FUKUOKA - Former sekiwake Tamawashi will become the oldest wrestler in the modern era to return to the elite makuuchi division at next month's Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, but the Mongolian-born veteran said Wednesday he is still learning and evolving.
He will enter the record books at 41 years and 11 months after spending the past two tournaments in the second-tier juryo division.
"I want to approach this with a fresh mindset," said Tamawashi, after engaging in practice bouts for a second straight day in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture. "I hope to show a new version of myself, to demonstrate how much I've evolved since I was last here."
The training ring used by Tamawashi's Kataonami stable is set up at a former high school in Asakura.
He has served as a goodwill ambassador for the rural city since 2019 and describes it as his "second hometown." Surrounded by mountains and with star-filled night skies, its environment is reminiscent of his native Mongolia.
The 15-day meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, for which he is ranked as a No. 15 maegashira, will be his 101st in the top division, the third-most of any wrestler, behind former ozeki Kaio and former yokozuna Hakuho.
