Daieishō Hayato

{{hatnote|In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Daieishō.}}

{{Infobox sumo wrestler

| image = Daieisho 2014.JPG

| caption = Daieishō in 2014

| name = 大栄翔勇人
Daieishō Hayato

| birth_name = Hayato Takanishi

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|11|10}}

| death_date =

| birth_place = Asaka, Saitama Prefecture

| height = {{height|meters=1.82}}

| weight = {{convert|164|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| heya = Oitekaze

| university =

| rank = see below

| record =

| debut = January, 2012

| highestrank = Sekiwake (September 2020)

| retireddate =

| yushos = 1 (Makuuchi)
1 (Jūryō)
1 (Sandanme)
1 (Jonokuchi)

| prizes = 5 Outstanding Performance
2 Technique

| goldstars = 4
Kakuryū
Hakuhō
Terunofuji (2)

| weburl =

|update = 26 November 2023

}}

{{nihongo|Daieishō Hayato|大栄翔勇人||born November 10, 1993 as {{nihongo|Hayato Takanishi|高西勇人|Takanishi Hayato}}|lead=yes}} is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in 2012 at the age of eighteen and reached the top makuuchi division in September 2015. His highest rank to date has been sekiwake. He has four gold stars for defeating yokozuna, five special prizes for Outstanding Performance and two special prizes for Technique. He wrestles for the Oitekaze stable. In January 2021 he became the first wrestler from Saitama Prefecture to win the top-division championship. He was a runner-up in the May 2022 and March 2023 tournaments.

Early life and education

Hayato Takanishi was born on 10 November 1993 in Asaka, a city in Saitama Prefecture. He started sumo after winning a local tournament during his first year in elementary school. At junior high he was a member of a sumo club in Iruma, where he first developed his thrusting attack.{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14134760|title=SUMO/ Daieisho's first championship 'best gift' for his proud mom|last=Matsumoto|first=Ryusaburo|date=25 January 2021|work=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=26 January 2021}} He attended Saitama Sakae High School, a school famous for its sumo club, and earned a place in the club's first team near the end of his second year. In his final year he contributed to the school finishing in second place in the team competition at the national championships. After graduation he joined Oitekaze stable to pursue a professional sumo career.{{cite web |url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/05/29/kiji/K20140529008255530.html |title=大栄翔が新十両昇進３歳年上弟弟子・遠藤"刺激"に躍進 |language=ja |trans-title=Daieisho promoted to Juryo, 3-years' senior Endo's progression "stimulating" |date=29 May 2014 |work=Sponichi |publisher=Sports Nippon Newspapers |last=Suzuki |first=Satoru |access-date=31 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911141505/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/05/29/kiji/K20140529008255530.html |archive-date=11 September 2016 }} Coming from a single-parent family, he was keen to support his mother.

Career

=Early career=

Takanishi Hayato entered sumo under his birth name but adopted the ring name Daishoei for his first competitive tournament. He won the jonokuchi division with a 7–0 record in March 2012 and a 6–1 record in jonidan in May saw him promoted to sandanme where he recorded four wins in July. He then modified his ring name slightly and became Daieishō. After winning records in the next two tournaments he was promoted to makushita but struggled in higher division and was relegated back to sandanme. A perfect 7–0 in May 2013 saw him take the divisional championship and secure a return to makushita. After three consecutive winning records (kachi-koshi) Daieishō was promoted to the second highest jūryō division for the July 2014 tournament, the 14th former student of Saitama Sakae's coach Michinori Yamada to reach the rank. After performing consistently in jūryō for a year he earned promotion to the top division (makuuchi) with a 9–6 record in July 2015.

File:Daieisho tegata.jpg

=Makuuchi career=

In September 2015 Daieishō made his makuuchi debut at the rank of maegashira 13. He was the youngest man in the division at 21 years old.{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/09/13/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-crashes-stunning-opening-defeat-autumn-basho/#.WNl0XmczXoo|title=Hakuho crashes to stunning opening defeat at Autumn basho|date=13 September 2015|publisher=Japan Times|access-date=27 March 2017}} He won seven of his first fourteen bouts, including an upset victory over Takarafuji but a final day defeat against Takekaze saw him end the tournament with a 7–8 losing record (make-koshi). In November he recorded only six wins and was demoted to jūryō but returned to the top division after an 8–7 record in January 2016. In March 2016 Daieishō produced a career-best effort, recording ten wins including victories over Ichinojō and Takekaze to place him in a tie for seventh place. In May, at career-high rank of maegashira 9 he stood at 6–4 after ten days but then slumped to five consecutive defeats. He struggled again in July, recording only five wins and dropped to maegashira 16 for September. His seven tournament run in the top division ended after a 5–10 record saw him relegated to jūryō for the November tournament but he responded with eight wins to put himself back in contention for promotion.

In January 2017 he won the jūryō division with a 12–3 record to secure his promotion back to makuuchi. He produced his best result in the top division to date in the March 2017 tournament, winning his last eight bouts in a row to finish on 11–4. This saw him promoted to his highest rank to date of maegashira 3 for the May tournament. Facing all the yokozuna and ōzeki for the first time, he followed his eight consecutive wins in March with eight losses in his first eight bouts in May and finished with a 4–11 record. After falling to maegashira 13 with a poor 5–10 score in November 2017, he recovered somewhat to post consecutive 9–6 records in the January and March tournaments of 2018.

He reached maegashira 2 in March 2019, and remained near the top of the maegashira ranks in the next few tournaments. In September he earned his first kinboshi with a defeat of Kakuryū, his first win over a yokozuna in eleven attempts.{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190913/p2g/00m/0sp/091000c|title=Sumo: Okinoumi sweeps into sole lead on Day 6|date=13 September 2019|publisher=The Mainichi|access-date=13 September 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921070631/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190913/p2g/00m/0sp/091000c|url-status=dead}} He attained a career highest rank of maegashira 1 in the November 2019 tournament, and earned his career kinboshi on Day 2 with a first win over Hakuhō in five attempts.{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191111/p2g/00m/0sp/079000c|title=Sumo: Hakuho upset on Day 2 of Kyushu meet as title chase blows open|date=11 November 2019|work=The Mainchi|access-date=12 November 2019|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112133721/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191111/p2g/00m/0sp/079000c|url-status=dead}} Hakuhō went on to win the tournament and as the only man to defeat him, Daieisho received the Outstanding Performance Prize.{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191124/p2g/00m/0sp/039000c|title=Sumo: Hakuho puts final winning touch on 43rd championship|date=24 November 2019|work=The Mainichi|access-date=25 November 2019|archive-date=27 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127222702/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191124/p2g/00m/0sp/039000c|url-status=dead}} He made his debut at the komusubi rank in January 2020, narrowly failing to secure a majority of wins, finishing on 7–8. He returned to komusubi in July 2020, where he defeated Hakuhō again,{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/29/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-loses-sole-possession-lead-upset-daieisho-day-11-july-basho/|title=Hakuho loses sole possession of lead after being upset by Daieisho on Day 11 of July Basho|date=29 July 2020|work=Japan Times|access-date=4 August 2020}} won his last six bouts to finish on 11–4 and won his second Outstanding Performance Prize.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=2705727#.XylYTeSWyUk|title=Terunofuji caps dramatic comeback with second title|date=2 August 2020|work=Japan Times|access-date=4 August 2020}} He was promoted to sekiwake for the September 2020 tournament, the first sekiwake from Saitama Prefecture since Wakachichibu in July 1963,{{cite web|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|title=2020 September Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|work=Japan Sumo Association|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929145028/http://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics/|archive-date=29 September 2020}} but returned to the maegashira ranks after recording only five wins in the tournament.

Daieishō won his first Emperor's Cup in the January 2021 tournament with a 13-2 record at the rank of maegashira 1. He defeated all of the san'yaku wrestlers ranked above him in the first week, the first maegashira to so since 15 day tournaments began in 1949.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/01/25/sumo/daieisho-first-top-division-championship/|title=Daieisho basks in glow of first top-division championship|date=25 January 2021|work=Japan Times|access-date=26 January 2021}} He then lost to Takarafuji on day 9 and Onosho on day 11. He won his last four matches and clinched the title with a tsukidashi win over Okinoumi on the final day. He received both the Outstanding Performance Award and Technique Prize for his efforts.{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/01/0ad860f18df8-sumo-daieisho-wins-maiden-emperors-cup-on-final-day.html|title=Sumo: Daieisho wins maiden Emperor's Cup on final day|date=24 January 2021|publisher=Kyodo|access-date=24 January 2021}} When interviewed he commented "My intention was always to push and drive the opponent out, which I could keep in my mind for the final bout. There were lots of bouts I could take confidence from too and I hope to keep wrestling the same way."{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/01/24/sumo/basho-reports/daieisho-emperors-cup/|title=Confident Daieisho wraps up first Emperor's Cup on final day|date=24 January 2021|publisher=Japan Times|access-date=24 January 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112140859/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/01/24/sumo/basho-reports/daieisho-emperors-cup/|url-status=dead}} He was the first wrestler from Saitama Prefecture to win the top-division championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14132937|title=SUMO/ Daieisho wins 1st career victory, beating all above his rank|date=24 January 2021|work=Asashi Shimbun|access-date=25 January 2021}} Although he was widely expected to return to his former sekiwake rank in the March 2021 tournament, he instead made his return to san'yaku at the rank of komusubi, and has affirmed his desire to accomplish promotion to ōzeki. He held the komusubi rank with an 8–7 record, but lost it after the May tournament and returned to the maegashira ranks. In September 2021 he earned his third career {{transl|ja|kinboshi}} by handing Terunofuji his first loss as a yokozuna on Day 9.{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210920/p2g/00m/0sp/042000c|title=Sumo: Daieisho shocks sole leader Terunofuji on Day 9|date=20 September 2021|work=The Mainichi|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921113831/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210920/p2g/00m/0sp/042000c|url-status=dead}}

He returned to {{transl|ja|komusubi}} in January 2022, but held the rank for only tournament. He defeated Terunofuji again on Day 2 of the March 2022 tournament for his fourth {{transl|ja|kinboshi}}.{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220314/p2g/00m/0sp/055000c|title=Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji, both 'kadoban' ozeki lose on Day 2|date=14 March 2022|work=The Mainichi|access-date=14 March 2022|archive-date=15 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315060940/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220314/p2g/00m/0sp/055000c|url-status=dead}} Returning to komusubi for the May 2022 tournament, he defeated Terunofuji on the opening day, and finished with eleven wins and a share of second place.{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/05/64572ea0cac8-sumo-terunofuji-raises-7th-emperors-cup-after-loss-by-takanosho.html|title=Sumo: Terunofuji raises 7th Emperor's Cup after loss by Takanosho|date=22 May 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=23 May 2022}} He was awarded his fifth Outstanding Performance Prize. He was promoted to sekiwake for the July tournament, but finished with a losing 6–7–2 record, due to a COVID-19 infection that ruled him out of action for the last two days of the tournament.{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-07-04 |title=2022 Nagoya Basho Rankings |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-rankings/2022-nagoya-basho-rankings/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}{{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=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}} He finished with 7–8 records in the last two tournaments of 2022.{{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=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}{{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=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}

In January 2023 he was ranked maegashira 1.{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2022-12-26 |title=Sumo Rankings |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-rankings/2023-new-year-basho-rankings/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}} In the January tournament he achieved a 10–5 record, which included wins over upper ranked wrestlers Hōshōryū, Wakatakakage and Shōdai.{{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=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}} In February Daieishō won the 47th Fuji TV Grand Sumo Tournament defeating Hōshōryū in the final.{{Cite web |last=Andy |date=2023-02-05 |title=Daieisho Wins Fuji TV Grand Sumo Tournament |url=https://tachiai.org/2023/02/05/daieisho-wins-fuji-tv-grand-sumo-tournament/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Tachiai (立合い) |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=日本大相撲トーナメント公式サイト |url=https://www-grandsumo-jp.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=www-grandsumo-jp.translate.goog}} In the March 2023 tournament he was promoted back to the rank of komusubi.{{Cite web |last=Chifuri |first=Hiromitsu |date=2023-02-27 |title=Sumo Rankings |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-rankings/2023-spring-basho-rankings/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}} Daieishō led the tournament going into the final day on 12 wins and two losses, but was defeated twice by Kiribayama, in their regulation match and in the subsequent playoff. In addition to runner-up honours he received a share of the special prize for Technique.{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/8e8134ea7f4b-sumo-kiribayama-beats-daieisho-in-playoff-to-claim-spring-tourney.html|title=Sumo: Kiribayama beats Daieisho in playoff to claim Spring tourney|date=26 March 2023|work=Kyodo News|access-date=27 March 2023}} This defeat left him feeling humiliated, especially as he was aiming for promotion to ōzeki at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202404200000960.html|title=大関挑戦リセットの大栄翔が昇進にあらためて意欲「本当に悔しい」先場所で８場所ぶり負け越し|date=22 April 2024|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=22 April 2024|language=ja}}

Having won 22 matches in the last two tournaments, starting from maegashira 1, Daieishō was given the condition for ōzeki promotion if he can score at least 12 wins in the May tournament.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ae03d578e061f96e07cc1e171b5e86036b7f5787|title=関脇・大栄翔の大関とり「2場所22勝」で現在“リーチ” 平幕での成績が起点でも問題なし？|date=13 May 2023|work=Nikkan Gendai|access-date=28 May 2023|language=ja}} He would end up with a 10-5 record in the May tournament, thereby missing ōzeki promotion. However, after the tournament, the hypothesis of an ōzeki promotion received a response from the chairman of the judging committee, Sadagotake, who commented that the July tournament would be one where promotion to ōzeki would be considered if Daieishō's results were good enough.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202305280001556.html |title=霧馬山が大関昇進へ、佐渡ケ嶽審判部長「成績申し分ない」　残る３関脇は来場所大関とりと明言|date=27 May 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=28 May 2023}} Daieishō would need 11 wins at the July basho to reach the normal ōzeki promotion requirement of 33 wins at san'yaku in three tournaments.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202305290000022.html|title=大栄翔、豊昇龍、若元春の３関脇が来場所で大関とり目指す　目安の「三役で３場所33勝」視界|date=28 May 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=28 May 2023}} Commenting on his potential promotion, Daieishō expressed his reservations. Celebrating his 30th birthday in 2023, he declared that unlike younger wrestlers who strive to detach themselves from the context of the promotion, he instead had to give it his full attention because at his age he might not have any more opportunities.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202306270000496.html|title=大関とり大栄翔が会見「意識する。今年30歳。そう長くはとれないし自分の力を100％出す」|date=27 June 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=27 June 2023}} Daieishō, who was nevertheless the sekiwake closest to promotion to ōzeki, nevertheless had a disappointing tournament, even though he achieved a score of 9–6 consolidating him in the rank of sekiwake. At the end of August, it was revealed that Daieishō had fractured a rib on the thirteenth day of the tournament in his match against Wakamotoharu. Competing injured, he decided to take a leave of absence from the regional tours and confessed to having difficulty recovering.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202308200000719.html|title=関脇大栄翔、名古屋場所中に肋骨の骨折をしていた「まだ多少は痛みが残っている。無理せずに」|date=20 August 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=4 September 2023}}

During the September tournament, Daieishō competed all the same, recording good results and placing himself, along Hokuseihō, in a situation where he could fight his way into a kettei-sen (playoff), having only one more defeat than tournament leaders Takakeishō and Atamifuji.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202309230001460.html|title=貴景勝が豊昇龍に敗れ痛恨４敗「負けなのでそれが全て」逆転Ｖは千秋楽の大栄翔戦勝利が絶対条件|date=23 September 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=25 September 2023}} Daieishō was also promised a prize for Fighting Spirit if he was to record an eleventh victory.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202309240000441.html|title=熱海富士が初三賞の敢闘賞受賞　貴景勝Ｖで殊勲賞受賞者なし、技能賞も候補者なく受賞者なし|date=24 September 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=25 September 2023}} On the final day of the tournament, Daieishō lost his match to Takakeishō, taking him out of the title race and preventing him from receiving the award.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202309240000759.html|title=貴景勝が優勝決定戦進出　４敗で並んでいた関脇大栄翔を撃破　４度目賜杯へ再びチャンスめぐる|date=24 September 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=25 September 2023}}

At the March 2024 tournament he suffered his first negative score (make-koshi) in seven tournaments, having to be demoted for the May tournament. During the April tour, he also commented on his frustration at seeing his juniors (Hōshōryū and Kotonowaka) reach ōzeki status before him. At the May tournament, he however stood out by defeating Kotonowaka, freshly renamed Kotozakura, on Day 1 of the competition.{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202405120001047.html|title=大栄翔、大関琴桜を圧倒して白星発進「いい稽古をさせてもらったので」場所前稽古で胸借りる|date=12 May 2024|publisher=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=14 May 2024}}

Fighting style

Daieishō is a tsuki and oshi specialist, which means he relies on thrusting and pushing techniques to defeat his opponents rather than belt-wrestling. By far the most common of his winning techniques is oshidashi which accounts for 55% of his wins.{{cite web|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataRikishi/profile?id=3376|title=日本相撲協会公式サイト|publisher=sumo.or.jp}} Although he also used belt gripping techniques during his high school career, he has focused on pushing and thrusting since turning professional. In an interview upon the announcement of his promotion to Juryo in May 2014, Daieishō was quoted as saying he wanted to thrust like former ōzeki Chiyotaikai.

Career record

{{Sumo record box start|Daieishō Hayato{{cite web | title=Daieishō Hayato Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=11985 | access-date=23 May 2013}}}}