Mita Taiki 三田 大生 · みた たいき

Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture. In this quiet former castle town in northern Kanto, Mita Taiki began wrestling at age 5 at his father's sumo training facility, the Otawara Shushikan. One of the friends he trained alongside was Nabatame Tatsuya, a childhood companion from the same elementary school who would later join him at Futagoyama Stable.

Mita's career has always been defined by the word "unprecedented speed." He placed 3rd at the World Junior Sumo Championship lightweight division in his 2nd year of high school, then won the middleweight title in his 3rd year. At Kindai University, he captained the sumo team to a national collegiate title. Then, after turning pro in September 2024, he won the Juryo division championship in just his 4th tournament. He rose so quickly that his hair couldn't keep up — he appeared at the juryo ring-entering ceremony with disheveled, unstyled hair (zanbara-gami), an exceptionally rare sight that became a symbol of his meteoric rise.

At 173cm and 125kg, Mita is compact for a sekitori. But his weapon is speed. He studies the bouts of former Sekiwake Wakatakakage on YouTube and says: "His speed, his forward pressure, the way he grabs the front of the mawashi — everything about him is incredible."

In November 2025, tragedy struck at his career-high rank of East Juryo 3. He tore his right knee ACL on Day 2 against Hikari. After a previous left knee ACL tear in university, he now faces the daunting challenge of recovering from bilateral ACL injuries. At 24, Mita walks the road back to the dohyo.

Mita's father, Naoki Mita, runs a local sumo training facility in Otawara called the Otawara Shushikan. It was there, watching his older brother practice, that a 5-year-old Taiki first stepped onto the dohyo. His brother's influence sparked a lifelong devotion to the sport.

At the same dojo, Mita trained alongside Nabatame Tatsuya, who attended the same elementary school in Otawara. The two childhood friends would eventually both join Futagoyama Stable — Nabatame first, and then Mita, who said at his debut press conference: "Futagoyama Stable was the only option in my mind."

Even now, Mita's parents send honey from Tochigi to their son in Tokyo. Every night before bed, Mita eats 400g of Bulgarian yogurt topped with blueberries and honey from home — a small ritual that keeps him connected to his roots.

Kurogane High School (Tochigi)

At Kurogane High School (Tochigi Prefectural Kurobane High School), Mita quickly established himself as a national-level talent. In his 2nd year, he placed 3rd in the lightweight division (under 80kg) at the World Junior Sumo Championship. In his 3rd year, he won the middleweight division (under 100kg), becoming a world champion at 17. It was at the World Junior Championship that Mita first met Aonishiki, who would later become a close friend.

His world championship earned him selection as a 2020 Tokyo Olympics torch runner for the Otawara City segment.

Kindai University

Mita enrolled at Kindai University (Kinki University), one of Japan's premier collegiate sumo programs. In his 4th year, he was named captain and led the team to the All-Japan Collegiate Sumo Championship team title — Kindai's first in 13 years. He also won the West Japan Collegiate Individual Championship and reached the National Athletic Meet (Kokutai) Best 8.

However, in his final collegiate tournament (the All-Japan Amateur Championship), Mita suffered a left knee ACL tear and meniscus injury. He underwent surgery in January and rehabilitated at Kindai's sumo dormitory before making his professional debut.

At 173cm and 124kg, Mita is undersized for a sekitori. But he has turned that into an advantage. His style is known as "speed sumo" — explosive tachiai (initial charge), relentless forward pressure, and winning the bout before his opponent can settle into position.

Oshidashi (push out) accounts for roughly a third of his wins — he charges forward from the tachiai and bulldozes opponents out. Hatakikomi (slap down) functions as a counter when opponents try to absorb his charge.

Mita trains for 3.5+ hours every morning. A key training partner is his stablemate Rohga (184cm, 159kg) — daily bouts against a significantly larger opponent have sharpened Mita's speed and technique. He studies former Sekiwake Wakatakakage's matches on YouTube, admiring his speed and forward momentum.

His weakness: opponents with a similarly compact frame and comparable speed. When he can't exploit a size differential, his toolbox narrows. Expanding his repertoire against such opponents is the key to climbing higher.

Mita's career has a cruel pattern: breakthrough, then knee injury.

The first time was in his final year at Kindai University, during the All-Japan Amateur Championship. Left knee ACL tear and meniscus damage. Surgery in January. He rehabbed at Kindai's dormitory, turned pro, and climbed to juryo champion in 7 months.

The second time was November 2025 at his career-high rank of East Juryo 3. On Day 2, against Hikari: right knee ACL tear. He grimaced on the dohyo, unable to stand, and was carried out on a stretcher.

Left knee, then right knee. Bilateral ACL tears are rare in sumo, and full recovery from both is far from guaranteed. But Mita has already come back from one ACL reconstruction to win a juryo title. At 24, he has youth on his side, a deep technical foundation from his amateur career, and the mental fortitude forged through years of competition. His stablemates and childhood friend Nabatame await his return to the dohyo.

Away from the explosive intensity of his speed sumo, Mita is a different person entirely. Cheerful, approachable, and conflict-averse, he has said:

The Smallest Appetite in Sumo?

Sumo wrestlers are famous for enormous meals, but Mita calls himself "the narrowest eater in sumo." Instead of the typical massive portions, he eats frequently in small amounts — highly unusual for a rikishi. His favorite food is eel (unagi). Since childhood, his mother would prepare eel before important competitions, and it has become his good-luck food.

Nightly Ritual

Every night before bed, Mita eats 400g of Bulgarian yogurt topped with blueberries and honey sent by his parents from Tochigi. A small ritual that keeps him connected to home.

Sauna & Nature

During tournaments, Mita visits the onsen (hot spring bath) daily and does 12-minute sauna sessions to reset his body and mind. He is a nature lover who enjoys rivers, forests, and cool natural settings.

The Zanbara-gami Legend

Normally, juryo-ranked wrestlers wear the oicho-mage (topknot). But Mita's promotion was so fast — roughly 7 months from debut to juryo — that his hair literally had not grown long enough to tie. He performed the juryo ring-entering ceremony with disheveled, unstyled hair (zanbara-gami), an exceptionally rare sight that became one of the most memorable images of his rapid rise.

Despite winning the juryo championship, Mita sees it as a milestone, not the finish line.

Among his goals: competing in the Paris sumo tour planned for 2026. Longer-term, he is inspired by Tamawashi, who continues to compete well into his 40s. "I want to wrestle forever without injury," Mita has said — words that carry special weight from someone who has now torn both ACLs.

His guiding philosophy is "okagesama no seishin" — a Japanese concept meaning the spirit of gratitude and humility, of recognizing that success is never achieved alone. At his juryo promotion banquet, he carefully thanked his stablemaster, the okamisan, his supporters' association, his parents, and his university coach. Maintaining gratitude even in success — that is the compass Mita steers by.

Mita's alma mater, Kurogane High School (Tochigi Prefectural Kurobane High School), rallied behind him. The school's alumni association and sumo club support group organized a donation drive to commission a kesho-mawashi (decorative ceremonial apron) for Mita.

The resulting kesho-mawashi features the school's signature crimson (enji) color, with the school name and emblem prominently displayed. The presentation ceremony took place on September 8, 2025 at the school, attended by approximately 250 students and staff. Mita also made an official courtesy visit to Otawara City Hall, where he met with the mayor.

The kesho-mawashi is a tangible symbol of the community pride that Mita carries onto the dohyo — a reminder that an entire city stands behind him.