Identify rikishi please

[Carmen 1]

Does anyone know who this sumo wrestler is? He allowed us to take his picture and I'm trying to find out who he 8s and what division he is in. Thank you in advance.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

I don't suppose you have an idea of where you were when you took the photo? Geographical proximity would suggest some heya over others.

[Carmen 1]

It was the November or December 2016 in Fukuoka 

[sumojoann 1,263]

It looks to me like he's wearing a silk yukata, so that would put him in Makuuchi or Juryo.  Since he doesn't look familiar to me, I'm thinking he must be/or was in Juryo at that time.

[Carmen 1]

I looked at the pictures on the Nihon Sumo roster but he doesn't appear there. Does anyone know if there's somewhere else to look?

[sumojoann 1,263]

2 minutes ago, Carmen said:

I looked at the pictures on the Nihon Sumo roster but he doesn't appear there. Does anyone know if there's somewhere else to look?

Right now, I've pulled out an old sumo program from the Hatsu (Jan) 2017 honbasho and am looking in Juryo to see if I can spot him.  Not easy because all of the rikishi are crouched down with fierce looks on their faces! lol  Just when I think I've found him, I look at the name and it's someone whose name I recognize and it's not your rikishi.  I can't find a sumo program from the Fukuoka honbasho for 2016 but I don't have all the Fukuoka programs.  If you find someone who has the 2016 Fukuoka program, maybe they can help.

[Carmen 1]

Thank you so much for your trouble. I appreciate it.

[sumojoann 1,263]

1 hour ago, Carmen said:

Thank you so much for your trouble. I appreciate it.

I haven't given up yet.  I found the banzuke for the 2016 Kyushu honbasho on Sumo Forum.  I recognize the names (and know the faces) of most of the rikishi in Juryo from that time.  However, there are a few whose faces I can't recall even though the names are familiar.  I will list those that I'm not sure of.  (Sorry but I'm too tired to look for more sumo programs around that time period).  Here's the link .  http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/35833-banzuke-kyushu-2016/?tab=comments#comment-317559

When you click on the link, scroll to kuroimori's post that lists the JURYO rikishi.  The following are the rikishi whose faces I can't clearly recall -- Sato, Kitaharima, Asasekiryu, Daishoho and Oyanagi.  Also check out Akua.  (He's in Makuuchi now but I can't recall his face).  All the others on the list are accounted for & they definitely are not your rikishi.

Other people on the forum can probably eliminate most of the names I listed.  Then you can check the remaining ones out by entering their name in the Search box at the top right (one name at a time) followed by the word "pic" and see if a photo comes up.  Or do a general Google search for their name (and add the word "photo" to your search).  Or check out Youtube to see if any of their bouts were uploaded.  Good luck!

Edited May 30, 2021 by sumojoann

[Carmen 1]

SumoJoann,

I'm the biggest bimbo. I'm hoping it doesn't make any difference, but my daughter just told me it was Nov 2015 that we went to the tournament!! I do have to say the guy in my pic is sooo young. He looks like a 17 yr old. I've searched all those names. No luck. Thank you again. I sure gave you a part-time job!

[Yamanashi 3,788]

He looks a little like Wakanoshima, but W would have been 31 when the picture was taken (2015).

[Morning 75]

He looks closer to 31 than 17 to me.

But I'd say our suspect has a rounder head shape.

Wakanoshima:

http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataRikishi/profile/2248/

[Asashosakari 19,038]

My ability to recognize faces is famously questionable, but is it Asabenkei? @Naganoyama's collection of his profile pictures for comparison (hope it's okay if I'm hotlinking):
 

Edited May 30, 2021 by Asashosakari

[Nantonoyama 248]

Facial features do match, nov 2015 was his very first tournament in the salaried ranks, so it fits the silk yutaka. He was 26 back then, which is credible by the picture. I think Asashosakari's guess is correct.

[sumojoann 1,263]

That fifth photo from the left looks especially like him.  I too think you are correct.

[Carmen 1]

Thank you Asashosakari and Nantonoyama,

I'm not that great and seeing age progression, but thank you both. I watched a few old matches on YouTube and still don't see the resemblance and he seems much smaller than in person. 

[Yamanashi 3,788]

One of the standout features in your photo is his ear: a distinctive bi-lobe shape.  Most of Asabenkei's photos didn't show his ears in profile, but I found this picture.

https://sumowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Asabenkei_Daikichi?file=Asabenkei_showing_off_an_illustration_made_of_him.jpg

Strangely, his ear in the photo doesn't look quite right, but the caricature's ears looked perfect!

[Carmen 1]

Yamanashi,

I saw that earlier this afternoon. So interesting. I'm still not quite seeing the resemblance but I see what you mean about the ear. He just looks so young in my picture. I can't quite make the leap.

[Carmen 1]

We've been looking at all the pics online and the one where he is posing with the caricature. The ear on the one I submitted does not remotely resemble the ear in the other pics, nor the lip shape or hairline. Perhaps he will rise in 5he tanks and I'll get to see him on tv.

[sumojoann 1,263]

I wasn't able to view the photo of Asabenkei holding the caricature of himself (my laptop is very old), so I wasn't able to see for myself.  However, there are a LOT of Youtube videos.  All I had time for was one so I choose this one with Hoshoryu.  I froze the picture at 00:21 to get a look at Asabenkei's right ear and I do NOT see a resemblance.  His earlobe looks normal-sized.  HOWEVER, is it possible that in the picture you (Carmen) submitted, that his earlobe had recently been injured and was just badly swollen?  And maybe the caricature was just making fun of his swollen ear?  THAT could account for the other pictures in which his earlobe looked normal.  You indicated that he seemed larger in person.  His stats show that he's 6 ft 3 inches so even though he's obviously gained weight over the years (he's now 439 lbs), he would definitely have appeared big and tall to you even back in 2015.  In the age-progression pictures submitted by @Asashosakari , the pictures from around 2015 show a remarkable resemblance to the picture you submitted.  I think it is Asabenkei and he had a swollen earlobe from an injury.

[sumojoann 1,263]

Now I'm wavering.  If you click on the 8th pic & click 2 more times, until it's blown up to it's maximum size, you'll get a better look at his features (focus on the 2015 & 2016 pics).  The tip of Asabenkei's nose looks broader and more rounded than the rikishi in Carmen's pic.  I'm undecided about the hairline because the rikishi in Carmen's pic has his head slightly tilted upwards so you can't see it clearly to make the comparison.

Edited May 31, 2021 by sumojoann

[Carmen 1]

The ear is so different at the top. It has a curve in the right picture...I don't think this is the same person. But I am  interested in when rikishi wear silk or cotton yukata. I would think juniors wear cotton bc silk is more expensive. If anyone knows, curious about this 

[sumojoann 1,263]

Yes, only the top 2 divisions, Makuuchi and Juryo, wear silk.  The bottom 4 divisions wear cotton.

[sumojoann 1,263]

Here's your homework.  Following is the link to the Kyushu/Fukuoka Nov 2015 Banzuke.  Scroll down to Gurowake's post and look at the list of JURYO rikishi.  Check them all out (I suggest Youtube).  Maybe you'll find your guy.  I'll let you do all the work this time!  http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/34529-kyushu-2015-banzuke/?tab=comments#comment-289368

 

Edited May 31, 2021 by sumojoann

[Carmen 1]

Yes, I will do my homework! Thank you Sensei!

[sumojoann 1,263]

Okay, Carmen, I guess I'm like an old dog with a bone.  Can't let go.  Once my chores were done, I was back at it and I think I have finally solved it.  The rikishi is Tokushinho.  He retired in June 2020 because the Banzuke in May 2020 had him demoted to Sandanme.  The Nov 2015 basho you saw him at was his last basho as a Juryo rikishi, and he went steadily downhill after that.  He never reached the top division, Makuuchi.  Now that he's retired, you won't find him on any databases that only show currently active rikishi.  That's why you couldn't find him on the NSK roster.  The pic I've posted below was taken in Sept 2010, approx 5 years before your pic.  You can see that he looks almost the same except for his giant earlobe, which I believe is a "cauliflower ear/earlobe".  This is caused by sports trauma and many wrestlers have them.  This is not a natural condition.  You'll notice he didn't have the "cauliflower ear/earlobe" in 2010.  You can see in both pictures he has small observant eyes, average distance apart, a short refined nose, distance from the bottom of his nose to his upper lip is the same in both pictures, same vertical crease between his nose and upper lip, same thin lips, eyebrows are thick only 2/3rds of the way & then thin out, top of ear is rounded and is even with eyebrows.  His hairline has receded slightly since 2010.  He has aged well as many Asian people do.  He is 6 ft 4 inches tall and at his peak, he weighed 494 lbs (a huge guy!).  After retiring, he intended to return to Asahi University as a staff member.  If you return to Japan one day and intend to stalk him --- er, look him up! lol -- you might find him at the university.  Check out wikipedia for his bio.  Here's his pic from Sept 2010 --

Edited June 1, 2021 by sumojoann