Haru Basho. Senshuraku: The Spring tournament concluded in the Japanese city of Osaka on March 22.
The Mongolian wrestler "Sekiwake" Kirishima, also known as Lkhagvasuren Byambachuluun, won the Emperor's Cup at the Physical Education and Sports Palace in Osaka, as reported by MiddleAsianNews.
Despite losing to Kotozakura in the tournament final, Kirishima will be awarded the title of Ozeki.
The Emperor's Cup has become a significant award, especially against the backdrop of the two black balls he received at the end of the Spring tournament. The judging committee proposed to promote the 29-year-old Mongolian rikishi back to the second tier of the wrestling hierarchy.
The final decision will be made on March 25 at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Japan Sumo Association.
Lkhagvasuren Byambachuluun was born on April 24, 1996, in Dornod Province in eastern Mongolia.
As a child, he learned to ride horses while helping his father herd sheep.
At the age of 18, having a background in judo, Lkhagvasuren came to Japan, dreaming of becoming a professional sumo wrestler.
Together with four other wrestlers, he underwent a short internship at the Mitinoku school.
The former Ozeki Kirishima, coach of Mitinoku-beya, could take only one foreigner, and he chose Lkhagvasuren when he learned about his desire to work and earn money to support his family.
In May 2015, he began his career as a rikishi.
The name Shikona Kiribayama consists of three characters: 霧 — "fog," borrowed from Kirishima, 馬 — "horse," symbolizing Mongolia, and 山 — "mountain."
In January 2019, Kiribayama, having significantly increased his weight, received the status of sekitori and debuted in the top division, makuuchi, in January 2020.
In March 2023, he won the Emperor's Cup, and in May, he became Ozeki and received a new name — Kirishima.
In November 2023, Kirishima once again became the holder of the yusho.
Lkhagvasuren Byambachuluun is married to a Mongolian beauty and has a son and a daughter.
Kirishima enjoys yakiniku, loves computer games, and drawing.
His height is 184 cm, and his weight is 145 kg.
