The sumo wrestler who climbed from the bottom to the top
In short: After devastating knee injuries sent him to the lowest ranks of professional sumo, Ura Kazuki did the impossible. He didn't just return to the top division; he became the first wrestler in history to reach the prestigious san'yaku rank after being demoted to the jonidan division.
Ura Kazuki's career is a study in resilience against physical breakdown. Entering the professional ranks in 2015 from the Kise stable, Ura initially showed immense promise, winning the jonokuchi division championship in his debut tournament. However, a series of severe injuries—including fractured wrist bones and complex knee ligament damage involving the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus—forced him into extended periods of rehabilitation. At his lowest point, he had dropped to the jonidan division, a rank far below the elite levels of the sport.
What makes Ura's ascent remarkable is the sheer scale of his comeback. After ascending from jonidan 106 West, he maintains the record for the most junior position held prior to returning to the top makuuchi tier. His journey saw him achieve several division championships in the lower ranks, including undefeated 7–0 records in both the sandanme and jonidan divisions between 2018 and 2020. By January 2024, he finally reached the rank of komusubi, achieving san'yaku status for the first time.
Beyond his physical recovery, Ura is celebrated for a highly unpredictable, almost improvisational fighting style. Unlike many heavyweights who rely on brute force, Ura is noted for his agility and use of rare winning techniques, known as kimarite. He has successfully employed moves like the tsutaezogi (underarm forward body drop) and the zubuneri, a technique not seen in the top division for 25 years. This willingness to use unconventional maneuvers has made him a crowd favorite, even as he transitioned from a 113 kg newcomer to a 143 kg powerhouse.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ura Kazuki
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