Hokutofuji Daiki

{{Short description|Japanese sumo wrestler (born 1992)}} {{distinguish|text = Daiki Nakamura and Ōnosato Daiki, whose civil names are also Daiki Nakamura}} {{hatnote|In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Hokutofuji.}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler |native_name = 北勝富士大輝 |name = Hokutofuji Daiki |image = Hokutofuji 2017.jpg |caption = Hokutofuji in 2017 |birth_name = Daiki Nakamura |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|07|15}} |birth_place = Tokorozawa, Saitama |height = {{convert|1.84|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|159|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} |heya = Hakkaku |university = Nippon Sport Science University |eldername = Ōyama |record = 424-368-39 |debut = March 2015 |highestrank = Komusubi (March 2019) |retireddate = 15 May 2025 |yushos = 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Sandanme) 1 (Jonidan) |prizes = Technique (2) Fighting Spirit (1) |goldstars = 7 Kakuryū (2) Harumafuji Kisenosato (2) Hakuhō (2) |update = 15 May 2025 }}

{{nihongo|'''Hokutofuji Daiki'''|北勝富士大輝||born 15 July 1992 as {{nihongo|'''Daiki Nakamura'''|中村大輝|Nakamura Daiki}}|lead=yes}} is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in ''maezumō'' was in March 2015, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' was the Kyūshū tournament in November 2016. His highest rank has been ''komusubi''. He has seven ''kinboshi'' or gold stars for a defeat of a ''yokozuna'' and two special prizes for Technique and one for Fighting spirit. He wrestled for Hakkaku stable.

==Career== ===Early career=== thumb|left|Still under the name Daiki in November 2015, his first tournament in the ''makushita'' division Hokutofuji was a high school ''yokozuna'' at Saitama Sakae High School (also the alma mater of Gōeidō) and won multiple major amateur champions before his senior year at Nippon Sport Science University. If he had entered professional sumo in either of those years he would have started as a ''makushita tsukedashi'' and skipped the lower divisions, but his parents wanted him to complete his education. So instead he made his debut in March 2015 at the ''maezumō'' level. He was unable to compete under his family name of Nakamura as that was already taken by Nakamura Oyakata (former ''sekiwake'' Kotonishiki), so instead he used his given name, Daiki. He rose up the ranks quickly, winning the ''yūshō'' or tournament championships in the ''jonidan'' and ''sandanme'' divisions with perfect 7-0 records. He became a ''sekitori'' upon reaching the ''jūryō'' division in July 2016, and he won the ''jūryō'' championship in September with a 12–3 record, which saw him promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division. His rise to the top division in ten tournaments was the second fastest of modern times behind that of Jōkōryū who achieved the feat in nine tournaments in 2012. At this point he changed his ''shikona'' from Daiki to Hokutofuji, which was derived from the ''shikona'' of his stablemaster, former ''yokozuna'' Hokutoumi, and Hokutoumi's own stablemaster, former ''yokozuna'' Kitanofuji.

In August 2014, he participated in the Openweight competition at the Sumo World Championships held in Taiwan and finished third, behind Ukrainian wrestler Oleksandr Veresiuk and Mongolian Baasansuren Turbold, who won that year's tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://joshisumo-renmei.jp/PDF/2014%E5%B9%B4%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E5%A4%A7%E4%BC%9A/%E3%80%90%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E8%A8%98%E9%8C%B2%E3%80%9102_10th_WOMENSUMOWorld.pdf|title=19th Sumo World Championships Results|date=31 August 2014|work=Nihon Joshi Sumo Renmei|access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref>

===''Makuuchi'' career=== Hokutofuji came through with a solid 9–6 record in his top division debut and recorded 9 wins again in January 2017. In March he recorded the first ''make-koshi'' (losing record) of his career, but a 10–5 result in May saw him move up the rankings. In the July 2017 tournament he earned a ''kinboshi'' or gold star in his first ever match against a ''yokozuna'', defeating Kakuryū,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170711/p2g/00m/0sp/080000c|title=Sumo: Hakuho busts Shodai to continue march toward career wins record|date=11 July 2017|publisher=The Mainichi|accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> and finished with eight wins. On Day 4 of the September tournament he beat ''yokozuna'' Harumafuji to claim his second ''kinboshi''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/09/13/sumo/basho-reports/kotoshogiku-maintains-perfect-record/#.WblK002Wzoo|title=Kotoshogiku maintains perfect record|date=13 September 2017|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=13 September 2017}}</ref> He was a runner-up to Hakuhō in the November 2017 tournament with an 11–4 record, and was awarded his first special prize, for Technique. He also defeated ''yokozuna'' Kisenosato in this tournament, earning his third ''kinboshi'' in his last three tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20171126/p2g/00m/0sp/059000c|title=Sumo: Aminishiki brings the house down on final day in Fukuoka|date=26 November 2017|publisher=The Mainichi|accessdate=27 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127160101/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20171126/p2g/00m/0sp/059000c|archive-date=27 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2018 he won a fourth straight ''kinboshi'' by defeating Hakuhō on Day 3,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/01/16/sumo/basho-reports/hokutofuji-upsets-hakuho/#.W1iFJuSWymQ|title=Hokutofuji upsets Hakuho|date=16 January 2018|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=25 July 2018}}</ref> making him the second sumo wrestler after Tosanoumi to collect a gold star in four consecutive tournaments, but he finished the tournament with only four wins against eleven losses. In the May 2018 tournament he suffered a concussion during a false start at the ''tachi-ai'' in his match against Ryūden on Day 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.totalprosports.com/2018/05/25/sumo-wrestler-suffers-concussion-keeps-fighting-collapses/|title=Sumo Wrestler Suffers Concussion, Keeps Fighting, Then Collapses On Way To Locker Room|date=25 May 2018|publisher=Total Pro Sports|accessdate=25 July 2018}}</ref> He withdrew from the rest of the tournament. Returning in July ranked at the bottom of the division at ''maegashira'' 16, he secured a winning record.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 July 2018 |title=Mitakeumi takes another step toward title |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/07/18/sumo/mitakeumi-takes-another-step-toward-title/#.W1iEOOSWymQ |accessdate=25 July 2018 |publisher=Japan Times}}</ref>

In March 2019 he made his sanyaku debut at komusubi rank. He was the third ''komusubi'' from Saitama Prefecture after Wakabayama in September 1951 and Wakachichibu in March 1959. He is also the fourth ''komusubi'' from Hakkaku stable following Kaiho, Hokutoriki and Okinoumi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|title=2019 March Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|publisher=Japan Sumo Association|accessdate=11 March 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311201552/http://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|archivedate=11 March 2019}}</ref> In September 2019 he picked up his sixth ''kinboshi'' by defeating Hakuhō on the opening day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190908/p2g/00m/0sp/079000c|title=Sumo: Hakuho suffers opening-day upset at Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament|date=8 September 2019|publisher=The Mainichi|accessdate=9 September 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909145824/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190908/p2g/00m/0sp/079000c|archivedate=9 September 2019}}</ref> Following this victory he lost his next six matches to fall to 1-6 but made an impressive recovery by winning his final 8 matches to finish the tournament at 9-6. He returned to the komusubi rank in November, one of four komusubi in that tournament, but fell just short of a majority of wins with a 7–8 record. Back in the ''maegashira'' ranks in January 2020 he earned his seventh ''kinboshi'' by defeating Kakuryū on Day 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200114/p2g/00m/0sp/093000c|title=Sumo: Grand champions overwhelmed on Day 3 of New Year meet|date=14 January 2020|work=The Mainichi|accessdate=14 January 2020}}</ref> He also beat both {{transliteration|ja|ōzeki}}, and finished the tournament with eleven wins and his second Technique Prize.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/01/7010ad302c4a-sumo-tokushoryu-defies-odds-to-claim-maiden-title-at-new-year-meet.html|title=Sumo: Tokushoryu defies odds to claim maiden title at New Year meet|date=26 January 2020|work=Kyodo News|access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> He returned to the {{transliteration|ja|komusubi}} rank in March, and defeated Kakuryū again on Day 2,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/03/bffa32bac71d-sumo-hakuho-unbeaten-kakuryu-loses-in-upset-on-day-2.html|title=Sumo: Hakuho unbeaten, Kakuryu loses in upset on Day l|date=9 March 2020|work=Kyodo News|access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> but finished the tournament with a 4–11 record. He has remained in the {{transliteration|ja|maegashira}} ranks since July 2020, and has alternated between winning and losing records for 16 straight tournaments up until May 2022. He was forced to withdraw from the July tournament on the final day due to COVID-19 protocols, although he already had a losing record by that point. In September he was the tournament leader after winning his first nine matches,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/c7d8fff3f5b5-sumo-hokutofuji-loses-as-tamawashi-returns-to-joint-top-at-autumn-meet.html|title=Sumo: Hokutofuji loses as Tamawashi returns to joint top at Autumn meet|date=20 September 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref> but he lost five of his last six matches to finish with a 10–5 record.<ref name="sumodb"/>

In July 2023, Hokutofuji had a solid tournament, winning his twelfth match against ''ōzeki''-promotion seekers, Hōshōryū.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202307200000623.html|title=豊昇龍が"お得意さま"北勝富士に屈し３敗目、大関昇進目安の３場所33勝へ負けられない状況に|date=20 July 2023|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> He also topped the rankings after the thirteenth day of the tournament, following a victory over ''maegashira'' Endō. Commenting on his performance, he expressed his desire to break his record for ''makuuchi'' wins with a twelfth victory over one of the other wrestlers competing for the title, the newly promoted Hakuōhō.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/733414?rct=sumo|title=北勝富士が初V王手「明日からですね」3敗で追う伯桜鵬と22日対戦…師・八角理事長が心中推し量る【大相撲名古屋場所】|date=21 July 2023|work=Chunichi Sports|access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> In September, Hokutofuji revealed he injured his right calf during a training session prior to the sixth day of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/09/05/kiji/20230904s00005000656000c.html|title=北勝富士名古屋場所中に右ふくらはぎ肉離れしていた…それでも優勝決定戦進出の大活躍舞台裏を激白|date=5 September 2023|publisher=Sports Nippon|access-date=5 September 2023|language=ja}}</ref>

During the September tournament, Hokutofuji put in a remarkable performance on the first three days. At the rank of ''maegashira'' 1, he faced the three ''ōzeki'' of the time (Takakeishō, Kirishima and Hōshōryū) and won each of these matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202309120001192.html|title=北勝富士が大関３連破先場所Ｖ決定戦黒星も糧「緊張感の中でやれたのはすごい経験」冷静さ得る|date=12 September 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=12 September 2023|language=ja}}</ref> In an editorial for ''Sports Nippon'', Tamanoi-''oyakata'' praised Hokutofuji and his "veteran skills" and for overcoming his neck and knee injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/09/12/kiji/20230912s00005000466000c.html|title=【玉ノ井親方視点】霧島撃破の北勝富士光ったベテランらしい円熟の技|date=12 September 2023|publisher=Sports Nippon|access-date=12 September 2023|language=ja}}</ref> This performance marks only the fifth time since the beginning of the Shōwa era that a wrestler not ranked in ''san'yaku'' has won three consecutive victories over ''ōzeki''-ranked wrestlers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20230912-OHT1T51259.html?page=1|title=北勝富士、初日から３大関連破で３連勝！平幕力士では昭和以降５例目「冷静でいられているのが勝因かな」|date=13 September 2023|publisher=Sports Hochi|access-date=13 September 2023|language=ja}}</ref> He was promoted to ''komusubi'' for the fourth time in November 2023, but won just 5 out of 15 matches and was demoted back to the ''maegashira'' ranks.

On Day 8 of the January 2024 tournament, Hokutofuji landed awkwardly at the end of his match against Hōshōryū. After he was helped up by attendants, Hokutofuji was taken to the Kokugikan's medical clinic in a wheelchair. He withdrew from the tournament the next day, with his medical certificate noting a right knee contusion requiring about two weeks of treatment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202401220000236.html|title=北勝富士が右膝関節挫傷で休場８日目に豊昇龍に寄り倒され土俵下で右膝を押さえ立ち上がれず|date=22 January 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=22 January 2024|language=ja}}</ref>

===Demotion and retirement===

At the start of the January 2025 tournament it was announced that Hokutofuji underwent knee surgery and had also developed a herniated disc, resulting in his withdrawal. The health issues were expected to take until the end of that month to heal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202501120000453.html|title=前頭の狼雅と北勝富士、十両は武将山が初場所休場肉離れの狼雅は途中出場の可能性も|date=12 January 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=16 January 2025|language=ja}}</ref> In March 2025 he was demoted to {{Transliteration|ja|jūryō}} for the first time in over eight years, and won only three matches before pulling out on the final day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250323/k10014757851000.html|title=大相撲春場所十両の北勝富士千秋楽を休場 14日目終え3勝11敗|date=23 March 2025|publisher=NHK|access-date=27 March 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

A few days after the start of the May 2025 tournament Hokutofuji, then ranked at {{translit|ja|makushita}} 3, announced his retirement from professional sumo. At his retirement press conference with his stablemaster and Sumo Association president Hakkaku, Hokutofuji recalled how he had started sumo at the age of 10 and had been working hard wearing the {{translit|ja|mawashi}} for 23 years. He recalled that his favorite matches were against Hakuhō and Mitakeumi, the latter he considered to be a rival since his school days. Hokutofuji intended to remain with the Sumo Association and Hakkaku stable as a coach under the elder name Ōyama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202505150000372.html|title=元小結北勝富士が引退「いい相撲人生」年寄「大山」襲名横綱白鵬からの金星は「大きな財産」|lang=ja|date=15 May 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref>

Hokutofuji's retirement ceremony was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on 30 May 2026. About 300 people attended the ceremony, including Muneo Suzuki, chairman of the Hakkaku stable support association, Chiharu Matsuyama and Takeshi Aikoh.<ref name=ns0725>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202507160002171.html|title=元北勝富士の大山親方が来年5月30日に引退相撲 36キロ痩せて「世界がキラキラしています」|date=17 July 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=17 July 2025|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202605300001150.html|title=元北勝富士、満員の国技館で断髪式「グッと来た時もありました」松山千春、愛甲猛氏らがはさみ|language=ja|date=30 May 2026|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref>

==Fighting style== Hokutofuji's performances suggested that he was an {{translit|ja|oshi-sumo}} specialist who favoured pushing techniques to fighting on the ''mawashi'' or belt. The {{translit|ja|oshidashi}} (push out) accounted for nearly half of his victories. Some of his other winning techniques included {{translit|ja|yorikiri}} (force out) and {{translit|ja|tsukiotoshi}} (thrust down).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_kim.aspx?r=12239|title=Hokutofuji bouts by kimarite|website=sumodb.sumogames.de|access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life== Hokutofuji was married on 6 January 2020 to a Japanese woman named Manami, who is four years his senior. The couple's first child, a boy, was born in March 2021.<ref name=ns180224>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202402170000290.html|title=北勝富士、真美夫人と挙式＆披露宴「美しかった」20年１月に結婚もコロナ禍で４年待って開催|date=18 February 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=19 February 2024|language=ja}}</ref>

Hokutofuji and his wife were initially unable to hold a formal wedding reception due the COVID-19 pandemic. The wedding reception was officially held on 17 February 2024 at a hotel in Tokyo with about 600 attendees, including his stablemaster and Sumo Association president Hakkaku.<ref name=ns180224/>

In July 2025, two months after retiring from professional competition, Hokutofuji told reporters that he had lost about {{convert|36|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of weight, dropping to {{convert|128|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=ns0725/>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Hokutofuji Daiki<ref name="sumodb">{{cite web | author= | title=Hokutofuji Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference |url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=12239|accessdate=30 November 2016}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|2015}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|11|e|6|1}} {{Basho|jo|36|e|7|0 Champion}} {{Basho|sa|36|e|7|0 Champion}} {{Basho|ma|25|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2016}} {{Basho|ma|16|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|8|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|4|3}} {{Basho|j|13|w|10|5}} {{Basho|j|6|w|12|3 Champion}} {{Basho|m|11|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2017}} {{Basho|m|8|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|5|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|7|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|2|w|8|7|||*}} {{Basho|m|2|e|7|8|||*}} {{Basho|m|3|w|11|4||j|t|*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2018}} {{Basho|m|1|e|4|11|||*}} {{Basho|m|6|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|9|w|4|7|4}} {{Basho|m|16|e|11|4}} {{Basho|m|9|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|1|w|7|8|||*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2019}} {{Basho|m|2|w|9|6}} {{Basho|k|1|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|1|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|1|e|9|6|||*}} {{Basho|k|2|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2020}} {{Basho|m|2|e|11|4|||t|*}} {{Basho|k|1|e|4|11}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|rank=m|r-no=5|tozai=w|absent=0| State of Emergency }} {{Basho|m|5|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|2|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|4|e|11|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2021}} {{Basho|m|1|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|2|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|1|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|3|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|e|2|3|10}} {{Basho|m|12|w|11|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2022}} {{Basho|m|4|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|6|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|3|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|7|w|6|9<ref>Withdrew on Day 15 due to COVID protocols</ref>}} {{Basho|m|8|w|10|5||f}} {{Basho|m|5|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2023}} {{Basho|m|6|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|7|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|7|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|9|w|12|3|P|j|f}} {{Basho|m|1|e|8|7}} {{Basho|k|1|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2024}} {{Basho|m|3|w|4|5|6}} {{Basho|m|9|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|11|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|13|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|13|e|8|5|2}} {{Basho|m|12|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2025}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=m|r-no=14|tozai=e}} {{Basho|j|8|e|3|12}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=ma|r-no=3|tozai=w|absent=2}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Goo Sumo|3630}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hokutofuji Daiki}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Sumo wrestlers from Saitama Prefecture Category:Nippon Sport Science University alumni Category:People from Tokorozawa, Saitama