinoumi is pictured on the fifth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 12, 2023. (Kyodo)
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A native of Shimane Prefecture, Okinoumi began competing out of high school in 2005 and debuted in the elite makuuchi division in March 2010.
Known for his 190-centimeter height and good looks, he became particularly popular among sumo's young women fans.
He was promoted to sekiwake in March 2015, becoming the first wrestler from his western Japan prefecture to attain sumo's third-highest rank in 121 years.
He contested 75 tournaments in the top division, including eight as a member of the distinguished "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
The 37-year-old withdrew Friday from the 15-day meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan, where he was competing as a No. 12 maegashira, after opening with five straight losses.
He will remain attached to the Hakkaku sumo stable as an instructor, taking on the elder name Kimigahama.
Okinoumi is pictured on the fifth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 12, 2023. (Kyodo)
Related coverage:
Sumo: Takakeisho beats Abi, creating 8-way logjam atop leaderboard
Sumo: Takayasu, Okinoumi withdraw from New Year meet
A native of Shimane Prefecture, Okinoumi began competing out of high school in 2005 and debuted in the elite makuuchi division in March 2010.
Known for his 190-centimeter height and good looks, he became particularly popular among sumo's young women fans.
He was promoted to sekiwake in March 2015, becoming the first wrestler from his western Japan prefecture to attain sumo's third-highest rank in 121 years.
He contested 75 tournaments in the top division, including eight as a member of the distinguished "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
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Summary
Retired sekiwake Okinoumi, 37, announced competitive retirement on Saturday after withdrawing from the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament due to five straight losses. He will continue as an instructor at Hakkaku stable under the elder name Kimigahama. A native of Shimane Prefecture, he started
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ID: 5122d694-60f8-4895-9b55-5f6f54f851e8
Category ID: kyodo
Created: 2023/01/14 16:07
Updated: 2025/12/09 09:02
Last Read: 2023/01/14 16:07