Where is Kikuchi from?

Kikuchi is from Kyoto City, the ancient capital of Japan. Kyoto is not traditionally associated with sumo — most sumo stables and talent pipelines are concentrated in Tokyo and the Kanto region. Wrestlers from Kyoto are relatively uncommon in the sport, making Kikuchi's background distinctive. His recruitment to a Tokyo stable reflects the national scouting reach of Futagoyama's oyakata.

What potential does Kikuchi have in sumo?

The potential assessment for Kikuchi is straightforward: at 17, standing 180cm, he has not yet finished growing physically. Many professional sumo wrestlers add significant muscle mass between the ages of 17 and 23, which can dramatically change their competitive level. The stable notes that his body is still developing, and the current phase of his career is about gaining tournament experience while that physical development continues. Wrestlers who enter the sport young and are patient with their development often emerge as strong mid-division competitors in their mid-twenties.

Kikuchi (菊池) — Sumo Wrestler Profile

Q: Who is Kikuchi the sumo wrestler?

Kikuchi (菊池 · furigana きくち ), real name Kikuchi Raki (菊池 羅希) , is a professional sumo wrestler born February 3, 2009 in Nishikyo-ku (西京区), Kyoto City, competing for Futagoyama Stable. At just 17 years old, he is one of the youngest active wrestlers in professional sumo. He stands 180cm tall and is currently ranked East Jonidan 62 on the May 2026 Natsu Basho. He entered the sport before his body has fully developed, which is both a challenge and an indication of the talent that has already been identified in him at such a young age.

Q: What division is Kikuchi in?

Kikuchi is currently ranked East Jonidan 62 on the May 2026 Natsu Basho. Jonidan is the second-lowest division in professional sumo. For a 17-year-old wrestler, competing in Jonidan is a legitimate achievement — many wrestlers of his age are still in the lowest Jonokuchi division. Being in Jonidan at 17 suggests he has already made progress since his debut.

Profile

Kikuchi (菊池) is a professional sumo wrestler from Kyoto City, competing for Futagoyama Stable. At just 17 years old, he is one of the youngest wrestlers in professional sumo. Standing 180cm, he has an impressive physical frame for his age — one that suggests significant room for growth as his body continues to develop over the coming years.

Currently ranked East Jonidan 97, Kikuchi is at the very beginning of what could be a long professional career. The coaching staff at Futagoyama notes that his body is still developing, and that the current phase is about accumulating competitive experience rather than immediate results. This patient approach is common for teenagers in sumo: rushing development too early can lead to injury or technical bad habits, while allowing a young wrestler to grow naturally tends to produce more durable long-term careers.

Kyoto is an unusual hometown for a sumo wrestler. The ancient capital is primarily known for its cultural and historical significance rather than as a sumo hotbed — most sumo stables and their recruiting pipelines are centred in Tokyo and the Kanto region. That a talent was identified and recruited from Kyoto reflects either the wrestler's extraordinary natural ability or the broad reach of Futagoyama's scouting.

In Japan's junior sumo scene — which feeds directly into the professional ranks — wrestlers who show promise before 18 are often fast-tracked into a stable. The fact that Kikuchi entered a professional stable at such a young age is itself a statement about the potential that has been seen in him.

Career History

Debut

Joins Futagoyama Stable — Kyoto City

Recruited from Kyoto and joined Futagoyama Stable. Entered professional sumo as a teenager, one of the youngest wrestlers at the stable and in the sport.

Early career

Gaining experience in the lower divisions

Competed in the Jonokuchi and Jonidan divisions, building competitive experience. At this age, the primary focus is physical development and learning the technical fundamentals of professional sumo.

March 2026

East Jonidan 97 (Current)

Ranked East Jonidan 97. At 17, still in the body development phase. Posted 3–4 in the previous tournament. The long-term picture is what matters at this stage of his career.

📊 Recent Results & Trajectory

Basho	Rank	Result	Outcome
March 2026 (Haru Basho)	(prior Jonidan rank)	4–3	4–3 in March improved his Jonidan position
May 2026 (Natsu Basho — current)	East Jonidan 62	—	Now competing at the May 2026 banzuke rank

Source: Japan Sumo Association published banzuke for May 2026 (Natsu Basho); March 2026 result from JSA tournament records.

🚧 Where Kikuchi Sits — The Path Forward

Current rank: East Jonidan 62 for the May 2026 Natsu Basho. Career high: Jonidan 66.

Trajectory: 4–3 in March improved his Jonidan position. The next-step target: with steady 4-3 records he gradually climbs through Jonidan; at 17 years old his developmental window is wide.

From Kyoto City, joined the stable in May 2024 at age 15 after his father (a former rugby player) saw Futagoyama's YouTube channel and changed his original plan of attending a technical high school. Reported height/weight at debut was around 105 kg; he is now around 123 kg and growing.

📋 Basic Info

Shikona (ring name)	Kikuchi Raki (菊池羅希)
Furigana	きくちらき
Real name	菊池羅希
Date of birth	February 3, 2009 (age 17)
Birthplace	Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Height / Weight	180.1 cm / 123.1 kg (JSA listing)
Stable	Futagoyama Stable (master: former Ozeki Miyabiyama)
Pro debut	May 2024 Natsu Basho (entered at age 15)
Career high	Jonidan 66
Current rank	East Jonidan 62 (May 2026 Natsu Basho)
Style	Tall, developing wrestler from a rugby background
JSA profile	Japan Sumo Association profile

🎤 Personal Profile (from official YouTube)

Source: Self-introduction, New Year resolution, debut interview and Q&A videos on Futagoyama Stable's official YouTube channel 'Sumo food' (2024–2025), transcribed from on-screen captions.

From Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; joined Futagoyama Stable in May 2024 at age 15, one of the youngest entrants. Originally planned to attend a technical high school, but his father (a former rugby player) decided sumo was the path after watching the stable's YouTube channel. From 105kg at debut he has grown close to 120kg. As he put it: 'I'm at the bottom so I'll happily take whatever drilling is dished out' — an unaffected, straightforward personality.

FAQ

Who is Kikuchi the sumo wrestler? ▼

Kikuchi (菊池) is a 17-year-old professional sumo wrestler from Kyoto City, competing for Futagoyama Stable. He stands 180cm tall and is currently ranked East Jonidan 62 on the May 2026 Natsu Basho. At 17, he is one of the youngest active wrestlers in professional sumo, and is in the early stages of what is expected to be a lengthy career development process.

What division is Kikuchi in? ▼

Kikuchi is ranked East Jonidan 97 as of March 2026 — the second-lowest division in professional sumo. For a 17-year-old, competing in Jonidan rather than the very bottom Jonokuchi division indicates that he has already shown some progress since his debut. The six professional divisions from lowest to highest are: Jonokuchi, Jonidan, Sandanme, Makushita, Juryo, and Makuuchi.

Why is Kikuchi from Kyoto unusual in sumo? ▼

Sumo's infrastructure — stables, tournaments, training culture — is centred almost entirely in Tokyo and the Kanto region. Wrestlers from western Japan, and especially from ancient cities like Kyoto, are relatively uncommon. Historically, sumo was more distributed across Japan, but the modern professional system has become Tokyo-centric. A wrestler from Kyoto entering a Tokyo stable represents a cross-regional talent identification, which speaks to either the wrestler's exceptional ability or the stable's wide scouting network.

What is Kikuchi's potential in sumo? ▼

Kikuchi's potential is genuinely difficult to assess at 17 — that is true of almost any athlete at that age. What can be said is that standing 180cm at 17, with continued physical development ahead, he has the raw physical profile of a professional sumo wrestler. Wrestlers who enter the sport in their mid-teens and are developed patiently by experienced stables often emerge as competitive mid-division wrestlers in their early-to-mid twenties. Futagoyama Stable's coaching approach emphasises patient development, which is the right environment for a teenager still growing into the sport.

Other Wrestlers at Futagoyama Stable

📌 See Kikuchi (菊池) Compete Live

Sumo tournaments are held six times a year (Tokyo in January, May, September; Osaka in March; Nagoya in July; Fukuoka in November). Catching a Futagoyama Stable wrestler in person is the best way to support them.

🎫

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Kikuchi 菊池 · きくち