40 Facts About Takayasu Akira

Takayasu Akira is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler.

Takayasu Akira made his professional debut in 2005 and reached the top makuuchi division in 2011, the first wrestler born in the Heisei era to do so.

Takayasu Akira has been runner-up in a tournament nine times and has earned twelve special prizes: six for Fighting Spirit, four for Outstanding Performance and two for Technique.

Takayasu Akira has won six gold stars for defeating yokozuna.

Takayasu Akira maintained the rank for a total of 15 tournaments.

Takayasu Akira's father is from Ibaraki Prefecture and his mother is from the island of Bohol in the Philippines.

Takayasu Akira has a brother, Hiroyuki, who is five years his senior.

Takayasu Akira's cousin is Satochi, former drummer of the rock band Mucc.

Takayasu Akira was a catcher on his junior high school baseball team and expected to play for his high school club as well, but his father encouraged him to take up sumo, having noticed his physical resemblance to fellow Ibaraki native and sumo wrestler Kisenosato.

Takayasu Akira ran away from the stable several times due to the severe training, but on each occasion his father persuaded him to return.

Takayasu Akira made steady progress through the lower divisions, with only a few losing record or make-koshi tournaments.

Takayasu Akira decided against adopting a traditional shikona despite reaching the elite and has continued to use his birth name.

Takayasu Akira had two gold star wins in 2013, in two different tournaments, both at maegashira 1, and both against Harumafuji.

Takayasu Akira had to withdraw from a tournament for the first time in his career in September 2015, but recovered with two winning records in the next two tournaments.

Back at komusubi in January 2017 Takayasu Akira produced one of his best efforts as he finished in a tie for third place and was awarded the special prize for Fighting Spirit.

On Day 11 and 12 Takayasu Akira lost against yokozuna Kakuryu and Harumafuji, then on Day 13 lost against Yoshikaze.

Takayasu Akira then went on to win his last three matches; handing yokozuna Kakuryu, who had already won the tournament going into Day 15, his second loss.

Takayasu Akira's withdrawal, following Takakeisho, Tochinoshin and Goeido, meant four ozeki were absent from a tournament for the first time since the beginning of the Showa era in 1926.

Takayasu Akira lost all chances for an immediate promotion back to ozeki with his sixth loss in the January 2020 tournament, and will have to start over from scratch to regain the rank.

Takayasu Akira was back in the maegashira ranks for the first time since May 2016 in the March 2020 tournament.

Takayasu Akira withdrew on Day 5 after four straight losses, with a left thigh injury.

Takayasu Akira sat out just the first two days, returning on Day 3.

Takayasu Akira withdrew from the September 2021 tournament with a hip injury after he was driven out of the ring by yokozuna Terunofuji in their Day 11 contest.

Takayasu Akira sat out of the January 2022 tournament after four individuals at his stable, including his stablemaster, tested positive for COVID-19.

Takayasu Akira received his sixth career Fighting Spirit Prize for this performance.

Takayasu Akira entered the final day of the November 2022 Tournament with a chance to win his first Emperor's Cup outright but was defeated by maegashira Abi, setting up a three-way playoff between himself, Abi and ozeki Takakeisho.

Takayasu Akira drew Abi in the first playoff match, but lost after his head slammed hard into Abi's chest on the tachi-ai.

Takayasu Akira appeared stunned, and needed assistance to stand up from the ring.

Takayasu Akira received his fourth Shukun-sho for his efforts.

Takayasu Akira was promoted to sekiwake for the January 2023 tournament, but withdrew after suffering 4 defeats in his first 5 matches.

Takayasu Akira returned on Day 6, and competed in two more matches before withdrawing again on Day 8.

Takayasu Akira contracted an injury shortly before the start of the third day of the May 2024 tournament, forcing him to declare himself kyujo despite going on a consecutive winning streak against Onosato and Wakamotoharu.

Takayasu Akira withdrew the following day, having been diagnosed with a partial tear of his left pectoral muscle.

In March 2025, Takayasu Akira asserted himself as a wrestler on the verge of greatness, recording a against the brand-new Hoshoryu on the eighth day, and snatching a twelfth victory on the final day.

Takayasu Akira lost out nonetheless taking the Technique prize for his efforts during the tournament.

Takayasu Akira is an oshi-sumo specialist, preferring pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the opponent's mawashi.

Takayasu Akira strengthened his physique and his pushing techniques through intense training sessions with his senior stablemate Kisenosato.

In October 2019 Takayasu Akira announced his engagement to enka singer Konomi Mori.

Takayasu Akira credited his strong performance in the July 2020 tournament on the news that his wife was pregnant.

Takayasu Akira had an equally strong tournament in March 2021 immediately following his daughter's birth.