TOKYO - Mongolian-born Joshoyu has vowed a rapid rise through the ranks as he made his long-awaited professional sumo debut at last month's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
"I want to reach sekitori as soon as possible," the 22-year-old Joshoyu said, referring to the status of the top two divisions.
He became the first apprentice wrestler at the Minatogawa stable, headed by former ozeki Takakeisho, who took over the now-defunct Tokiwayama stable in January.
Joshoyu had struggled to join a stable because each stable can accept only one foreign-born wrestler. He continued in amateur sumo for roughly two years after graduating from Tottori Johoku High School, a sumo powerhouse, while working at a day care center for the elderly.
Joshoyu said he was especially struck by how people at the facility watched televised sumo bouts. "If I start appearing on TV, everyone will be happy," he said.
The 177-centimeter grappler said he has gained nearly 10 kilograms since the May new-recruit test and now weighs more than 130 kg.
"The presence of (Ukrainian-born star) Aonishiki and Fujinokawa motivates me," Joshoyu said of wrestlers from his generation already active near the top of the makuuchi division.
