[sumo] Hagiwara, Naruto Beya

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

Just turning 17 years old, Hagiwara of Naruto Beya
possesses such a great potential and promise that he
is already touted to be the next Takanohana.  

Since his dohyo debut nine bashos ago, Hagiwara has 
rapidly progressed to a Makushita ranking.  As a
Junior High graduate, his quick ascension is
comparable to Takanohana's eight bashos since 
the dohyo debut.

"You gotta be kidding. Takanohana-zeki is someone I
have been watching on TV and idolizing since I was a
little kid," said Hagiwara when asked to comment on
his progress with that of Yokozuna Takanohana.

Using his well balanced 185 cm tall, 136 kg body, he
excels in staying in the dohyo ring and is known to
possess enormous strength. He is always moving and
always going after his opponent without resting. 
"I try to constantly moving forward," Hagiwara says.  
His leg and back strenth, natural ability are already
been compared to those of great yokozunas. 
  
At Makushita East 25 he had 3 wins and 2 losses after
five bouts at this past Nagoya Basho. But then he lost
two straight bouts and finished with 3 wins and 4
losses, a close Makekoshi. For a first time Makushita
rikishi, the record was not necessarilly a 
bad one, but after his seventh bout, with his eyes
turning red, he did not even say one word showing more
than anyone else he hates to lose.

While attending Nagayama Junior High School in Ibaraki
Prefecture, he beloged to Baseball club but he had
"Wanpaku Sumo" (Kids Sumo Championships) experience as
well and he had no question in his mind 
what he wanted to do when he graduated.  "By Grade 8,
I've already made up my mind (to join)," Hagiwara
said. 

It's been a year and half since he joined Ozumo. Now
he is training with Makuuchi stalwart, Wakanosato
daily.  "I still don't know a lot. But I am having so
much fun doing something I enjoy so much every day,"
Hagiwara says.                   

(Kyodo Press)

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Real Name: Yutaka Hagiwara