September 2026 profile. Ranks, measurements, announced pairings and the six-tournament breakdown below reflect the Japanese article’s source check on 11 September 2026.
Yoshinofuji’s first tournament at komusubi ended 6–9 in July. Stop reading there, and his wins over Onosato and Hoshoryu vanish from the story. A losing record contains victories over both yokozuna. The result fits on one line; the experience was not all one colour.
Eleven wins in May, then his first place in sanyaku
In May, at Maegashira 2, he went 11–4 and won a Fighting Spirit Prize. His first appearance at komusubi followed in July, when he beat Onosato on opening day, Aonishiki on Day 4 and Hoshoryu on Day 9. Yet he went 1–5 over the final six days. I want to keep both parts in view: the wins over the top ranks and the difficulty of finishing a tournament with more wins than losses.
Forcing, pushing and throwing
The Association’s six-tournament breakdown lists yorikiri, a force-out, at 34%; oshidashi, a frontal push-out, at 24%; and uwatenage, an overarm throw, at 12%. The first two account for more than half his wins, with throws following behind. Once he gets his preferred right-hand-inside grip, does he drive forward, or does his opponent’s resistance lead to a throw? That is the point I want to watch in the next bout.
The story continues from Kusano
He made his professional debut in May 2024, won consecutive Juryo championships in March and May 2025, and reached Makuuchi in July that year. His former ring name was Kusano. Shogo Hamada and Detective Conan, both mentioned in his official questionnaire, give me two more small ways to remember him. Fujinokawa was announced as his September opening-day opponent.
At a glance
| September 2026 rank | West Maegashira 2 |
|---|---|
| Stable | Isegahama stable |
| From | Uto, Kumamoto |
| Height / weight | 185 cm / 162 kg |
| Listed strengths | Right-hand-inside grip and force-outs |
Meet his announced opening-day opponent, Fujinokawa · Find a wrestler to follow
Source facts checked in the Japanese article on 11 September 2026: the Japan Sumo Association’s official profile (Japanese), including biographical details, tournament records, winning techniques and questionnaire answers. Percentages are the Association’s breakdown of winning finishes over the preceding six tournaments; they are not win rates across all bouts. The viewing suggestions are the writer’s interpretation. The official bout listings change with the tournament and day, so check the date shown there.