Profile
Takahara Keito (高原 契斗) is an 18-year-old professional sumo wrestler from Odawara, Kanagawa, who joined Futagoyama Stable in July 2025. His path to professional sumo was defined by a rare double foundation — years of competitive sumo from elementary school combined with a karate career that produced a prefectural championship title.
Takahara started wrestling in elementary school (5th grade) and trained at Izumi Junior High School's sumo club in Odawara. In junior high, he was part of a team that reached the Kanto Regional Tournament top 8 — the first team from Odawara city to qualify for the national tournament — and finished in the national top 32. He also placed 3rd individually at the Kanto Regional level.
Alongside sumo, Takahara trained in RF Budo Karate (Zendokai full-contact karate) at Sotenjuku dojo in Odawara. He placed runner-up at the Kanagawa prefectural level in 2020 and won the championship in 2021 — a title that speaks to his explosive physical ability and competitive instincts under pressure.
At Asahigaoka High School (Shinmei Gakuen), he won the Kanagawa Prefectural Interhigh qualifier in the open-weight division with a perfect 7-0 record and reached the national Interhigh top 32 at Usa City, Oita Prefecture (July 2024).
Futagoyama stable master (former Ozeki Masuyama II) personally watched Takahara compete and approached him directly. His stated goal is clear: "I want to become a wrestler that makes people glad they came to the stable. My goal is to reach the salaried ranks by age 20." Since his debut, he has posted two consecutive 6-1 records in the Jonidan division and is now climbing Sandanme — validating every word of the stable master's initial assessment.
In Their Own Words
Watch Takahara on YouTube
Futagoyama Stable's official YouTube channel has documented Takahara from his very first day — including his first match footage and a full behind-the-scenes look at life as a new recruit.
Karate Background
🥋 RF Budo Karate (Zendokai) — Sotenjuku Dojo, Odawara
Alongside his sumo career, Takahara trained in RF Budo Karate — a full-contact karate discipline governed by the Zendokai federation. He competed out of Sotenjuku dojo in Odawara, Kanagawa, the same city where he grew up and wrestled.
His competitive record in karate is impressive: runner-up at the Kanagawa Prefectural Tournament in 2020, then champion in 2021. This dual combat sports background is credited with developing his explosive lower-body drive and his ability to read an opponent's intentions — attributes that translated directly into rapid sumo progress.
Why it matters for sumo: Full-contact karate develops the same attributes elite sumo demands — explosive hip extension, rotational power, the ability to close distance under pressure, and composure in physical contact. Wrestlers with martial arts backgrounds often show faster adaptation in the lower divisions. Takahara's 2× consecutive 6-1 records in Jonidan are consistent with this profile.
Tournament Results
| Basho | Division | Rank | Record | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/7 Nagoya | Jonokuchi | Debut | — | Professional debut · New recruit exam |
| 2025/9 Aki (Autumn) | Jonokuchi | East Jonokuchi 23 | 4–3 | Winning record in debut basho |
| 2025/11 Kyushu | Jonidan | East Jonidan 85 | 6–1 | Near-perfect record · Promoted |
| 2026/1 Hatsu (January) | Jonidan | East Jonidan 9 | 6–1 | 2nd consecutive 6-1 · Promoted to Sandanme |
| 2026/3 Haru (March) | Sandanme | East Sandanme 31 | 4–0 (ongoing) | Current basho · Still competing |
Career History
Daily Life at the Stable
The Futagoyama Stable YouTube channel documented Takahara's first day and the daily routine of a new recruit. Here's what a typical day looks like:
🍲 Takahara's First Chanko Menu (documented on YouTube)
Chanko is the cornerstone of a sumo wrestler's diet — served twice daily in large portions to support the caloric demands of morning training and body development. Each stable has its own chanko recipes; Futagoyama's salt-based nabe is a staple.
NHK doesn't broadcast Sandanme or below — but ABEMA covers every division, every tournament, live and free. Outside Japan? Use a VPN.