| 白鵬 翔 Hakuhō Shō |
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| Personal information | |
| Born | Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal March 11, 1985 Ulan Bator, Mongolia |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 153 kg (340 lb; 24.1 st) |
| Career | |
| Heya | Miyagino |
| Current rank | Yokozuna |
| Debut | March, 2001 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (May, 2007) |
| Yūshō | 21 (Makuuchi) 1 (Jūryō) |
| Sanshō | Outstanding Performance (3) Fighting Spirit (1) Technique (2) |
| Kinboshi | 1 (Asashōryū) |
| * Career information is correct as of Nov 2011. | |
Hakuhō Shō (白鵬翔, born March 11, 1985 as Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal, Mongolian: Мөнхбатын Даваажаргал) is a professional sumo wrestler (rikishi) from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. On May 30, 2007 at the age of 22 he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo, yokozuna. He has won twenty yusho or tournament championships to date. In 2009, he broke the record for the most wins in a calendar year, winning 86 out of 90 bouts. He became the only active yokozuna in 2010, following the retirement of his rival and fellow Mongolian Asashōryū. In that year he established the second longest winning streak in sumo history.
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Like many of his countrymen in professional sumo, Hakuhō belongs to a family in the Mongolian wrestling tradition. His father Jigjidiin Mönkhbat won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics,[1] and held the highest ranking in Mongolian wrestling, "Darkhan Avarga" (meaning "Invincible Giant"), which is the Mongolian equivalent of Yokozuna. Davaajargal did not however have any formal training in Mongolian wrestling himself, as his father wished him to try other sports, and he concentrated on basketball as a child instead.[1] However, at an early age he would be seen reading sumo magazines, and when his father asked him why he liked sumo so much, he responded by saying he wanted to be as big as a sumo wrestler one day. At that time he was considered below average in size.
He came to Japan in October 2000 when he was fifteen years old, invited by pioneering Mongolian rikishi Kyokushūzan.[2] Weighing only 62 kg (140 lb), no sumo training stable (heya) was prepared to accept him. Hearing this, Kyokushūzan asked heya master Miyagino Oyakata to intercede, and Davaajargal was accepted to Miyagino stable on the last day of his two-month stay in Japan, December 24, 2000. He was given the ring name (shikona) Hakuhō, with haku meaning "white" and hō, meaning the Chinese mythological bird Peng. His ring name was named after former yokozuna Taihō.[3]
Hakuhō made his professional debut at the March tournament (honbasho) in Osaka in 2001. Despite having no previous wrestling experience, as his weight increased he steadily rose in the ranks, reaching the second highest jūryō division in January 2004, and the top makuuchi division in May of the same year. In his very first top-division tournament, he scored twelve wins against three losses and was awarded a special prize (sanshō) for Fighting Spirit. He also enjoyed great success in subsequent tournaments, winning a gold star (kinboshi) for defeating Yokozuna Asashōryū in November 2004 while still at the lowest makuuchi rank of maegashira. This tournament also saw him finish as runner-up for the first time. He achieved a rapid promotion to the rank of komusubi in January 2005 and sekiwake only one tournament later. His progress was delayed by an injury which forced him to take leave (zen-kyu) from the Nagoya tournament in 2005.
Ōzeki promotion came in March 2006 after a 13-2 record, which included a playoff for the championship (which he lost to Asashōryū) and also earned him two special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Technique.[4] This gave him a three tournament record of 35 wins against ten losses. His promotion was confirmed just a few weeks after his twenty-first birthday, making him the fourth youngest wrestler to reach ōzeki in modern sumo history.[5]
At his first tournament as ōzeki in May 2006, with Asashōryū absent, Hakuhō won his first championship (yūshō) with a 14-1 record, defeating Miyabiyama in another playoff.[5] After another strong performance (13-2) in July, in which he finished as runner-up to Asashōryū and defeated him on the final day, Hakuhō flirted with promotion to yokozuna,[6] but an uncharacteristically poor 8-7 showing in September shelved such early hopes.[7] An injury sustained in training prevented him from participating in the November tournament,[8] putting him at risk for demotion (kadoban) in January 2007, when he scored a respectable ten wins on his return to the ring.
In March 2007 Hakuhō won his second championship in Osaka[9] and a third championship in the very next tournament in May, with a perfect 15-0 record.[10] Winning two consecutive championships satisfies the de facto minimum requirements for promotion to the top rank in sumo. On the day following the tournament, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council unanimously recommended his promotion to yokozuna[11] which was formally announced by the Japan Sumo Association on May 30, 2007.[12] He performed his inaugural ring-entering ceremony (dohyo-iri) at the Meiji Shrine (in the lesser-used Shiranui style) on June 1. He performed the ceremony at the Kokugikan during Kyokushūzan's retirement ceremony (danpatsu-shiki) on June 2.[13]
Hakuhō's first tournament as a yokozuna was in July 2007. His 25 match winning streak was brought to an end by Kotomitsuki on the 10th day, and further losses to Kotoōshū and Chiyotaikai put him out of contention for the title. He finished the tournament with an 11-4 record.
Hakuhō's first tournament championship as a yokozuna came in September 2007 with a 13-2 record, triumphing over Chiyotaikai on the last day. His second title as a yokozuna, and fifth overall, came in the following tournament in November with a 12-3 score. He lost to Kotomitsuki on the final day but the championship had already been decided earlier in the day when his only challenger Chiyotaikai pulled out through injury. His yokozuna rival Asashōryū missed both these tournaments through suspension.
In the January 2008 tournament, he faced the returning Asashōryū on the final day with both wrestlers having a 13-1 score. In a bout lasting nearly a minute, Hakuho defeated Asashōryū, winning his 6th championship with a 14-1 record. In the March 2008 tournament the two yokozuna met once again to decide the title and this time Asashōryū got his revenge, with Hakuhō finishing as runner-up.
In the May 2008 tournament, he won his first nine consecutive bouts. On the 10th day, however, he lost to Ama for the fourth time in their last five meetings, injuring his ankle in the process. Subsequent losses to Kotoōshū (the eventual winner of the tournament) and Kotomitsuki put him out of contention for the championship. He finished on 11-4, losing to Asashōryū on the final day in a match that sparked controversy after the two yokozuna nearly came to blows when Asashōryū gave Hakuhō an extra shove after the bout was over.[14] Both wrestlers were given a warning over their conduct by the Japan Sumo Association.[14]
In July 2008, with Asashōryū pulling out through injury he won his seventh championship without a serious challenge, securing victory by the 13th day: the first time this had been achieved since January 2005.[15] He finished the tournament unbeaten; his second zensho-yusho. Although he lost on day five of the September tournament, he still dominated all other opponents and secured another championship on the 14th day.[16] He finished the tournament with a 14-1 record.
In the November tournament Hakuhō was once again the sole yokozuna participating. He lost his opening bout to Aminishiki and his 12th day bout to Ama, both opponents hailing from Isegahama stable. Both Hakuhō and Ama finished with a 13-2 record and the eventual play-off was won by Hakuhō, handing him his fourth yusho of the season and ninth in total.
In the January 2009 tournament Hakuhō defeated Asashōryū on the final day in their first meeting since May, handing his fellow yokozuna his first defeat of the tournament and leaving both men with identical 14-1 records. Hakuhō was however beaten in the subsequent playoff.[17] Hakuho defeated Asashōryū again in the March tournament, this time capping off an undefeated 15-0 championship, his third zensho-yusho and his tenth championship overall.
In May he extending his winning run to 33 regulation bouts, the best since Asashōryū's 35 in 2004, until he was defeated by Kotoōshū on Day 14. He recovered to beat Asashōryū on Day 15 to finish at 14-1, but he lost the playoff bout to Harumafuji who claimed his first championship.
In July he won his eleventh championship, finishing one win ahead of Kotoōshū with another 14-1 score. He almost pulled off his twelfth championship in the following September tournament. One win behind Asashōryū for most of the tournament after giving away his first kinboshi in a year (to Shōtenrō) he forced a playoff by beating his rival on the final day, but then lost in the succeeding playoff bout. This was a very similar scenario to his loss to Asashōryū in the preceding January tournament. Regardless of this loss, he still managed to become the first makuuchi wrestler ever to win fourteen or more bouts in five consecutive tournaments. He also became the first wrestler ever to lose three makuuchi playoffs in one year.[18] After the tournament he was diagnosed with ligament damage in his left elbow; however surgery was not required.[19]
On November 28, the fourteenth day of the Kyushu basho, he clinched his twelfth tournament championship and broke Asashōryū's 2005 record for most bouts won in a calendar year, which had stood at 84.[20] He defeated Asashōryū the following day to secure his fourth career zensho yusho and set his 2009 record total at 86 wins.[21] This was also his fourteenth consecutive yusho or jun-yusho (winner or runner-up) performance, another record.
In the opening tournament of the year Hakuhō's 30 bout winning streak was ended by Baruto on Day 7, and he suffered consecutive losses to ozeki Harumafuji and Kaiō on Days 12 and 13 to concede the title to Asashōryū by Day 14. He gained some consolation by beating his yokozuna rival for the seventh straight time in regulation bouts on the final day to finish the tournament on 12-3.
Hakuhō expressed his shock at the retirement of Asashōryū in February, following allegations his fellow yokozuna had assaulted a man in a drunken brawl outside a nightclub during the previous tournament. Fighting back tears he said, "I don't want to believe it. I was honoured to wrestle in the same era as him."[22] After getting ritually beaten by majestic Asashoryu earlier in his career, Hakuho came to completely dominate him, winning all of their last seven regulation matches (excluding two tournament-playoff defeats) and finishing with a 14-13 record over his greatest rival. [23]
He won the Osaka tournament in March with a perfect 15-0 record, his fifth undefeated score and thirteenth championship overall. After his victory he spoke of the extra pressure now that he was sumo's lone yokozuna and his relief at the win.[24]
Hakuhō wrapped up his fourteenth championship in May by Day 13 (his earliest yusho win since July 2008) and went on to record his sixth zensho-yusho, the first time he has achieved this in consecutive tournaments. With the win, he equalled the number of yusho won by yokozuna Wajima, and to commemorate this he switched to wearing Wajima's trademark gold coloured mawashi.[25]
In July 2010 a special committee reviewing the extent of illegal gambling within sumo revealed that Hakuhō had bet several tens of thousands of yen on hanafuda Japanese card games with his fellow wrestlers twice a year or so. However, the panel said that he would not be punished as it was not considered a serious offence.[26] He nonetheless appeared along with nearly 80 other wrestlers at a press conference and apologised to sumo fans for his actions.[27] On the 14th day of the Nagoya tournament he won his 46th consecutive bout, surpassing Taihō's 45, behind only Chiyonofuji's 53 and Futabayama's 69 as the longest winning run since the beginning of the Showa era. He clinched his fifteenth yusho on the same day, and on the final day he secured his third consecutive 15-0 record, the first wrestler ever to achieve this.[28] However, he did not receive the Emperor's Cup or any other trophy, as the Sumo Association decided to withdraw them in response to the gambling scandal.[29] Hakuhō commented, "I hope we will not have a tournament like this ever again."[29]
On Day 6 of the Aki basho in September he equalled the 53-bout winning streak of Chiyonofuji with a win over Kotoshogiku,[30] and surpassed it the following day by pushing out Kisenosato in front of the first sell-out crowd of the tournament so far.[31] He said afterwards that he felt "I really repaid my debt of gratitude" to the former Chiyonofuji.[31] He secured his fourth consecutive yusho on the fourteenth day when rank-and-filers Yoshikaze and Takekaze suffered defeats, and he moved to 14-0 (and 61 consecutive wins) by beating Kotooshu. Asked about Futabayama's record of 69 wins, set in the two tournament a year era from 1936 to 1939, he responded, "It is truly amazing that he was able to continue winning for almost three years."[32] Former Sumo Association Kitanoumi estimated that Hakuhō had a possibility of "about 80 percent" of breaking the record, which he would achieve on the eighth day of the November tournament.[32] Hakuhō wrapped up the Aki basho by defeating Harumafuji to achieve his fourth perfect record in a row. This was also his eighth zensho-yusho overall, equalling the record held jointly Futabayama and Taihō.[33]
On the first day of the November 2010 tournament, Hakuhō defeated Tochinoshin, tying the consecutive wins record of Tanikaze with 63.[34] However, on the following day his run was finally brought to an end when he was defeated by Kisenosato.[35] This was only the fifth time in his yokozuna career that Hakuhō has been defeated by a maegashira, and Kisenosato is the first to earn more than one kinboshi from him, having previously upset him in September 2008. However, Hakuho won all his remaining bouts and defeated maegashira Toyonoshima in a playoff to win the championship. He finished the year on 86 wins in regulation matches, equalling the record he set in 2009. At a press conference following his victory, he revealed that having his winning run halted before breaking Futabayama's record affected him so badly that he considered withdrawing from the tournament.[36]
On December 21 he was awarded the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize, receiving the Prime Minister's Trophy from Naoto Kan.[37]
In the January 2011 tournament in Tokyo he was surprisingly beaten by Kisenosato for the second time in a row but he secured his eighteenth championship on the fourteenth day. In doing so Hakuhō became only the third man after Taihō and Asashōryū to win six consecutive tournaments.[38]
During the May "technical examination tournament" Hakuhō notched up his 500th win in the top division, with a victory over Kitataiki on Day 5.[39] He achieved this total with the loss of just 99 top division bouts since his debut in May 2004 – a winning percentage of 83%.[39] He was defeated by Harumafuji on Day 13 but went on to win his seventh straight championship, equalling Asashoryu's record, despite losing to Kaio on the final day.[40]
Hakuho was defeated on the eleventh day of the July 2011 tournament by sekiwake Kotoshogiku and his quest for a record eighth straight yusho ended on Day 14 when he was beaten by Harumafuji to drop two wins behind. He also lost his final day match to Baruto to finish on 12-3, his poorest result since January 2010. Nevertheless it was still enough for runner-up honours, his twelfth.
He was defeated by Kisenosato for the third time in five meetings on Day 12 of the September tournament and then lost to Kotoshogiku for the second time in a row the following day. However he rallied to beat Baruto on Day 14 and then Harumafuji on the final day to clinch his twentieth tournament championship.[41] On November 25th 2011, he won his 21st tournament title in Fukuoka, moving to 13-0 with none of his rivals scoring better than 10-3.[42] He finished the tournament on 14-1, his only loss coming to Baruto on the final day.[43]
Hakuhō has a straightforward but effective style, reminiscent of yokozuna Takanohana.[44] He mostly employs yotsu-sumo or grappling techniques as opposed to thrusting. He says he does not have a special or favourite kimarite, and that "the only thing I am very good at is yorikiri (force-out)".[1] This technique, the most common kimarite in sumo, is used by Hakuhō to win 28% of his matches.[45] He favours the migi-yotsu position, meaning his right hand is inside and his left hand is outside his opponent's arms, and he has become famous for his left hand outside grip.[46] He also regularly employs uwate-nage, or outer-arm throw. While meeting foreign journalists in April 2009 Hakuhō said he was studying the techniques of the 35th Yokozuna Futabayama, a wrestler whom he greatly admires, in particular his approach to the tachi-ai or initial charge.[1]
In February 2007 Hakuhō married a 22 year-old woman, Sayoko Wada, then a university student and glamour model,[47] after a three-year relationship. The couple welcomed a daughter in May 2007 and a son in September 2008.[48] Their wedding ceremony took place at the Meiji Shrine.[49] His second daughter was born in January 2011.[38]
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | x | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #16 3–4 |
East Jonokuchi #18 5–2 |
East Jonidan #97 5–2 |
West Jonidan #55 4–3 |
| 2002 | East Jonidan #33 5–2 |
East Sandanme #98 6–1 |
East Sandanme #38 4–3 |
West Sandanme #23 3–4 |
West Sandanme #44 4–3 |
West Sandanme #28 4–3 |
| 2003 | East Sandanme #16 5–2 |
West Makushita #54 4–3 |
West Makushita #44 5–2 |
East Makushita #30 4–3 |
East Makushita #23 6–1 |
East Makushita #9 6–1 |
| 2004 | East Jūryō #12 9–6 |
West Jūryō #8 12–3–P Champion |
East Maegashira #16 12–3 F |
East Maegashira #8 11–4 |
East Maegashira #3 8–7 |
West Maegashira #1 12–3 O★ |
| 2005 | West Komusubi 11–4 T |
West Sekiwake 8–7 |
East Sekiwake 9–6 |
East Sekiwake 6–3–6 |
West Maegashira #1 9–6 |
West Komusubi 9–6 |
| 2006 | West Sekiwake 13–2 O |
East Sekiwake 13–2–P OT |
West Ōzeki 14–1–P |
East Ōzeki 13–2 |
East Ōzeki 8–7 |
Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
| 2007 | West Ōzeki 10–5 |
West Ōzeki 13–2–P |
East Ōzeki 15–0 |
West Yokozuna 11–4 |
West Yokozuna 13–2 |
East Yokozuna 12–3 |
| 2008 | East Yokozuna 14–1 |
East Yokozuna 12–3 |
West Yokozuna 11–4 |
West Yokozuna 15–0 |
East Yokozuna 14–1 |
East Yokozuna 13–2–P |
| 2009 | East Yokozuna 14–1–P |
West Yokozuna 15–0 |
East Yokozuna 14–1–P |
East Yokozuna 14–1 |
East Yokozuna 14–1–P |
West Yokozuna 15–0 |
| 2010 | East Yokozuna 12–3 |
East Yokozuna 15–0 |
East Yokozuna 15–0 |
East Yokozuna 15–0 |
East Yokozuna 15–0 |
East Yokozuna 14–1–P |
| 2011 | East Yokozuna 14–1 |
East Yokozuna Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 |
East Yokozuna 13–2 |
East Yokozuna 12–3 |
East Yokozuna 13–2 |
East Yokozuna 14–1 |
| 2012 | East Yokozuna – |
x | x | x | x | x |
| Record given as win-loss-absent Top Division Champion Retired Lower Divisions Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi(s) P=Playoff(s) |
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| Yokozuna is not a successive rank, and more than one wrestler can share the title | ||
| Preceded by Ryo Ishikawa |
Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Winner 2010 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |