Kirishima Tetsuo

Kirishima Tetsuo (霧島 鐵力), born April 24, 1996, as Byambachuluun Lkhagvasuren (Бямбачулуун Лхагвасүрэн) is a professional sumo wrestler from Mongolia. He made his debut in March 2015 representing Michinoku stable under the name Kiribayama Tetsuo (霧馬山鐵雄), and reached the top makuuchi division in January 2020. He wrestles for Otowayama stable, where he moved to in April 2024 following the closure of Michinoku stable. His highest rank has been ōzeki. He has won the makuuchi championship twice along with one runner-up performance and four special prizes in his career to date.

Upon his promotion to ōzeki in May 2023, Kirishima changed his ring name from Kiribayama, adopting the ring name of his then-stablemaster Michinoku (former ōzeki Kirishima).

Early life
Lkhagvasuren was born into a nomadic community in Dornod Province, near the border between China and Russia. His name is a reference to his grandfather, Yatamsuren, who was a renowned bökh wrestler. His father was in charge of a vast herd of sheep, and from a young age, Lkhagvasuren rode horses to help his father at work, which strengthened his legs and waist – an advantage for sumo. He eventually moved to Ulaanbaatar and began practicing judo and bökh in a club, where he was joined later by future Ōzeki Hōshōryū. In 2014, he was invited by an acquaintance along with four other Mongolians to Japan to try out sumo at Michinoku stable with no previous experience of the sport. At that time, he was over 1.80m tall, but weighed less than 70 kg. Michinoku stablemaster, former ōzeki Kirishima, thought Lkhagvasuren was the best of the five, but was reluctant at first to take on a foreign recruit. The stable had not had a foreigner since Hakuba was forced to retire over match-fixing allegations in 2011. He eventually relented after Lkhagvasuren committed to staying in Japan, and let him take the new recruits examination in February 2015. As he entered his stable, his slight stature drew a comment from a wakaimonogashira in his stable, who commented that he would be too thin to hold his own in sumo.

Lkhagvasuren received the shikona, or ring name, Kiribayama (霧馬山) to evoke his master, with the kanji 霧 derived from his former wrestling name, Kirishima (霧島), his nomadic past with the kanji 馬, for 'horse', and finally the kanji 山 to evoke Yokozuna Futabayama, a great wrestler who belonged to the same ichimon, or clan, as his stable.

Sumo beginnings
He officially began his career in May 2015. At the time, he was in the same class as Homarenishiki, the first Canadian sumo wrestler (rikishi) in 30 years. During the first years of his stable life, he had difficulty adapting, mastering very little of the language and mentioning his lack of sleep when his stablemates snored too loudly in the stable dormitory. During his debut in maezumō, he faced (then called Hamamachi), a former vice-captain of Nippon Sport Science University sumo club, with whom he also shared the same debut promotion. Hamamachi handed him his only defeat in four matches to determine his future position in the jonokuchi division. In his first match in this division, he lost again to Hamamachi, who won the tournament that year, but finished with a score of 5–2, securing promotion to the next division. In jonidan, he was among the wrestlers competing for the championship (yūshō), but was nevertheless beaten by Sakae, who then lost in the playoff to Hamamachi, during the last day of competition. however, his 6–1 score allowed him to enter sumo's third division, sandanme, for the November 2015 tournament. There, he won the tournament with a perfect score of 7–0. Logically promoted to the makushita division for the January 2016 tournament, he nevertheless suffered the first negative record (make-koshi) of his career and was demoted back to the sandanme division. Despite being promoted back to makushita for the Nagoya tournament, he suffered a left knee ligaments injury during a practice session and had to withdraw from the tournament (kyūjō), only to be demoted back to the lower division. Following this injury, Kiribayama gradually changed his fighting style, moving from an overuse of throwing techniques and back-dropping techniques to a style based more on forward momentum. At the time of his injury, he was also suffering from severe homesickness, but thanks to his master's efforts he hung on, motivated in particular by the prospect of returning to his homeland for a visit in the event of promotion to jūryō. In November 2017, he was competing for the makushita division championship but failed after being defeated by former jūryō wrestler on the final day. However, he bounced back the following year by winning the championship at the May tournament, despite injuring his elbow during a training session.

Jūryō promotion
In March 2019, Kiribayama was finally promoted to the jūryō division after a 4–3 record at Makushita 1. It took him four years in total to reach the sekitori ranks from his professional debut. He was the first new sekitori Michinoku stable had produced since Kirinowaka in January 2008. He shared his promotion with another future san'yaku wrestler, Wakamotoharu. During promotional interviews he spoke of his desire to fight with a black shimekomi, in order to evoke Yokozuna Harumafuji. As part of his promotion, he also received a partnership with a jewellery brand that had already supported his master when he was active. The brand offered him a keshō-mawashi representing a black parrot. Kirishima moved through the jūryō division in just five tournaments. His fellow Mongolian, Yokozuna Kakuryū, became his stablemate in October 2019 when Izutsu stable closed. Kiribayama mentions this transfer as having been particularly beneficial for him because, although he was initially anxious at the idea of training with the yokozuna, he benefited from a great deal of advice from Kakuryū. He also expressed his desire to be tsuyuharai at Kakuryū's ring-entering ceremony if he managed to be promoted to makuuchi. In November of the same year, he took part in a four-way playoff for the jūryō championship along Ikioi, Kaisei and Azumaryū. Although he lost to Kaisei, his 11–4 record secured his promotion to sumo's top division, making him the first to be promoted to the rank of maegashira in his stable since Hakuba in May 2008.

Promotion and early career
In preparation for his tournament, he showed encouraging signs in training, having defeated 4-year makuuchi-veteran Shōdai, and revealed that he would indeed serve as an assistant to Kakuryū's ring-entering ceremony. Before the tournament, he also received a keshō-mawashi from Nestlé Japan as part of a partnership with his stable. In his debut top makuuchi division tournament in January 2020, he began the tournament with mixed results, having won his first match against Kaisei, but failed against Kotonowaka, who was still in jūryō, on the following day. From Day 8 onwards, he won against Kotoekō and went on to win his 7 last matches in a row; finishing the tournament with 11 wins to 4 losses and being awarded the Fighting Spirit special prize for his performance. In March he stood at only four wins against six losses after Day 10, but won his last five matches to secure a 9–6 record and promotion to a new highest rank of Maegashira 3 for the next tournament, which was originally scheduled for May but actually took place in July. He withdrew on Day 10 of the September 2020 tournament with a shoulder injury, but returned from Day 13 to secure a winning record of 9–4–2. In September of the following year, Kiribayama set a personal record by scoring 4 consecutive victories for the first time in makuuchi, beating Komusubi Ichinojō in an unusually long match.

Kiribayama was promoted to komusubi for the November 2021 tournament, the first Mongolian to debut in san'yaku since Tamawashi and Terunofuji in March 2015. He managed only six wins against nine losses in this tournament, and returned to the maegashira ranks. He was promoted to komusubi again following the July 2022 tournament, and maintained his rank for the next three tournaments. In January 2023 he was runner-up with an 11–4 record and was awarded his first Technique Prize. He would be promoted to sekiwake for the next tournament in March.

In March 2022, Kiribayama had a good tournament, beating the newly promoted Ōzeki Mitakeumi on the fifth day, inflicting his first defeat since his promotion. In July of the same year, former yokozuna Kitanofuji published a letter to the editor in Chunichi Sports in which he congratulated Wakatakakage and Kiribayama on their match, which took place on Day 6. Although Wakatakakage won the match by yoritaoshi, Kitanofuji praised their stamina and power, even comparing the match to the legendary clashes between Yokozuna Tochinishiki and Wakanohana  I.

In March 2023, he entered the final day of the tournament one win behind the leader and his next opponent, Komusubi Daieishō. Kiribayama was also competing on one day's rest after his Day 14 opponent, Wakatakakage, defaulted due to injury. In their scheduled contest, Kiribayama was able to repel Daieishō's charge and score the win by tsukitaoshi ('thrust down'). With their records equalized at 12–3, the two had to face off again to determine the makuuchi champion. In the playoff, Kiribayama used the same thrust down technique to defeat Daieishō. Kiribayama's first top-division championship was confirmed after the ringside judges agreed in a mono-ii that Daieishō touched the ground before Kiribayama stepped out of the dohyō. After receiving the Emperor's Cup, Kiribayama said that he didn't understand anything that was going on when he entered sumo in 2015, but "somehow, eight years later, I've made it this far." He was awarded his second Technique prize for his efforts. The following day Kiribayama, who became the ninth top-division champion from Mongolia, said that winning the yūshō was the best feeling, but that he would start focusing on the next tournament. Having won 23 contests in his last two tournaments, Kiribayama would likely be considered for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ōzeki by winning at least 10 matches in the May 2023 tournament.

Ōzeki promotion and name change
In the May 2023 tournament Kiribayama secured the required tenth win with a victory over then-current ōzeki Takakeishō. He stayed in the makuuchi championship race until suffering his third loss against yokozuna Terunofuji on Day 14, finishing the tournament with 11 wins and his third straight Technique prize.

On 31 May 2023 Kiribayama's promotion to ōzeki was unanimously approved by the Sumo Association, and he made his formal acceptance speech when informed of the news at Michinoku stable. His parents from Mongolia flew in to Japan for the ceremony. With the promotion, Kiribayama became the sixth Mongolian ōzeki.

Following the promotion ceremony it was announced that Kiribayama had changed his shikona (ring name) to Kirishima, inheriting the shikona used by his stablemaster Michinoku (former ōzeki Kirishima Kazuhiro). The stablemaster revealed that on Day 14 of the May 2023 tournament, with promotion appearing to be certain, he asked Kiribayama to adopt his old ring name. The former Kirishima told reporters that he wanted the new Kirishima to climb higher with his new name, and surpass him to reach the rank of yokozuna. Kirishima Tetsuo said that he would work harder than ever to live up to the rank of ōzeki.

In the run-up to the tournament, however, Kirishima had to stop training for the last two days of the preparation period because of an elbow injury. His series of injuries did not cease, however, and on the first day of the July tournament it was revealed that Kirishima had complained of severe back pain, due to an inflammation in the back of the shoulder blade which had been going on for over a year. The issues forced Kirishima to declare himself kyūjō for his scheduled match against Nishikigi. The medical report stated that Kirishima had bruised his right ribs and would need about three weeks of rest and treatment, but his stablemaster said at the time that he could return during the tournament. Kirishima's absence was the first time since Musōyama at the May 2000 tournament that a newly promoted ōzeki had to withdraw on the first day of a tournament, and the fifth time in total since the start of the Shōwa era. A few days later it was announced that Kirishima would participate on Day 4 of the tournament against Kotonowaka. The new ōzeki stated at the time that he desired to compete, saying that his health got a little better and that it would not be good to sit on the sidelines for too long. In their Day 4 contest Kirishima pushed Kotonowaka out of the dohyō from behind to secure his first win at the ōzeki rank. Despite his comeback, Kirishima nevertheless reached a negative score (make-koshi) when he suffered a sixth defeat to the former ōzeki Asanoyama on Day 14 of the tournament.

During the 2023 September tournament, Kirishima entered as a competitor under kadoban status, having to record at least eight victories to save his ōzeki rank. On the thirteenth day, he scored a victory over newly promoted-ōzeki Hōshōryū, logically saving his status for the November tournament. He concluded this basho with a 9-6 score.

In October 2023, Kirishima won for the first time the All Japan Rikishi Championship, a Meiji Shrine-sponsored charity tournament.

During the November 2023 tournament Kirishima was part of the group of wrestlers leading the championship race. On Day 13 he defeated Daieishō to take the lead for most wins by a top-division wrestler in the year. Having only been equaled in score by Atamifuji on Day 13, Kirishima's title hopes and a potential championship were at stake when he faced Atamifuji on Day 14. Kirishima won the match by yorikiri, securing a one-win lead in the championship race into the final day. Kirishima locked up his second title when Atamifuji was defeated by Kotonowaka. In the final bout, Kirishima defeated fellow ōzeki Takakeishō to finish with a 13–2 record for the tournament and 62 wins for the year. Kirishima dedicated his victory in the tournament–held in Kyushu–to his stablemaster Michinoku, who was born in Kagoshima Prefecture. The Sumo Association indicated that Kirishima would likely be considered for promotion to yokozuna with another championship in January, or an equivalent performance.

Kirishima made a good start to the tournament, although he also suffered two defeats on Day 4 against Midorifuji and on Day 8 against Tobizaru. On Day 13 he defeated the other remaining ōzeki, Hōshōryū, by nimaigeri ('ankle kicking twist down'), a technique not seen in makuuchi for ten years. This victory, his fifth in a row, ensured him a place in the group of three wrestlers tied for the title (with Terunofuji and Kotonowaka). However, Kirishima was beaten by Kotonowaka on Day 14, forcing him to beat the yokozuna on the final day to secure a place in a playoff. Kirishima failed to beat Terunofuji, ending his chances of winning the tournament. After the tournament, the head of the Judging Department, Sadogatake, commented that had Kirishima won a twelfth victory by defeating Terunofuji, he would have submitted a recommendation for promotion to yokozuna.

In anticipation of his master's 65th birthday in April 2024, it was announced that Michinoku stable would close after the March 2024 tournament, with its wrestlers to be distributed within the Tokitsukaze ichimon. According to sources inside the Sumo Association, Kirishima asked to be transferred to the care of former yokozuna Kakuryū in Otowayama stable. During this same March tournament, Kirishima performed poorly, suffering an eighth defeat on Day 11 against Wakamotoharu, with the certainty of being relegated to kadoban status for the May tournament. In total, he recorded just five victories in the tournament, including a notable last one against fellow-ōzeki Kotonowaka. Disappointed by his performance, he nevertheless confirmed that he was looking forward to being trained by Otowayama, declaring that he intended to prepare as quickly as possible for the May tournament. Later that same month, he withdrew from regional tours for medical reasons, citing a neck contusion, doubled by a contusion of both elbows and a right triceps tendonitis.

Kirishima's performances were impacted by his injuries and at the May 2024 tournament, during which Kirishima wrestled under the status of kadoban-ōzeki, he recorded a series of consecutive defeats. He withdrew on Day 7 after scoring just one win. Kirishima would not return to the tournament, with his new stablemaster Otowayama commenting that he had neck pain and would be hospitalized for a few days. Kirishima was demoted to sekiwake for the July tournament, where he will need to win ten matches in order to return to sumo's second-highest rank.

Fighting style
According to his Japan Sumo Association profile, Kirishima's preferred grip on his opponent's mawashi is hidari-yotsu, a right arm outside and left hand inside position. His favourite techniques are listed as yori-kiri (force out) and nage (throws), both underarm and overarm. In the run-up to his top division promotion he increased his weight to 140 kg, giving him a more powerful attack, but he is still able to outmaneuver his opponents by his speed and footwork. During the early years of his career, he aimed to emulate the style of his master and the Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji and Asashōryū.

Personal life
Kirishima maintains a decade-long friendship with judoka Ryunosuke Haga.