Takakeishō Takanobu
A compact powerhouse of thrusting sumo, he defied his size to claim multiple top-division championships as an ōzeki.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Japanese sumo wrestler·Birthday: August 5·Millennials
Biography
Takakeishō Takanobu, whose fighting name translates to 'Fierce Victory,' carved a formidable path in sumo with a style that made a virtue of his modest stature. Unlike the towering giants of the sport, he relied on explosive forward pressure, a relentless series of thrusts and shoves that could drive any opponent from the ring in seconds. Debuting in 2014, his ascent was meteoric, reaching the top makuuchi division in just over two years. His first championship in 2018 announced him as a major force, a promise he fulfilled by eventually rising to the sport's second-highest rank of ōzeki. Despite battling injuries that often kept him from the ultimate yokozuna promotion, his consistency and powerful, straightforward technique earned him multiple Emperor's Cups, proving that in sumo, concentrated force can triumph over sheer mass.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Takakeishō was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Takakeishō Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Takakeishō's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won his first top-division championship (yūshō) in November 2018, just four years after his professional debut.
- Achieved the rank of ōzeki, sumo's second-highest rank, in May 2019.
- Secured four total top-division tournament championships, with wins in 2018, 2020, and 2023 (twice).
- Earned seven special prizes for outstanding tournament performance.
Did You Know?
His favorite food is yakiniku (Japanese grilled meat).
He shares his stable, Tokiwayama, with other notable wrestlers, having been trained by former sekiwake Takanowaka.
He is known for a very consistent and recognizable pre-bout routine, smoothing his mawashi (belt) with precise movements.
“My sumo is straightforward: charge forward and push with all my strength.”
