Ura Kazuki
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Ura Kazuki | |
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宇良 和輝 | |
Personal information | |
Born | Kazuki Ura 22 June 1992 Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan |
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Weight | 143 kg (315 lb) |
Career | |
Stable | Kise |
University | Kwansei Gakuin University |
Current rank | see below |
Debut | March 2015 |
Highest rank | Komusubi (January, 2024) |
Championships | 1 Juryo 2 Sandanme 1 Jonidan 1 Jonokuchi |
Special Prizes | 1 Technique |
Gold Stars | 2 Harumafuji Terunofuji |
* Up to date as of 25 December 2023. |
Medal record | ||
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Men's Sumo | ||
Representing Japan | ||
World Combat Games | ||
2013 St. Petersburg | Lightweight |
Ura Kazuki (
Ura's highest rank has been komusubi, which he achieved in January 2024. His unpredictable style has made him a favourite with tournament crowds.[1]
Amateur career
While attending the School of Education, Kwansei Gakuin University, Ura was a member of the sumo club.[2] He competed in sumo at the 2013 World Combat Games at Saint Petersburg, Russia, winning a gold medal in the lightweight division.[2]
Professional career
Debut and early success
In February 2015, he announced his intention to enter the Kise stable as a professional sumo wrestler,[2] and after his first bouts in March, made his tournament debut in the May basho, winning the jonokuchi division.[3] He again performed well in the July tournament, posting a 7–0 record and losing a playoff for the jonidan division championship. After going 5–2 in the sandamne division in September, he finished the year with a 7–0 record as a makushita debutante, again losing a division championship playoff in November.
Ura began 2016 with a 6–1 record and another makushita playoff loss in January. Also going 6–1 in March, he was promoted to jūryō for the next tournament. In recognition of becoming the first among their alumni to achieve sekitori (the two highest divisions in sumo) rank, he was given a keshō-mawashi by Kwansei Gakuin University.[4] He finished the May tournament 10–5 and with a 11–4 finish in the July tournament, he entered the September event as the top-ranked jūryō, but he went 6–9, his first losing record, having fractured a bone in his left wrist that required post-tournament surgery.[5] On his return, he posted a 8–7 record in the November tournament.
His overall 11–4 record in the January 2017 tournament led to his promotion to the top makuuchi division and a rank of maegashira 12. In March 2017, before a home crowd in
Injury problems and returns
Ura withdrew from the summer regional tour that followed the July 2017 tournament, citing damaged right knee ligaments, and indicated he would need a month's rest to recover.[8] He returned for the September tournament, but exacerbated his injury on the second day and was forced to withdraw,[9] with reports indicating a right knee anterior cruciate ligament injury and a left knee meniscus injury that would require surgery.[10] With the subsequent extended rehabilitation,[11] he only returned to the competition a year later at the September 2018 contest, having dropped three divisions in the rankings to near the bottom of sandanme. In this tournament he went 6–1 to stop his slide, and followed that with an undefeated 7–0 record and sandamne division championship in the November 2018 tournament. This returned him to makushita for the January 2019 contest, but he re-injured his right-knee ligament on a day 10 bout against future top-division man, Hōshōryū, withdrawing from the remainder of the tournament.[12]
He underwent surgery again in late February 2019, requiring another extended recovery period, before returning to gain 4 additional wins.
Ura won the jūryō championship in May 2021 with a 12–3 record, ensuring his return to makuuchi after 21 tournaments away. He now holds the record for the lowest rank reached before a successful makuuchi return (jonidan 106 West).[17]
Return to top division
Ura began the July 2021 tournament ranked at maegashira 13, and after a 10–5 record rose to maegashira 6 for September. In a tournament that included a pairing that matched him against fellow top division returnee and newly-promoted yokozuna Terunofuji, he finished 7-8. He then opened the November tournament one rank lower at maegashira 7. In this tournament he produced a 10–5 record and won his first special prize, for Technique,[18] and as a consequence surpassing his pre-injury highest rank, opening the January 2022 tournament at maegashira 2 and again achieving a winning record of 8–7. At maegashira 1 in March, he finished 4–11, dropping him to maegashira 6. In the May 2022 tournament, Ura's record after the 13th day stood at 9–4, just one win behind three leaders tied on 10–3, but he withdrew from the tournament on Day 14 with a left ankle injury.[19]
In the September 2022 tournament, Ura stood out by winning his fourth day with a rare Tsutaezori kimarite and earned his second kinboshi when he defeated yokozuna Terunofuji on the sixth day.[20] In the November tournament Ura ended with a 4–11 record.[21]
In the January 2023 tournament Ura finished with a 7–8 record.[22] In the March tournament Ura secured a 9–6 record.[23]
San'yaku promotion
Following an 8-win record at the top maegashira rank in November 2023, Ura was promoted to komusubi, reaching san'yaku for the first time in his career. Ura said after the promotion that he was happy, adding that he thought he would never make it to the komusubi rank. He became the first former top-division competitor in the history of sumo to reach san'yaku after being demoted to jonidan.[24] Ura finished the tournament 6–9, however, beating Ryūden on the final day using the rare winning technique tsutaezori ('underarm forward body drop').[25]
Ura was demoted to maegashira 1. During the next tournament, in March, Ura stood out in the first week by beating three of the then four ōzeki (Hōshōryū, Kirishima, Kotonowaka).[26][27][28]
Style
When he first entered the professional ranks Ura's weight was listed as 113 kg (249 lb),
Ura is predominantly a pusher, but the unpredictability of his improvisational style that responds to opponents' moves has made him popular.
Career record
Year | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
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2015 | x | (Maezumo) | West Jonokuchi #9 7–0 Champion |
East Jonidan #10 7–0–P |
West Sandanme #18 5–2 |
West Makushita #54 7–0–P |
2016 | West Makushita #6 6–1–P |
West Makushita #2 6–1 |
West Jūryō #13 10–5 |
West Jūryō #8 11–4 |
East Jūryō #1 6–9 |
East Jūryō #5 8–7 |
2017 | East Jūryō #3 11–4 |
West Maegashira #12 8–7 |
West Maegashira #10 11–4 |
East Maegashira #4 7–8 ★ |
West Maegashira #4 1–2–12 |
West Maegashira #16 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
2018 | East Jūryō #11 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
West Makushita #10 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
West Makushita #50 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
West Sandanme #30 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
East Sandanme #91 6–1 |
East Sandanme #33 7–0 Champion |
2019 | West Makushita #23 2–3–2 |
West Makushita #36 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
West Sandanme #16 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
West Sandanme #76 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
West Jonidan #36 Sat out due to injury 0–0–7 |
West Jonidan #106 6–1 |
2020 | East Jonidan #28 7–0–P Champion |
West Sandanme #30 7–0–P Champion |
East Makushita #19 Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 |
East Makushita #19 6–1 |
West Makushita #5 6–1 |
East Jūryō #13 9–6 |
2021 | East Jūryō #10 10–5 |
East Jūryō #7 10–4–1 |
East Jūryō #2 12–3 Champion |
West Maegashira #13 10–5 |
East Maegashira #6 7–8 |
East Maegashira #7 10–5 T |
2022 | East Maegashira #2 8–7 |
West Maegashira #1 4–11 |
East Maegashira #6 9–5–1 |
West Maegashira #3 7–8 |
West Maegashira #3 8–7 ★ |
East Maegashira #3 4–11 |
2023 | West Maegashira #7 7–8 |
West Maegashira #8 9–6 |
East Maegashira #4 7–8 |
West Maegashira #4 7–8 |
West Maegashira #4 9–6 |
West Maegashira #1 8–7 |
2024 | West Komusubi #1 6–9 |
East Maegashira #1 6–9 |
x | x | x | x |
Record given as wins–losses–absencies Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Playoff (s)Divisions: Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Maegashira |
See also
- Glossary of sumo terms
- List of active sumo wrestlers
- List of active gold star earners
- List of sumo tournament second division champions
References
- ^ a b Miki, Shuji (5 May 2017). "SUMO ABC (50) / Do rikishi from the college ranks ever shine in the top ranks?". The Japan News. Yomiuri Shimbun. Tokyo.
- ^ a b c "First sumo wrestler from KGU to turn professional!" (Press release). Kwansei Gakuin University Public Relations Office. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Kangakudai Shūshin Hatsu no Rikishi, Ura ga Jonokuchi Yūshō 「Shinjirarenai. Sunao ni Yorokobitai」" 関学大出身初の力士, 宇良が序ノ口優勝 「信じられない。素直に喜びたい」 [Ura, the first professional sumo wrestler to come out of Kwansei Gakuin University, wins the Jonokuchi championship. Says "It's unbelievable" and that "I just want to enjoy the moment".]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ "KGU's first sumo wrestler Ura presented with a kesho-mawashi (ceremonial apron)" (Press release). Kwansei Gakuin University Public Relations Office. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "宇良11勝も三賞逃す…取り口技能でなく異能扱い" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "宇良が骨折手術、秋場所で左手甲痛め秋巡業全休へ" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ "Hakuho equals legendary yokozuna Chiyonofuji with 1,045th career victory". Japan Times. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- ^ "宇良が夏巡業から離脱…右膝の外側靱帯を痛める" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ "Sumo: Ozeki Takayasu, maegashira Ura withdraw from Autumn tourney". The Mainichi. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ "九州場所、鶴竜、貴ノ岩ら4人が休場" (in Japanese). Hochi. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ "宇良6場所連続休場 木瀬親方は万全の状態での再起強調「2度と同じケガはさせたくない」" (in Japanese). daily.co.jp. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ "Absent Rikishi Information". Japan Sumo Association. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019.
- ^ ""業師"宇良が右膝再手術 靱帯断裂、長期離脱へ 木瀬親方「完璧にして戻す」" (in Japanese). Sanspo. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "2020 November Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "SUMO/ Small vs. small matchup comes up big with the spectators". Asahi Shimbun. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "宇良11日目から再出場 炎鵬戦で左ふくらはぎ負傷". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "2021 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji secures 1st perfect record to celebrate 6th title". Kyodo News. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Title-chasing Ura forced to pull out of sumo tourney with ankle injury". Japan Times. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Sumo: Tamawashi Hokutofuji stay perfect as Terunofuji falls again". Kyodo News. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Chifuri, Hiromitsu (26 December 2022). "2022 Kyushu Basho Results". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ Chifuri, Hiromitsu (20 February 2023). "2023 New Year Basho Results". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ Premselaar, Alan (18 January 2013). "Sumo Daily Bouts". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "宇良が念願の新三役に「なれないと思っていた。自分でも不思議。うれしいです」と感慨" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ "宇良が伝え反り 結び3番前に豪快な技で場内を沸かせる" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "宇良ご当所沸かせた"銀星"発進「一番一番頑張りたい」大関豊昇龍破り地元大阪のファンは大歓声" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "宇良が大関霧島を突き落として銀星「覚えてないです。無我夢中で」初日の豊昇龍戦に続く大関撃破" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "宇良、琴ノ若を肩透かし3大関撃破 地元大阪のファンから大歓声「声援を感じる余裕がない」とがむしゃら" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Gould, Chris (4 May 2017). "A New Champion Appears: A Japanese sumo wrestler reclaims the grand title". Tokyo: MetropolisJapan.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Shoji, Kaori (7 November 2016). "Strength and tradition draw women back to sumo world". Tokyo: The Japan News.
- ^ Shearing, Hazel (13 November 2016). "Sumo throws a wobbly as young stars ditch tradition". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Grand Sumo Summer Tournament – Day 10". GettyImages. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Sumo: Juryo wrestler Ura employs another rare technique". GettyImages. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "玉垣親方「おっ」目の前で宇良が弟子に居反りも感慨". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 18 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "珍手「後ろもたれ」で9勝目の宇良、場内どよめきと拍手 それでも「自分の思惑通りでは…」(Ura's 9th win with the rare hand "back leaning", screaming and applauding in the hall)". Sponichi (in Japanese). 21 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "宇良が幕内25年ぶりの「頭捻り」で白星 翔猿との"業師"対決制す「また一つ伝説を作る」「魅せる相撲」". Sports Hochi. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Sumo reference".
External links
- Ura Kazuki's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage
- Wrestlers to Watch: Ura at NHK World
- NHK Sumopedia: Mawashi (prominently featuring Ura)
- NHK Sumopedia: Tasuki-zori/Reverse backwards body drop (opens with Ura performing rare technique)
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