Meisei Chikara

{{short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{hatnote|In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Meisei.}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = Meisei Chikara IMG 0818-8 20190518.jpg | caption = Meisei in May 2019 | native_name = 明生力 | name = Meisei Chikara | birth_name = Meisei Kawabata | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|07|24}} | birth_place = Setouchi, Kagoshima, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.80}} | weight = {{convert|155|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} | heya = Tatsunami | university = | rank = see below | record = | debut = May 2011 | highestrank = Sekiwake (September, 2021) | retireddate = | yushos = 1 (Jūryo) | prizes = 1 (Outstanding Performance) 1 (Fighting Spirit) | goldstars = 2 (Terunofuji) | update = 13 March 2024 }}

{{nihongo|'''Meisei Chikara'''|明生力||born {{nihongo|'''Meisei Kawabata'''|川畑明生|Kawabata Meisei}} on July 24, 1995|lead=yes}} is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Setouchi, Kagoshima. He debuted in sumo wrestling in July 2011 and made his ''makuuchi'' debut in July 2018. His highest rank has been ''sekiwake''. He wrestles for Tatsunami stable. Unusually for a top-class sumo wrestler, he uses his given name as his ''shikona''.

==Background== Meisei was born in Setouchi, a town on Amami Ōshima, one of the Ryukyu Islands. He began sumo at the age of five and was strongly encouraged by his father and other family members. When his elementary school closed their sumo programme he joined a sumo club in a neighboring town and in sixth grade he won the All-Japan Primary School Sumo Tournament. He moved to the Kamogawa Junior High School and competed in national championships but failed to win any further championships. Although he considered attending High School he took his father's advice and left education at the age of 15 to pursue a career in professional sumo.<ref name="BBMsumo201608p083">ベースボール・マガジン社刊『相撲』 2016年8月号（名古屋場所総決算号） 83頁</ref><ref>[https://www.nihonsumo-renmei.jp/kiroku/19.html 平成19年の試合記録・結果] 公益財団法人日本相撲連盟</ref><ref>ベースボール・マガジン社刊『相撲』 2014年8月号（名古屋場所総決算号） 91頁</ref>

==Career== ===Early career=== In 2011 Meisei joined the Tatsunami stable, bringing him under the tutelage of the former ''komusubi'' Asahiyutaka. Unlike most new wrestlers who begin their careers under their family names he took his given name as his ''shikona'' surname. Shortly before his sixteenth birthday he began his professional career in July 2011 and recorded four wins in seven bouts in the ''jonokuchi'' division to secure promotion to ''jonidan''. A 5–2 result in November saw him promoted to the fourth ''sandanme'' division but in January 2012 he won only two matches and returned to ''jonidan'' after posting his first ''make-koshi'' (losing record). He returned to ''sandanme'' after a 6–1 record in March 2012 and a run of ''kachi-koshi'' (winning records) saw him promoted to ''makushita'' (third division) in January 2013. After moving up and down between ''sandanme'' and ''makushita'' several times he established himself in the higher division and began a steady climb through the ranks. In September 2016 a 4–3 result at the rank of ''makushita'' 3 saw him promoted to the second ''juryo'' division for the first time. He returned to ''makushita'' after recording a 5–10 record in November but was promoted back to ''juryo'' after two consecutive ''kachi-koshi''. A series of solid results saw him rise to the top of the second division and in May 2018 a 10–5 record at ''juryo'' saw him promoted to the ''makuuchi'' division.<ref name="sumodb"/>

===Makuuchi career=== thumb|right|Original tegata (handprint and signature ) of sumo wrestler Meisei In his first tournament in the top division Meisei was assigned the rank of ''maegashira'' 16. His ''kesho-mawashi'', which featured the sun rising from the sea was embroidered by Miyuki Tanaka whose previous clients had included Chiyonofuji.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/editors/3/sumosdelicateside/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324160314/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/editors/3/sumosdelicateside/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2019|title=Sumo's Delicate Side|website=NHK WORLD}}</ref> He recorded six wins including victories over Hokutofuji and Chiyomaru but was relegated back to ''juryo''. Nine wins at ''juryo'' 2 saw him return to the top division in November 2018 when he posted a 9–6 record including wins over Chiyomaru and Ōnoshō. In January he reached a score of 6–7 after 13 days but reached his ''kachi-koshi'' by beating Yoshikaze and Onosho in his last two bouts. Competing a career high of ''maegashira'' 11 in March 2019 he won nine of his fourteen bouts highlighted by an ''uwatedashinage'' win over the former ōzeki Kotoshogiku on day 13. In the following tournament, at another career high rank of ''maegashira'' 7 he lost his first three bouts but won ten of his remaining twelve matches including a victory over Tochinoshin. He reached ''maegashira'' 2 in November 2019.

On December 28 during training at his stable he injured his left upper arm muscle. He still entered the January 2020 tournament but withdrew on Day 8 with only one win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMain/absence/|title=Absent Rikishi Information|date=January 2020|work=Japan Sumo Association|access-date=21 January 2020}}</ref> He failed to make ''kachi-koshi'' in March 2020 at the rank of ''maegashira'' 17, and secured his demotion to ''jūryō.'' In July 2020, he won the ''jūryō'' championship following a six-man playoff, ensuring his return to ''makuuchi''.

After several solid performances saw him rise to ''maegashira'' 3 by March 2021, he produced a 10–5 record to win his first Fighting Spirit prize.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1580/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411080750/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1580/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2021|title=Making an improbable comeback|date=2 April 2021|work=NHK World|access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref> In July 2021 he made his ''sanyaku'' debut at the rank of ''komusubi''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/06/21/sumo/terunofuji-take-aim-at-yokozuna/|title=Terunofuji ready to take aim at promotion to yokozuna at Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament|date=21 June 2021|work=Japan Times|access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref> He was the first wrestler from Tatsunami stable to reach that rank since Tomonohana in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|title=2021 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|work=Japan Sumo Association|access-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625140100/https://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|archive-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> The following tournament he was promoted to ''sekiwake'', the first from Tatsunami since Kitao in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|title=2021 September Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|work=Japan Sumo Association|access-date=3 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901154213/https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|archive-date=1 September 2021}}</ref> He earned his first win over a ''yokozuna'' on Day 12 of the September tournament when he defeated Terunofuji, although as he was not ranked as a ''maegashira'' he did not get a ''kinboshi''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/09/bfa25b717c14-sumo-meisei-stuns-terunofuji-as-yokozuna-suffers-2nd-loss.html|title=Meisei stuns Terunofuji as yokozuna suffers second loss|date=23 September 2021|work=Kyodo News|access-date=23 September 2021}}</ref> He finished the November 2021 tournament with a 7–8 record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2021-12-25 |title=2021 Kyushu Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2021-kyushu-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the January 2022 ''banzuke'' he was demoted from ''sekiwake'' back to ''komusubi''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hatsu 2022 Banzuke |url=https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Banzuke.aspx?b=202201&heya=-1&shusshin=-1 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=sumodb.sumogames.de}}</ref> In the New Year tournament he posted a 5–10 record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-02-28 |title=2022 New Year Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-new-year-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref> This led to his demotion to the rank of ''maegashira'' 3 in the following rankings. At the March tournament he had a 1–14 record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-03-27 |title=2022 Spring Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-spring-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He was then ranked ''maegashira'' 13 for the May tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natsu 2022 Banzuke |url=https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Banzuke.aspx?b=202205&heya=-1&shusshin=-1 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=sumodb.sumogames.de}}</ref> He then posted winning records in each of the four remaining tournaments of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-08-30 |title=2022 Nagoya Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-nagoya-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-11-01 |title=2022 Autumn Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-autumn-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-12-26 |title=2022 Kyushu Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-kyushu-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-07-04 |title=2022 Summer Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2022-summer-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the first ''banzuke'' of 2023 he was promoted back to the rank of ''komusubi''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hatsu 2023 Banzuke |url=https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Banzuke.aspx?b=202301&heya=-1&shusshin=-1 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=sumodb.sumogames.de}}</ref> However, at the January 2023 tournament his ''kachi-koshi'' streak was ended on day 12 after a loss to Sadanoumi. He finished the tournament with a 5–10 record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2023-02-20 |title=2023 New Year Basho Results |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/2023-new-year-basho-results/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref> On the ninth day of the 2023 summer tournament, Meisei achieved ''kachi-koshi'' and won his first ''kinboshi'' by dealing ''yokozuna'' Terunofuji his only loss in this tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/05/22/kiji/20230522s00005000419000c.html|title=Terunofuji loses on day 9 in a direct confrontation with Meisei. Asanoyama and 3 others tied with 8 wins and 1 loss.|language=ja|date=22 May 2023|work=Sports Nippon|accessdate=22 May 2023}}</ref> Meisei would lose all his remaining matches and end up with an 8–7 record. Nevertheless, he was awarded the Outstanding Performance prize because of his win over Terunofuji.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202305280000584.html|title=明生が初の殊勲賞霧馬山は３場所連続で技能賞、若元春も初受賞敢闘賞は受賞者なし|date=28 May 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

During the March 2024 tournament, Meisei, then ranked at West Maegashira 2 wrestlers, defeated ''Yokozuna'' Terunofuji to record his second ''kinboshi'' against him.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20240313-OHT1T51172.html?page=1|title=照ノ富士が明生に敗れ２敗目霧島は初日から４連敗全勝は阿炎、大の里、尊富士の３人に|date=13 March 2024|publisher=Sports Hochi|language=ja|access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>

Meisei withdrew ahead of the November 2025 tournament, with his medical certificate revealing that he underwent surgery the previous month for a disc herniation. Stablemaster Tatsunami (former {{translit|ja|sekiwake}} Asahiyutaka) said that Meisei underwent surgery due to worsening back pain. He left open the possibility that Meisei could join the tournament midway, adding: "We won't push him too hard."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20251108-OHT1T51217.html?page=1|title=九州場所を初日から休場の幕内・明生、途中出場の可能性も師匠の立浪親方「途中から出られたら」|date=8 November 2025|publisher=Sports Hochi|language=ja|access-date=8 November 2025}}</ref> It was later reported that Meisei would enter the tournament on Day 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/11/17/articles/20251117s00005000188000c.html|title=平幕の明生が九州場所10日目から出場「椎間板ヘルニア」で初日から休場|date=17 November 2025|publisher=Sports Nippon|language=ja|access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>

==Fighting style== Meisei has shown a preference for ''yotsu'' techniques which involve grasping his opponent's ''mawashi'' or belt and favors the ''hidari-yotsu'', or left-hand inside grip. His most common ''kimarite'' or winning move is ''yorikiri'', the force-out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataRikishi/profile/3337/|title=Rikishi profile Meisei Chikara |website=sumo.or.jp}}</ref>

==Personal life== On 8 January 2026, Meisei announced that he had married a younger woman in February 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202601080000990.html|title=十両・明生が結婚発表、昨年２月に年下女性と「奥さんを大切にする。今まで通り頑張る」|date=8 January 2026|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=8 January 2026|language=ja}}</ref> Their wedding reception was held on 21 February 2026 with about 700 people in attendance. It was reported that Meisei proposed to the woman, named Konatsu, on Christmas Day in 2024 after about a year and a half of dating. Few other details about the wife were revealed, and photos of the woman were not shown to the press.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202602210001041.html|title=明生が１歳下の小夏夫人と結婚披露宴出会いは浅草喫茶店 Xmasにプロポーズし昨年２月結婚|date=21 February 2026|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=21 February 2026|language=ja}}</ref>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Meisei Chikara<ref name="sumodb">{{cite web | author= | title=Meisei Chikara Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference |url=https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=11946}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|2011}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|absent=0| Match fixing investigation}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|2|w|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|73|e|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|31|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2012}} {{Basho|sa|96|w|2|5}} {{Basho|jo|31|e|6|1}} {{Basho|sa|67|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|35|w|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|20|w|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|10|e|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2013}} {{Basho|ma|59|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|51|e|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|9|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|59|w|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|11|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|60|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2014}} {{Basho|sa|8|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|58|w|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|14|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|38|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|16|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|13|w|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2015}} {{Basho|ma|18|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|11|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|8|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|7|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|19|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2016}} {{Basho|ma|17|w|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|12|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|5|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|e|4|3}} {{Basho|j|14|w|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2017}} {{Basho|ma|6|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|w|5|2}} {{Basho|j|14|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|11|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|8|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|4|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2018}} {{Basho|j|4|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|3|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|4|e|10|5}} {{Basho|m|16|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|2|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|15|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2019}} {{Basho|m|12|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|11|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|7|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|4|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|10|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|2|w|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2020}} {{Basho|m|5|e|1|7|7}} {{Basho|m|17|e|7|8}} {{Basho|CANCELLED|rank=j|r-no=1|tozai=e|absent=0| State of Emergency }} {{Basho|j|1|e|10|5|PPP Champion}} {{Basho|m|13|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|10|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2021}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|e|10|5|||f}} {{Basho|m|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|k|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|s|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|s|1|w|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2022}} {{Basho|k|1|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|3|w|1|14}} {{Basho|m|13|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|10|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|2|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2023}} {{Basho|k|2|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|4|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|6|e|8|7|||o|*}} {{Basho|m|3|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|1|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|2|w|4|11}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2024}} {{Basho|m|9|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|2|w|6|9|||*}} {{Basho|m|5|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|1|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|6|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|11|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2025}} {{Basho|m|10|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|11|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|10|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|5|w|3|12}} {{Basho|m|13|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|18|e|1|5|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2026}} {{Basho|j|8|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|6|w|7|8}} {{Basho|||||}} {{Basho|||||}} {{Basho|||||}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{Goo Sumo|3337}} {{Jūryō rikishi banzuke}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Meisei, Chikara}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:People from the Amami Islands Category:Sumo wrestlers from Kagoshima Prefecture Category:Tatsunami stable sumo wrestlers Category:Sekiwake