Ichinojō Takashi

Ichinojō Takashi (Japanese: 逸ノ城 駿, born 7 April 1993 as Altankhuyag Ichinnorov (Mongolian: Алтанхуягийн Ичинноров)) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Arkhangai, Mongolia.

He had risen through the ranks so fast that he did not have time to grow his hair long enough to form the traditional chonmage that sekitori usually wear.

In the subsequent September tournament Ichinojō defeated top division stalwarts and former san'yaku Tochiōzan, Shōhōzan, and Chiyoōtori before being handed his first loss on Day 7 by Ikioi.

His final 13–2 record was good enough for runner-up, special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit, and promotion to sekiwake for his second makuuchi and sixth overall professional tournament.

[1] Ichinojō suffered somewhat from the stress of the attention that was heaped on him due to this impressive performance, entering the hospital with shingles a couple weeks before the next tournament and missing out on important training time.

A 6–9 record in January 2015 saw him relegated to the maegashira ranks but after nine wins in March, including a second career kinboshi or gold star for victory over the yokozuna Harumafuji, he was promoted to komusubi.

Ichinojō began the January 2019 tournament in excellent form, defeating two yokozuna (Kakuryu and Kisenosato) and two ōzeki (Gōeidō and Takayasu) in the first five days but performances deteriorated and he managed to post only two further wins.

In the March tournament Ichinojō employed a revised set of techniques, retreating and then using his height and strength to thrust or slap down his opponents.

He won his last seven bouts including victories over Gōeidō and Takayasu to end the tournament with 14 wins, making him the runner-up behind Hakuhō and earning him the prize for Outstanding Performance.

[13] Following the tournament, government records showed that he acquired Japanese citizenship, which is required in order to remain with the Japan Sumo Association as a coach after his retirement.

During that tournament, the news magazine Shūkan Bunshun published a report that Ichinojō had assaulted the wife of his stablemaster Minato (former maegashira Minatofuji).

[20] After the allegations were published, Japanese news outlets quoted sources that suggested Ichinojō had issues with alcoholism and had been disruptive at parties by drinking excessively, resulting in a rift with his stablemaster.

[21] At the conclusion of the November tournament, Kyodo News reported that Ichinojō was interviewed for about 30 minutes by executives of the Sumo Association.

Sumo Association spokesman Shibatayama (the 62nd yokozuna Ōnokuni) said that Ichinojō's assault on his stablemaster's wife had taken place more than five years ago, was not malicious, and that issues concerning both her and alcoholism had been ruled out.

[24] However, the board found that Ichinojō violated Sumo Association-imposed COVID rules by visiting restaurants on two separate occasions in November 2020 and August 2021 when wrestlers were not permitted to go out.

[24] The Sumo board issued Ichinojō a one-tournament suspension (which was served in January 2023) after considering mitigating circumstances that he expressed remorse for his actions when he was interviewed and that he only went out to the restaurants for a short period of time.

A few weeks later, he told reporters that he intended to compete at the upcoming March tournament where he was ranked near the top of the second-highest jūryō division.

[30] Having left the professional world on bad terms with his master, Ichinojō announced early on in the organization of the event that he was not thinking there would be any participation from members of his former stable.

Ichinojō defeating Okinoumi in the September 2014 honbasho .
An Ichinojō tegata (handprint and signature)