Daiamami Genki

{{short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{hatnote|In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Daiamami.}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = File:Daiamami Genki20220115.jpg | caption = | native_name = 大奄美元規 | name = Daiamami Genki | birth_name = Sakamoto Genki | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|12|15}} | birth_place = Tatsugō, Kagoshima, Japan | height = {{height|cm=184.5}} | weight = {{convert|183.8|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} | heya = Oitekaze | university = Nihon University | record = 392-418-7 | debut = January 2016 | highestrank = Maegashira 11 (May 2018) | retireddate = January 2026 | yushos = 1 (Jūryō) | prizes = | goldstars = | update = January 16, 2026 }}

{{nihongo|'''Daiamami Genki'''|大奄美元規||born December 15, 1992 as {{nihongo|'''Genki Sakamoto'''|坂元元規}}|lead=yes}} is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tatsugō, Kagoshima. After a successful amateur career, he turned professional in January 2016, making the top ''makuuchi'' division in November of the following year. His highest rank was ''maegashira 11.'' He wrestled for Oitekaze stable.

==Early life and sumo background== He started sumo in his second year of elementary school, eventually in high school he would go on to win Kanazawa high school sumo tournament helping him to join the prestigious Nihon University sumo program which he would later be Captain. He injured his Medial meniscus in his third year having to undergo corrective surgery to fix. After graduating he became a business association player after finding employment at Nihon University as a staff member. After winning the 2015 Japan Corporate Sumo Tournament one of the four tournaments that grants tsukedashi, he decided to join Oitekaze stable under fellow Nihon University graduate Daishōyama.

== Career == He made his debut in January, 2016. Because of his amateur success he was granted a ''makushita tsukedashi'' allowing him to skip the lower divisions of sumo. He quickly rose up the ranks recording only one ''make-koshi'' or losing record on the way to the ''makuuchi'' division. He won the ''jūryō'' division ''yūshō'' or championship in July 2017 and followed up with another ''kachi-koshi'' or winning record in September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/11/23/sumo/young-rikishi-offer-new-hope-sumo/#.Ww6tNuSWymQ|title=Young rikishi offer new hope for sumo|date=23 November 2017|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=30 May 2018}}</ref> He made his ''makuuchi'' debut in November 2017 at the rank of ''maegashira'' 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/10/30/sumo/harumafuji-tops-rankings-kyushu-basho/#.Ww6rJjIvyUk|title=Harumafuji tops rankings for Kyushu Basho|date=30 October 2017|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=30 May 2018}}</ref> After a 6–9 record he produced ''kachi-koshi'' or winning records in his second and third top division tournaments, and was promoted to his highest rank to date of ''maegashira'' 11 in May. However he scored only 4–11 in this tournament and was demoted back to ''jūryō.'' He returned to ''makuuchi'' after the September 2018 tournament where he scored 11–4, losing a playoff for the championship to Tokushōryū. He was unable to get winning records in the November 2018 and January 2019 tournaments and was demoted to ''jūryō'' again. He returned to ''makuuchi'' in March 2020 following an 11-4 record in the previous tournament, but could only score 5–10 and was again demoted. He returned to the top division a year later in March 2021, and managed to remain in ''makuuchi'' for three straight tournaments, but fell back to ''jūryō'' in September 2021. During the year 2022, Daiamami rose twice to a position to win the ''jūryō'' championship with a score of 11–4. However, he failed both times, the first time against Nishikifuji in May<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202205220000814.html|title=錦富士、大奄美との優勝決定戦制し十両Ｖ「うれしいのとやっと終わったという思い」 "Nishikifuji wins the juryo championship decider against Daiamami..."|date=22 May 2022|work=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref> and the second time against Ōshōma in November.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2022/11/27/kiji/20221127s00005000530000c.html |title=欧勝馬が十両優勝「上でも優勝できるように頑張りたい」幕下、十両を制して次の夢は幕内V|language=ja |date=27 November 2022 |work=Sports Nippon |access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref> In 2023, Daiamami again found himself in a potential championship-winning situation at the July tournament, where he was, however, defeated on the final day in a playoff against Atamifuji.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20230723-OHT1T51156.html?page=1|title=十両は熱海富士が優勝４敗で並んだ大奄美を決定戦で制す|date=23 July 2023|publisher=Sports Hochi|language=ja|access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref>

Daiamami appeared once more in the top division in March 2024. During the January 2026 tournament, the Sumo Association announced Daiamami's retirement from professional competition. He will not remain with the Sumo Association as a coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20260116-56P4FOOER5N77OCINXH456OFJA/|title=元幕内大奄美が引退鹿児島県出身の33歳|date=16 January 2026|publisher=Sankei Sports|access-date=16 January 2026|language=ja}}</ref> At a press conference a few days later, Daiamami told reporters that he decided to retire due to knee pain, which made it difficult for him to maintain his stance. He expressed his feelings on his sumo career as "painful" in both mind and body, and that he felt "relieved" after retiring.<ref name=nsretire>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202601200000781.html|title=元幕内大奄美が引退会見「心も体も痛かった」今後について「ご飯屋さんができたら」希望明かす|date=20 January 2026|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=20 January 2026|language=ja}}</ref>

==Personal life== Daiamami enjoys cooking, and has expressed his desire to possibly open a restaurant sometime after his retirement.<ref name=nsretire/>

==Fighting style== Daiamami was a {{translit|ja|yotsu-sumo}} wrestler who preferred grappling techniques to pushing or thrusting. His favoured grip on his opponent's {{translit|ja|mawashi}} was {{translit|ja|migi-yotsu}}, a left hand outside, right hand inside position. His most common winning technique was a straightforward {{translit|ja|yorikiri}} (frontal force out), which was responsible for a majority of his victories.<ref name=sumodb/>

== Career record == {{Sumo record box start|Daiamami Genki<ref name=sumodb>{{cite web | author= | title=Daiamami Genki Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=12273 | date= | accessdate=2018-05-27}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|2016}} {{Basho|mt|15||4|3}} {{Basho|ma|11|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|6|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2017}} {{Basho|j|13|w|10|5}} {{Basho|j|9|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|8|e|11|4<br>Champion}} {{Basho|j|3|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|14|w|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2018}} {{Basho|m|17|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|16|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|11|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|2|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|4|e|11|4|P}} {{Basho|m|15|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2019}} {{Basho|m|16|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|3|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|3|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|8|e|11|4}} {{Basho|j|1|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|4|w|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2020}} {{Basho|j|6|e|11|4}} {{Basho|m|17|w|5|10}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|rank=j|r-no=4|tozai=e|absent=0|<BR> <SMALL>State of Emergency </SMALL>}} {{Basho|j|4|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|4|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|5|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2021}} {{Basho|j|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|16|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|13|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|14|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|2|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|2|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2022}} {{Basho|j|3|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|5|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|6|e|11|4|P}} {{Basho|m|16|w|2|9|4<ref>Withdrew from Days 2 to 4 due to injury, and on Day 13 due to COVID protocols</ref>}} {{Basho|j|8|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|9|e|11|4|P}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2023}} {{Basho|j|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|6|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|9|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|9|e|11|4|P}} {{Basho|j|2|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|4|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2024}} {{Basho|j|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|16|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|1|e|6|9}} {{Basho|j|2|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|5|e|4|11}} {{Basho|j|9|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2025}} {{Basho|j|11|e|4|11}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|4|3}} {{Basho|j|13|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|13|w|6|9}} {{Basho|ma|1|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|4|e|1|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2026}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=ma|r-no=17|tozai=w|absent=3}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{Goo Sumo|3665}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Daiamami Genki}} Category:Sumo wrestlers from Kagoshima Prefecture Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Nihon University alumni Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers