TOKYO - Swapping the rugby pitch for sumo's raised ring, former Japan U-20 member Shintaro Haraguchi is eager to prove his strong drives can also cut it in the ancient sport.
Fighting under the ring name Tengakufuji, the 22-year-old made his professional debut at July's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament during the maezumo event, held for unranked wrestlers.
"It was fun. The pre-bout excitement was similar to that of before rugby matches," said Tengakufuji, who fights out of the Isegahama stable.
Tengakufuji began playing rugby at his local Saga Technical High School and made the national championship as a prop before making his way into Japan's U-20 team during his time at Tokai University.
Currently standing at 180 centimeters and weighing 134 kilograms, his muscular physique as well as his rugby experience have given him confidence to succeed in his new sport.
"I liked it as a hobby," said Tengakufuji, who had no previous experience in sumo but is adapting quickly. "The head-on collision is similar to a rugby technique."
His desire to join the Isegahama stable was based on its profile of boasting nine wrestlers in the top two divisions, makuuchi and juryo, and he sold himself with his rugby background on the enquiry page of the stable website.
"In order to make up for my inexperience, I have to fight in the best environment possible," Tengakufuji said as he learns the basics from his senior wrestlers.
While a lack of hip flexibility means he is having a hard time doing the splits, one of the traditional exercises in sumo, Tengakufuji wants to make a success of his unorthodox transition between the two sports.
"I want to be told in the future that it was a good decision I chose sumo," he said.
