The first sumo wrestler is born from the prestigious judo club. Ryotaro Okada, a fourth-year student at Tokai University, has announced his intention to join the Takadagawa stable. Although he has no experience in sumo, his plump body is full of potential.
Okada poses for a photo with Wolf (right), who inspired him to join the school, on the 16th at Tokai University in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
“After participating in several practices and standing in the ring, my feelings became stronger.”
On the 16th, Okada, who was one of the strongest athletes that produced the likes of Yasuhiro Yamashita, who won the gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Yasuo Inoue, who won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, made his decision at a press conference with his mentor, Oyakata Takadagawa (former sekiwake Akinoshima), and others. said.
Born in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. He has been devoted to judo since he was a child, and in 2012 he placed 3rd in the men’s 100kg+ category at the Tokyo Student Weight Class Championships. My introduction to the sport was the YouTube channel of Wolf Aron (Park 24), a Tokai University alumnus and gold medalist in the men’s 100kg class at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
◆“Pushing” is a characteristic that even Wolf acknowledged.
Wolf, who noticed the “beloved character” who always had a smile on his face, filmed his life, and as part of that, he was taken to rehearsals at the Takadagawa Stable. After that, things progressed smoothly. He decided to enter the corner world, and Wolf expressed his hopes for him, saying, “It’s worth trying something that no one has ever done before.”
Attending the introductory press conference (from right) Wolf, Okada, Master Takadagawa, and Coach Josui on the 16th at Tokai University in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Although he is 176 cm tall and not tall, he weighs 165 kg and is wide. Wolff, who recently had a randori match with Okada, said, “I got pushed five times and my back got strained.I have a lot of horsepower to rush forward.”It seems that pushing will be his characteristic.
◆New disciple test at Kyushu venue, first ring
He will be the first university graduate sumo wrestler for Takadagawa Stable. Master Takadagawa, who himself has experience in judo, said, “When I think of the Tokai University Judo Club, I admire it and it’s the pinnacle.I want them to devote themselves to their training so as not to tarnish their name.” His personality, which is described by Kenichiro Agemizu, the coach of Tokai University’s judo club, as “never getting depressed and not letting defeat drag him down” makes him ideal for sumo wrestling, where he has to wrestle every day if he becomes sekitori.
He took the new disciple test at the Kyushu tournament (first day of November 10th, Fukuoka International Center) and stepped into the sumo ring for the first time. Okada confidently talked about his goals, saying, “In the future, I want to become a makuuchi wrestler.I want to be like Akinojima-san in sumo and Wolf-san in judo.” The power cultivated on the blue tatami floor is expressed in the ring. (Yohei Maruyama)
