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🏟 FUTAGOYAMA STABLE · MAKUSHITA

Nobehara Toma 延原 闘真 · のべはら とうま

Born June 9, 2002 in Joto-ku, Osaka City. West Makushita 9 (May 2026 Natsu Basho). January 2026 Makushita champion (7–0). Tottori Johoku High School graduate. Right-grip belt-and-thrust wrestler at 178 cm / 152 kg.

23
Age
178cm
Height
152kg
Weight
May 2021
Pro debut
MAKUSHITA
West Makushita 9 · 西幕下九枚目
Nobehara 延原 闘真
May 2026 banzuke · Career high E. Makushita 6 (Mar 2026)

Profile

Nobehara Toma (延原 闘真, Nobehara Tōma) is a professional sumo wrestler at Futagoyama Stable. Born June 9, 2002 in Joto-ku, Osaka City, he made his professional debut at the May 2021 Natsu Basho and has since climbed steadily through the lower divisions. As of the May 2026 Natsu Basho banzuke he is ranked West Makushita 9, only a few ranks below his career high of East Makushita 6 reached in March 2026.

His decisive moment came at the January 2026 Hatsu Basho, where he posted a perfect 7–0 record from East Makushita 13 to win the Makushita division championship. The unanimous result included a championship-deciding bout against former top-division wrestler Enho (now retired) which Nobehara won by abasetaoshi (overarm body crush). The promotion to East Makushita 6 that followed was the first time he reached the upper Makushita ranks where Juryo promotion becomes a realistic conversation.

The March 2026 Haru Basho immediately tested that progress. Ranked at his career high, Nobehara went 3–4 (a make-koshi, or losing record), which dropped him to West Makushita 9 for May 2026. Juryo promotion was postponed, but he remains at the top end of Makushita and his championship credential keeps him on every Juryo-promotion shortlist.

Migi-yotsu (right grip) Push, pull & force-out balance Tottori Johoku alumnus January 2026 Makushita champion

Fighting Style & Technique Distribution

The Japan Sumo Association classifies Nobehara as a migi-yotsu wrestler (preferred right-side belt grip). His Japan Sumo Association technique distribution is unusually balanced for a Makushita-rank wrestler:

Oshidashi (push out)
19%
Hikiotoshi (pull down)
19%
Yorikiri (force out)
14%
Other techniques
48%

Source: Japan Sumo Association official career data via SumoDB, May 2026.

The pattern reflects an adaptive wrestler: pushes when he can pin opponents off-balance at the charge, grabs the right-side belt for force-outs when he gets inside position, and pulls tactically when opponents over-commit forward. Few Makushita wrestlers split their wins this evenly across three different technique categories.

Career Timeline

2018–2021
Tottori Johoku High School
Attended Tottori Johoku High School in Tottori Prefecture, one of Japan's most prominent high-school sumo programs. The same program later produced Hakuoho (then Ochiai Tetsuya), who eventually entered Miyagino Stable. Nobehara won the heavyweight division of the Reiwa-2 (2020) Wakatori Dream Special Tournament during his time at the school.
May 2021
Professional debut — Futagoyama Stable
Joined Futagoyama Stable directly after high-school graduation and made his professional debut at the May 2021 Natsu Basho.
2021–2025
Through Sandanme into Makushita
Climbed through Sandanme with a 50–27 record over 11 basho, then established himself in Makushita where his career stats currently stand at 53–52–7 across 16 tournaments.
January 2026
🏆 Makushita Champion (7–0)
Posted a perfect 7–0 record from East Makushita 13 to claim the Makushita division championship at the Hatsu Basho. The decisive bout featured his win over former top-division wrestler Enho.
March 2026
Career high E. Makushita 6 — 3–4 record
Promoted to his career-high rank of East Makushita 6, but went 3–4 (make-koshi). Juryo promotion was put off; banzuke for May dropped him to West Makushita 9.
May 2026 (current)
West Makushita 9 — Natsu Basho
Now competing at West Makushita 9. A winning record at this rank typically rebuilds the Juryo case quickly given his recent championship pedigree.

Career Records (as of May 2026)

DivisionWinsLossesAbsencesTournaments
Career total11482730
Makushita5352716
Sandanme5027011
Lower divisions11303

Source: Japan Sumo Association career data via SumoDB. Tournament championships: 1 (January 2026 Makushita).

FAQ

Who is Nobehara Toma in sumo?
Nobehara Toma (延原 闘真) is a professional sumo wrestler born June 9, 2002 in Joto-ku, Osaka City. He stands 178 cm and weighs 152 kg per the Japan Sumo Association. He attended Tottori Johoku High School — one of Japan's most prominent youth sumo programs — and made his professional debut in May 2021 at Futagoyama Stable. As of the May 2026 Natsu Basho he is ranked West Makushita 9, with a career high of East Makushita 6.
Did Nobehara go to the same high school as Hakuoho?
Yes. Both Nobehara and Hakuoho (then Ochiai Tetsuya) attended Tottori Johoku High School — one of Japan's most prominent high-school sumo programs. Their pro paths diverged afterwards: Nobehara debuted earlier (May 2021, joining Futagoyama Stable); Hakuoho debuted later, joining Miyagino Stable, which has since merged into Isegahama Stable.
When did Nobehara win the Makushita championship?
At the January 2026 Hatsu Basho. From a starting rank of East Makushita 13, he posted a perfect 7–0 record across the seven Makushita match days to claim the division championship. The championship-deciding bout was a win over former top-division wrestler Enho.
What is Nobehara's fighting style?
The Japan Sumo Association lists him as a migi-yotsu wrestler (right-side belt-grip preference). His career win-techniques are unusually balanced: roughly 19% by oshidashi (push out), 19% by hikiotoshi (pull down), and 14% by yorikiri (force out), with the rest spread across other techniques. Few Makushita wrestlers split their wins this evenly across three different techniques.
When could Nobehara be promoted to Juryo?
Despite his January 2026 championship, Nobehara went 3–4 from his career-high East Makushita 6 in March 2026, which postponed Juryo promotion and dropped him to West Makushita 9 for May 2026. To re-enter Juryo conversations, he would need a strong record (typically 5–2 or 6–1) in the upper-Makushita ranks. At 23 years old with a recent championship on his record, he remains one of the stronger Juryo candidates from the lower divisions.

🎤 Personal Profile (from official YouTube)

Source: Self-introduction, New Year resolution, and Q&A videos on Futagoyama Stable's official YouTube channel "Sumo food" (2023–2025), transcribed from on-screen captions and verbatim wrestler statements.

Known among stablemates as the resident car enthusiast. Calls his mother "okā-chan" and notably devoted to her — she still packs his lunch every morning, and he makes a point of acknowledging her birthday and Mother's Day each year. In late 2023 he stated his goal weight as 140 kg (then around 134 kg); by May 2026 the Japan Sumo Association lists him at 152 kg, comfortably past that goal. Lower-division entrants describe him as a doting older-brother figure inside the stable. Favourite food: yakiniku. Favourite clothing: A BATHING APE. Hobby: sauna and going out. Late-night YouTube viewing tends toward combat sports.

📌 See Nobehara (延原) Compete Live

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🎫

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Other Wrestlers at Futagoyama Stable

Data sources & disclaimer: Records, ranks and biographical data are compiled from public sources (Japan Sumo Association official profile, SumoDB, Tottori-related local press). The May 2026 banzuke ranking reflects the published Natsu Basho banzuke. Personal Profile content is sourced from Futagoyama Stable's own YouTube channel. This is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with the Japan Sumo Association or Futagoyama Stable.