Gōnoyama Tōki

Gōnoyama Tōki (Japanese: 豪ノ山 登輝, born April 07, 1998, as Nishikawa Tōki ( 西川 登輝)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Neyagawa, Osaka. Wrestling for Takekuma stable, he made his professional debut in March 2021. He reached the second-highest jūryō division in July 2022. His highest rank has been jūryō 1.

Gōnoyama Tōki
豪ノ山 登輝
Personal information
BornNishikawa Tōki
(1998-04-07) April 7, 1998
Neyagawa, Osaka
Japan Japan
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Weight155 kg (342 lb; 24 st 6 lb)
Career
StableSakaigawa → Takekuma
UniversityChuo University
Current ranksee below
DebutMarch, 2021
Highest rankJuryo 1 (May, 2023)
Championships1 (Makushita)
* Up to date as of 8 May 2023.

Early life and sumo background

Gōnoyama started sumo by chance in kindergarten because his parents wanted him to play a sport. While at Keimei Elementary School in Neyagawa, Osaka, he participated for three consecutive years in the Wanpaku Sumo Tournament and the All Japan Elementary School Sumo Championship.[1] During that time he particularly enjoyed a visit to Sakaigawa stable.[2] At that time, the wrestlers he admired the most were Toyohibiki and Gōeidō. Takakeishō, two years his senior, also played a big role in his ambition to one day turn professional by helping him, when they were both children, to train.[2] Gōnoyama attended Neyagawa Shiritsu Daikyu Junior High School, then followed Takakeishō to Saitama Sakae High School and graduated Chuo University's Faculty of Law. By his fourth year, he was captain of his university's sumo club and he also finished runner-up at the National Student Championships. After graduating from college, Nishikawa opted to turn pro and joined Sakaigawa stable.

Career

Early life and career

He made his professional debut in March 2021 as a deshi of fellow Neyagawa native and former ōzeki Gōeidō. Due to his amateur achievements, Gōnoyama was allowed to enter professional sumo at the rank of sandanme tsukedashi, alongside fellow collegiate standout and Chu-Dai teammate Tochimusashi. At that time he was fighting under his legal name Nishikawa Tōki. In his first tournament, Gōnoyama remained undefeated until his final match, including with a win over Tochimusashi[3] however, he failed to claim the championship after losing to Fukushima by disqualification as he had pulled his topknot.[4] He then followed with another strong 6-1 record and was promoted to makushita in July 2021. In November 2021, Gōnoyama withdrew from the tournament due to a neck injury[5] and was demoted to makushita 35 in January 2022. In his return, Gōnoyama defeated former komusubi Ryūden on the final day to win the makushita championship with a perfect 7-0 record.[6] In February 2022, he transferred to the recently opened Takekuma stable, founded by former ōzeki Gōeidō.[7] He followed this with two 4-3 records and was promoted to jūryō in July 2022.[8]

Jūryō Career

Upon his promotion to jūryō, he was given the new shikona, or ring name, Gōnoyama (豪ノ山) inspired by the first kanji from his master's own ring name. During his first tournament, he finished with an 8-7 record. During the March 2023 tournament, Gōnoyama achieved 11 wins and inflicted his only defeat on Ichinojō, the jūryō champion.[9]

Fighting style

Gōnoyama is a tsuki and oshi specialist, which means he relies on thrusting and pushing techniques to defeat his opponents rather than belt-wrestling. By far the most common of his winning techniques is oshidashi which accounts for 42% of his wins.[10] His style was compared by his master Gōeido to that of former ōzeki Dejima Takeharu.[2]

Career record
Gōnoyama Tōki[11]
Year in sumo January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
2021 x Sandanme tsukedashi #100
6–1
 		 East Sandanme #39
6–1
 		 West Makushita #52
5–2
 		 East Makushita #36
5–2
 		 West Makushita #21
2–3–2
 
2022 East Makushita #35
7–0
Champion
 		 East Makushita #3
4–3
 		 West Makushita #1
4–3
 		 West Jūryō #14
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #12
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #14
9–6
 
2023 East Jūryō #10
9–6
 		 East Jūryō #6
11–4
 		 East Jūryō #1
–
 		 x x x
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

References
  1. "Haru Basho all new recruits list". ベースボール・マガジン社 (in Japanese) (2021年4月号): 108. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  2. Iizuka, Saki (8 May 2023). "11 wins at the Osaka tournament Gonoyama's strong start and his true character - his mentor, former ozeki Goeido, is also a taiko drummer" (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. "Nishikawa defeats Kanno "I'm glad I won" junior high school graduate confrontation" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  4. "Nishikawa misses all wins with topknot grabbing "Indescribable feeling"" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  5. "Detailed Report on the Joy of Winning Wrestlers in Each division under Juryo". ベースボール・マガジン社 (in Japanese) (2022年2月号): 68. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  6. "Makushita Nishikawa defeats, Ryuden, San'yaku veteran, wins his first divisional championship" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  7. "Former Ozeki Goeido gains approval to branch out and open independent Takekuma Stable" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  8. "Makushita's leader Nishikawa makes a big step forward to juryo with a win "I was more enthusiastic than usual" Sumo summer venue" (in Japanese). Daily Sports. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  9. "Gōnoyama Tōki (Haru 2023)". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  10. "Japan Sumo Association Official Website Gonoyama profile" (in Japanese). sumo.or.jp.
  11. "Gōnoyama Tōki Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference.


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