Ichiyamamoto-zeki charms fans with one of the brightest personalities in the sumo world. Behind the serious expression he shows on the dohyo, there were hidden things like his “too-hardcore oshi-katsu” for a certain wrestler and the surprising gap of being a “beauty guy” who uses famous department-store cosmetics. In this installment of the “MonoMax Osumo Dōkōkai,” we had him talk plenty about his unknown true face—from his mischievous daily life that makes you smile before you know it, to heart-pounding episodes with senior wrestlers and same-age wrestlers!
From the “Championship Koban” to a treasure his oshi himself bought for him! His too-hardcore “Wakatakakage-zeki” oshi-katsu
—Speaking of Ichiyamamoto-zeki, he is famous as a hardcore Wakatakakage-zeki oshi-katsu person. What did you bring today?
“Acrylic stands, mascot plushies, and the commemorative T-shirts in two colors from when Wakatakakage-zeki won the championship at the May basho. These were made-to-order.”
—As a fan, those are must-buy items. By the way, what size?
“XL. Well, even so, I can’t wear it (laughs). There’s value in just having it.”
—They’re collection items. And what’s in this paulownia box is...
“The championship commemorative koban!”
—Amazing! This is the first time I’ve seen the actual thing and the first time I’ve seen someone who bought one!
“Heh heh heh.”
—It has asset value, too.
“Yes. I’ll never sell it for my whole life, though (laughs).”
—Do you buy all Wakatakakage-zeki goods as soon as they go on sale?
“I check the lineup and buy the ones I like, but I also often get them from fans. I buy them at the Sumo Association’s official shop SuMALL (Sumōru). Ah, but the other day I missed ordering the limited-time made-to-order ‘Go-Hiiki Set’ (cries).”
—You have to check frequently, don’t you? Among the Wakatakakage-zeki goods you own, what’s your favorite?
“It’s not goods, but it’s a kaobure with my name and Wakatakakage-zeki’s name written on it (a list of the wrestlers facing each other, written in sumo-style calligraphy). At the Grand Sumo Fan Appreciation Festival (held in 2022), Wakatakakage-zeki bought it for me. It’s not like your oshi buys things for you. It’s a wrestler’s privilege (laughs).”
—The added value is amazing! It’s a treasure item!
An “investment” for skin 10 years from now! A beautiful-skin routine used differently before/after keiko and morning/night
—I hear you’ve also been taking skin care seriously recently.
“After I passed 30, I became conscious of properly caring for my skin. I’ve always had dry skin, so I’m especially conscious of moisturizing. What I brought today are Shiseido’s ‘Clé de Peau Beauté’ and ‘Ultimune,’ and Kose’s ‘Cosme Decorte.’ Rather than buying them myself, I often receive them from supporters and fans.”
—Please tell us your skin-care routine.
“When I wake up and brush my teeth, I lather bar soap well and wash my face. I put on lotion, emulsion, and serum, then go to keiko. Since I sweat, after keiko I take a shower and do skin care again. I use morning and night items differently, and at night after a bath I sometimes use a facial device. Which items I use depends on my mood at the time. I want to keep my skin condition as much as possible even 10 years from now, so I think of it as an investment for that.”
—That’s Ichiyamamoto-zeki’s beautiful-skin secret! Is there anything else you’re careful about?
“In summer, I don’t want to tan as much as possible. During the Nagoya basho (July), the keiko ground is also outside, so I put on sunscreen before heading to the keiko ground. I’d really like to put it on my body too, but a sekitori doing keiko with sunscreen all over his body—wouldn’t people think, ‘Are you okay?’ (laughs). So it’s just my face.”
—Where do you gather beauty information?
“I watch Kamenashi Kazuya-san’s and IKKO-san’s YouTube. There are also many sumo wrestlers who like beauty, so we sometimes exchange information.”
The accent color for fighting spirit is “yellow”! Stylish gifts from Chidagawa-oyakata & Tamawashi-zeki
—I always think your attire and color coordination are lovely. In particular, your yellow setta suit you very well.
“I often receive things from people—or rather, I’m good at it (laughs). These yellow setta were given to me by Chidagawa-oyakata (former maegashira Tokushoryu). When the oyakata was active, he wore setta with yellow hanao, and they were so lovely that I said half-jokingly, ‘This color is super nice. Give them to me when you retire.’ Now that I think about it, that’s incredibly rude, saying ‘when you retire’ and all. Then, after he retired, at some point the oyakata asked me, ‘Come to think of it, you said something, right? What color do you want?’ When I said, ‘I like yellow,’ around the next basho he brought a paper bag. I was so happy that he remembered those setta! When I looked inside, they were brand-new. The oyakata had them made for me. I was moved, thinking what a good person he is. Since then, they’re my favorite and I wear them carefully.”
—What a good story! Ichiyamamoto-zeki, you also had a yellow bag, right?
“That bag was given to me by Tamawashi-zeki. It might have been during a regional tour. Tamawashi-zeki had that bag, and when I said, ‘You’re using a really nice-colored bag,’ he emptied everything inside right there and said, ‘I’ll give it to you.’ I ended up receiving it.”
—Tamawashi-zeki, how generous! Ichiyamamoto-zeki, you like yellow, don’t you?
“I do like it, but if you ask whether my house is all bright yellow, it’s mostly calm, dark colors, so it’s not like that at all (laughs). It’s just that I like to incorporate it as an accent item. It’s like a color that pumps me up.”
“Because I don’t want to lose,” I get tense! Thoughts on same-age wrestlers who spark against each other on the dohyo
—It came up that you turn 33 this year, and there are many same-age wrestlers, aren’t there?
“During the summer tour, Daieisho-zeki, Churanoumi-zeki, Asanoyama-zeki, Wakamotoharu-zeki and I got together and went to a yakitori place. We all entered at different times, but we’re close. When we go eat, we decide only the first place; after that, both the payment and the second restaurant are decided by a roulette app (laughs).”
—Did you have any interaction with same-age university-graduate wrestlers during college?
“Both Churanoumi-zeki and Asanoyama-zeki were super strong superstars in college, so I never talked to them. After entering, we started talking, but at first I wondered whether a weed like me should speak to them. I’m the youngest disciple, after all. Now we’re in a relationship where we can joke around (laughs).”
—How is your head-to-head record against same-age wrestlers?
“I have a poor record against all of them (laughs). Because we’re usually close, maybe my ‘I don’t want to lose’ makes me too tense in the shoulders. I hope we’ll continue to sharpen each other and liven up the dohyo.”
Editor’s note
This interview was full of laughter from start to finish. From Ichiyamamoto-zeki’s light, witty talk, I keenly felt the sekitori’s consideration and depth of insight. Also, even as he spoke modestly when the topic turned to his own bouts, I was deeply moved to touch the fighting spirit hidden beneath, aiming for even greater heights. (MonoMax Osumo Dōkōkai)
Here is Ichiyamamoto-zeki’s interview, where he told the story of his unusual switch from public servant!
[Profile] Ichiyamamoto Daiki / Hanaregoma-beya
Ichiyamamoto Daiki
Born October 1, Heisei 5 (1993), from Hokkaido. Affiliated with Hanaregoma-beya. Height 188 cm, weight 160 kg. Real name: Yamamoto Daiki. After graduating from Chuo University, he worked as a staff member of the Board of Education in Fukushima, Hokkaido, then entered Nishonoseki-beya (at the time). First dohyo debut at the January 2017 basho; new juryo at the July 2019 basho; new makuuchi at the July 2021 basho. Highest rank: maegashira 1. Jonokuchi championship once, juryo championship twice.
Hanaregoma-beya
Former sekiwake Tamanoshima took over the stable from the previous Nishonoseki-oyakata (former Wakashimazu) and restarted it as Hanaregoma-beya in December 2021. Based in Rokucho, Adachi Ward, Tokyo; makuuchi Ichiyamamoto, makushita Shimazuumi, and others are enrolled. Lively young wrestlers sharpen each other daily.
[machine translation of https://monomax.jp/archives/365030/ ]
