Kinbōzan Haruki (Japanese: 金峰山 晴樹, born 24 June 1997 as Yersin Baltagul[1] (Kazakh: Ерсін Балтағұл) is a professional sumo wrestler from Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Yersin originally practiced judo until the age of 18 when, at the suggestion of former yokozuna Asashōryū, he transferred to a high school in Japan to participate in amateur sumo wrestling.

[2] Upon graduating from university Yersin was urged to enter professional sumo, where he would be eligible to skip the lower two divisions and start at the rank of sandanme because of a dispensation given to amateur wrestlers who have finished in the top 8 in tournaments such as the All-Japan Championships.

He joined Kise stable under the shikona of Kinbōzan, which is derived from Mount Kinbō in Kumamoto, the hometown of his stablemaster (former maegashira Higonoumi) but also to be inspired by the martial spirit of Miyamoto Musashi, who wrote parts of his Book of Five Rings while staying on the mountain.

[8] During the sōken of May 2023, Kinbōzan admitted that he was prone to breathing problems when put under stress or too much effort after he appeared to be genuinely uncomfortable after a butsukari session with more senior wrestlers.

During the twelfth day of the tournament, he suffered a knee injury in his match against Tsurugishō and had to limp back up the hanamichi, telling the press afterwards that he felt severe pain even with painkillers.

[18][19] On Day 10, however, he suffered his first defeat at the hands of komusubi Abi, reducing to one victory the two-victory gap he had spared against the trio of wrestlers still in positions to challenge him for the title (Ōhō, Takerufuji and Chiyoshōma).

[28] Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Kinbōzan Haruki's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage Terunofuji (retired) Kotozakura Hōshōryū Ōnosato Wakamotoharu Daieishō Abi Wakatakakage Takanoshō Kirishima Tobizaru Atamifuji Gōnoyama Ōhō Shōdai Ura Hiradoumi Chiyoshōma Takayasu Ichiyamamoto Endō Mitakeumi Rōga Takarafuji Churanoumi Ōshōma Tamawashi Meisei Midorifuji Takerufuji Nishikigi Ōnokatsu Shōnannoumi Kotoshōhō Hokutofuji Kinbōzan Hakuōhō Kitanowaka Tamashōhō Kagayaki Nishikifuji Tokihayate