The meteoric rise of a sumo prodigy from Atami
In short: In the high-stakes world of professional sumo, few athletes ascend the ranks with such breathtaking speed. From a single-parent household in Chiba to the upper echelaries of the makuuchi division, Atamifuji Sakutarō’s journey is a masterclass in raw passion and rapid-fire promotion.
Born Sakutarō Takei in 2002, the wrestler known as Atamifuji entered the professional arena in November 2020. His ascent was nothing short of extraordinary. By November 2022, he had reached the top makuuchi division in just 12 tournaments, a feat that ties him for eighth place for the fastest progress to the top division since the six-tournament per-year system was introduced in 1958. Before his professional debut, he competed for Hiryū High School, where he placed fourth in the 2019 National Athletic Meets. This performance provided the necessary confidence for him to commit to a professional career after graduating.
His early career was marked by dominance in the lower divisions, winning championships in both jonokuchi and jonidan in early 2021. However, his path was not without turbulence. Following a period of struggle, he was demoted to the jūryō division in January 2023 after an absence due to influenza. During this time, his senior, the 73rd yokozuna Terunofuji, offered a stern critique, suggesting Atamifuji had risen on 'qualities alone' rather than refined technique. During his climb through the ranks, he achieved the distinction of being the seventh-fastest promotion to the jūryō division since 1958. This period also saw him navigate personal challenges, including a massive landslide that struck his hometown of Atami during a tournament in 2021.
The wrestler eventually overcame these setbacks, reaching the prestigious sekiwake rank by May 202<0xC2>6. His technical prowess in yotsu-sumo grappling, specifically his preferred migi-yotsu right-hand inside grip, has allowed him to defeat formidable opponents, including multiple yokozuna like Hōshōryū and Ōnosato. Beyond the ring, his identity is deeply tied to his roots; his ring name, Atamifuji, combines his hometown of Atami with his stablemaster's name, Asahifuji. His recent successes include earning two career gold stars in January 2026 by defeating two yokozuna on consecutive days. This period of excellence also saw him become the first wrestler from Shizuoka Prefecture to reach the san'yaku ranks in nearly a century.
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