Wakamiyabi 若雅 · わかみやび

Wakamiyabi (若雅 · furigana わかみやび), real name Endo Ryusei (遠藤 隆生), is a professional sumo wrestler born June 20, 2003 in Asao-ku (麻生区), Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, competing under the banner of Futagoyama Stable. At 185cm, he is one of the taller wrestlers in the stable, and his frame of 144.2kg gives him a notably advantageous reach compared to many opponents. According to the stable's official YouTube self-introduction segment, his foot size measures 31.5–32cm — the kind of oversized footwear that comes with a sumo wrestler's frame.

Wakamiyabi made his professional debut in March 2022 and has steadily climbed through the lower divisions. Per the JSA, he stands 185.0cm and weighs 144.2kg. His fighting style centers on oshi-zumo — the push-thrust approach — where his height and arm length allow him to keep opponents at distance with powerful thrusts to the chest and throat, making it difficult for shorter wrestlers to establish the belt grip they need to execute throws.

In January 2026, Wakamiyabi reached a then career-high West Makushita 23, confirming his continued progress through sumo's competitive mid-tier. A fall to West Makushita 34 followed in March 2026, where he posted a tough 1–6 record — costing him a substantial 26-rank drop on the May 2026 banzuke down to West Makushita 60, the lowest fringe of the Makushita division. He responded well, going 5–2 at the May 2026 Natsu Basho — a result that lifted him back to West Makushita 36 for the July 2026 Nagoya Basho. There he went 6–1, a result that carried him 23 ranks higher to East Makushita 13 for the September 2026 Aki Basho (September 13–27, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo) — the upper reaches of the division. A 4–3 there moved him up again to a career-high East Makushita 10 for the November 2026 Kyushu Basho (November 8–22, Fukuoka). The Makushita is notoriously volatile, but at just 22 years old he has ample time to build on it.

For wrestlers of Wakamiyabi's height and style, the key developmental challenge is adding functional mass while maintaining mobility. Reaching the salaried Juryo division typically requires consistent results in the upper-Makushita range, and Wakamiyabi's youth and physical attributes make him a candidate for continued development over the next several years.

East Makushita 10 sits in the upper half of Makushita, the division that bridges Sandanme below and the salaried Juryo tier above. Three winning records in a row — 5–2 at the bottom-fringe West Makushita 60 in May 2026, 6–1 at West Makushita 36 in July, then 4–3 at East Makushita 13 in September — carried him up here for the November Kyushu Basho. From here to Juryo (the lowest sekitori, salaried-rank tier) the remaining climb is short but steep: hold form inside the top 15, then convert one or two strong basho at Makushita #5 or higher into the Juryo cut.

Makushita is unforgiving for a structural reason: each wrestler only fights seven bouts per basho (versus 15 in the salaried divisions). One bad day can move you four or five ranks; one good day buys very little forgiveness for a later one. A 4–3 in Juryo is comfortably "kept your rank"; in Makushita it is a meaningful win because every bout carries that much extra weight.

Inside Futagoyama Stable he has now moved ahead of stablemate Nobehara Toma, who is ranked West Makushita 14 on the same November 2026 banzuke and has a January 2026 Makushita championship on his record. Two Futagoyama wrestlers side by side in the upper Makushita makes both of them credible Juryo candidates over the next few years.

Source: Self-introduction, New Year resolution, and Q&A videos on Futagoyama Stable's official YouTube channel "Sumo food" (2024–2026), transcribed from on-screen captions and verbatim wrestler statements.

In the stable's question-return episode, asked what he would want to be if reborn, Wakamiyabi answered "a bird". Notably close to his father — when asked about his dad on camera, he said he would "let him drink as much as he wants." Listed favourite food: nikujaga (Japanese meat-and-potato stew). Hobby: reading. Favourite musicians: back number and AKASAKI. Favourite YouTube channel: Reicre. Favourite clothing brand: The North Face. Dream overseas trip: Hawaii or Guam (he says, "the ocean is beautiful"). Currently wants: a protein shaker and supplements.