Shimazuumi Sora

Shimazuumi Sora (Japanese: 島津海 空, born Nakazono Sora (中園 空, Sora Nakazono) on May 18, 1996) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nishinoomote, Kagoshima. He debuted in sumo wrestling in March 2012 and made his jūryō debut in March 2022. His highest rank has been maegashira 12. He wrestles for Hanaregoma.

Nakazono Sora was born in Nishinoomote, Kagoshima, which is an area where sumo is immensely popular. However, Nakazono played basketball in elementary and junior high school, although he did appear in some local regional sumo tournaments. His father was a strong local sumo wrestler even having been able to wrestle against and be acquitted with Matsugane Oyakata (former ōzeki Wakashimazu). Because of this relationship Nakazono was invited to watch sumo live during his third year of junior high school. Nakazono was impressed and subsequently joined Matsugane stable even though he had no proper sumo experience.

Early career

Nakazono made his professional debut in March 2012 alongside future sekitori Ōsunaarashi, Daikiho [ja], and Gokushindo [ja]. He was promoted to sandanme in January 2013 and makushita in July 2016. In March 2017, Nakazono won his first six matches, but missed out on the sandanme yusho after losing to Tamakongo on the last day. In May 2017 he would serve as tsukebito to Yokozuna Kisenosato who joined sumo straight from junior high school like himself and for whom he had much respect. After missing out on the championship, Nakazono began training more intently and rose up to makushita 11 two tournaments in July 2017. However, he injured his right knee prior to the tournament at the Nishonoseki ichimon-geiko and sat out of the entire tournament. He re-injured his right knee in 2019 which forced him to miss two consecutive tournaments, causing him to fall down to the rank of sandanme 65 in May 2019. Upon returning, he quickly returned to makushita in September 2019 and rose as high as makushita 4 in January 2021. He was finally given a proper shikona of "Shimazuumi" (島津海) in May 2021 after wrestling under his surname for over nine years. In January 2022, while ranked at makushita 2, he finished with a 4–3 record and was promoted to juryo in March 2022.

Jūryō promotion

Shimazuumi finished with an 8–7 record in his first tournament as a sekitori and was promoted to a career-best juryo 10 for the May 2022 tournament. Shimazuumi and his stable were forced to withdraw on Day 9 of the July 2022 tournament in Nagoya after stablemaster Hanaregoma tested positive for COVID-19. In November 2023 at a career high of juryo 2 he would finish 9-6 putting him in contention for Makuuchi promotion.

Makuuchi promotion

Shimazuumi was promoted to the makuuchi division for the first time at the first tournament in 2024. During this tournament, he won five consecutive matches between days 9 and 13. He was listed as a potential recipient of the Fighting Spirit prize if he were to claim a tenth victory on the final day, but lost his bout to Meisei and did not receive the award.

Shimazuumi was promoted to the rank of maegashira 12 for the March 2024 tournament, but on Day 4 he withdrew after being diagnosed with a tear in his left gastrocnemius muscle, a part of the calf, which reportedly occurred during his match against Churanoumi the previous day. His medical certificate indicated a period of three weeks for recovery.

Shimazuumi's favored techniques are listed at the Sumo Association as moro-zashi (a double hand inside grip on the opponent's mawashi) and yori (forcing). His most common winning kimarite is yorikiri (force out).