SUMO/ Former rival of Hachimura on the court now a force in the ring

While Rui Hachimura is all the rage on the basketball court, his former rival from their junior high school days is also having a huge impact--in the sumo ring.

Takagenji, 22, made his debut in the highest makuuchi division at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, which kicked off on July 7 in the capital of Aichi Prefecture.

The young wrestler, whose real name is Satoshi Kamiyama, used to play basketball against Hachimura, the first Japanese-born player to be drafted in the first round by an NBA team, before joining a sumo stable.

Back then, Takagenji was known as a powerful defender whom even Hachimura admired and tried to recruit as a teammate.

Takagenji was born in Tochigi Prefecture and attended Sakai No. 1 Junior High School in Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture.

He and his twin brother, Tsuyoshi, devoted themselves to basketball, playing as a power forward and center, respectively.

The brothers were selected to a team representing the prefecture, which took third place at a national tournament.

Takagenji was in the second year when his junior high team went on the road in Shizuoka Prefecture. There, in a practice game, he played against Hachimura’s Okuda Junior High School of Toyama Prefecture for the first time.

Hachimura was already a member of the under-14 national team at the time. Takagenji was assigned the unenviable task of guarding the future NBA first-round pick.

He acknowledged having to get physical to take Hachimura out of his game.

“We actually engaged in rough stuff throughout the game behind the referee’s back,” said Takagenji, recalling the matchup against Hachimura.

But the wrestler added proudly, “I’m pretty sure I didn’t let Hachimura play his usual game."

The future Washington Wizards’ rookie gave Takagenji a hard time on the court as well.

“We were about the same height, around 185 centimeters tall, but Hachimura had long arms,” Takagenji said, acknowledging his rival's defensive skills. “Because of that, my passing was thrown off.”

Later, Takagenji heard that the coach of Okuda Junior High used him in a speech to motivate Hachimura to play better: “Don’t get beaten by the twins!”

Takagenji said, “I had never met a player whom I considered a rival around the country. But with Hachimura, I knew for the first time he would be my rival.”

The two became closer as they spoke to each other every time they met at basketball tournaments.

Hachimura tried to persuade Takagenji to transfer to Okuda Junior High, or enroll at the same high school so that they could play together.

Takagenji also received an offer from a high school with a top-level basketball program.

But he had another sport calling his name.

Together with his twin brother after graduating from junior high, he chose to join the Takanohana stable in Tokyo.

NEW PATHS FOR FORMER RIVALS

Hachimura continued on his own path and entered Meisei High School in Miyagi Prefecture, leading his team to a national championship in his first year.

“Every time I saw Hachimura, he had grown taller and taller,” Takagenji said, adding wryly, “Had I kept playing basketball, I probably would have failed."

Hachimura enrolled at Gonzaga University in Washington and played for the national powerhouse Bulldogs. He was selected an All-American as one of the nation's top small forwards, leading his team to the Elite Eight of the 2019 NCAA tournament.

On June 20, Hachimura was selected ninth overall by the Wizards in the first round of the NBA draft.

Takagenji was proud to see his former rival on a world stage.

“Personally, I am positively inspired by him,” the wrestler said. “I hope each of us will reach the top of our respective fields.”

Takagenji, who now belongs to the Chiganoura stable, won the second-highest juryo division in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament held in Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan in May.

His brother, Takanofuji, is now in the juryo division.

Competing as a No. 10 maegashira in his first tournament in the makuuchi division, Takagenji was 4-9 as of July 19.

“People may call me a 'big mouth,' but I will aim to win the championship in the Nagoya Tournament,” Takagenji said in front of reporters and photographers, before the start of the tournament.