Wakamotoharu is a sekiwake sumo wrestler from Fukushima Prefecture, fighting out of the Arashio stable and best known as the middle of the three Onami brothers, alongside younger brother Wakatakakage. He took 43 tournaments to climb from the bottom division to the salaried ranks, then reached the top makuuchi division in January 2022. This guide explains his slow rise, his belt-fighting style, his biggest results, and where he stands today.
Key takeaways
- Wakamotoharu is the second son of the three Onami brothers: Wakatakamoto is the eldest and Wakatakakage the youngest, and all three joined the Arashio stable.
- He comes from a sumo family: his father wrestled as the makushita man Wakashinobu, and his maternal grandfather was the komusubi Wakabayama of the Tokitsukaze stable.
- His climb from the jonokuchi division to new juryo took 43 tournaments, seven years and one month, and he took the name Wakamotoharu from the May 2017 tournament at age 25.
- He reached the top makuuchi division in January 2022 at maegashira 15, became the 2022 newcomer of the year, and rose to new sekiwake for the May 2023 tournament.
- He fights left-hand-inside, hidari-yotsu, and finishes with the force-out, with a listed weight of 143 kg.
Career and rise
Wakamotoharu was born into a sumo household in Fukushima Prefecture. His father wrestled as Wakashinobu, a makushita man at the Tatsutagawa stable of former yokozuna Kagamisato, and his maternal grandfather was Wakabayama of the Tokitsukaze stable, the stable of former yokozuna Futabayama. Wakabayama won an Outstanding Performance Prize in 1951 and reached komusubi.
He had been at a local high-school sumo club when the 2011 Tohoku earthquake struck. He was staying at the Arashio stable, where his elder brother had already entered, and he joined the stable without waiting to graduate from high school. He first took the ring in maezumo under the name Aronami, was soon renamed Goshi, and won the jonokuchi championship.
The rise that followed was slow. His climb from jonokuchi to new juryo took 43 tournaments, seven years and one month, and he adopted the ring name Wakamotoharu from the May 2017 tournament at age 25. Promotion to juryo made him a sekitori, a salaried wrestler. He reached the top makuuchi division for the first time in January 2022, ranked maegashira 15, and posted a 9-6 record there.
That season turned him into a contender. In September 2022 he recorded his first double-digit win total, 10-5 at maegashira 6, then repeated 10-5 at maegashira 4 in November, and he was named the 2022 newcomer of the year. He became a new komusubi in January 2023 with a 9-6 record, went 11-4 at komusubi in March 2023, and earned promotion to new sekiwake for the May 2023 tournament.
Style and techniques
Wakamotoharu is a belt fighter. He takes a left-hand-inside grip, fighting hidari-yotsu, and finishes with yori-kiri, the force-out, driving his opponent straight back and over the straw. His listed weight is 143 kg. For readers new to the sport, our guide to kimarite, the winning techniques, explains how a force-out is scored.
Notable results
One bout from July 2022 stands out. On Day 8 of that tournament Wakamotoharu drew yokozuna Terunofuji in the final match of the day. His mawashi knot came loose during the bout, and the gyoji Inosuke called a mawashi-matta, a halt to refasten the belt. A long mono-ii, a conference of the ringside judges, followed, after which the bout resumed from that posture and Terunofuji won by shitatenage, an underarm throw. Wakamotoharu finished that tournament 6-9.
His best single result through May 2023 was the 11-4 he posted at komusubi in March 2023, the record that carried him up to sekiwake. He won the 2022 newcomer-of-the-year award, but had not taken a Sansho special prize through the May 2023 tournament.
The Onami brothers
Wakamotoharu is the middle of three wrestling brothers. The eldest is Wakatakamoto, and the youngest is Wakatakakage, all three of them from the Arashio stable. The youngest brother, Wakatakakage, entered sumo from Toyo University with sandanme tsukedashi status in March 2017, reached the top division faster than Wakamotoharu, and won his first Emperor’s Cup in March 2022 by beating Takayasu in a playoff.
Current status
As of 2026 Wakamotoharu is 32 years old and remains an active makuuchi wrestler, still listed in the rankings alongside his brother Wakatakakage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Wakamotoharu?
Wakamotoharu is a makuuchi sumo wrestler in the Arashio stable and the middle of the three Onami brothers. He reached the top division in January 2022 and rose to sekiwake for the May 2023 tournament.
Where is Wakamotoharu from?
He is from Fukushima Prefecture. He had been at a local high-school sumo club and joined the Arashio stable after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, without waiting to graduate.
What rank is Wakamotoharu?
He was promoted to new sekiwake for the May 2023 tournament, after debuting at komusubi in January 2023. Sekiwake and komusubi are the two lowest of the titled san’yaku ranks, sitting just below ozeki and yokozuna.
Are Wakamotoharu and Wakatakakage brothers?
Yes. They are two of the three Onami brothers. Wakamotoharu is the second son and Wakatakakage the youngest, and both wrestle for the Arashio stable. Wakatakakage won the March 2022 championship.
What is Wakamotoharu’s fighting style?
He is a belt fighter. He takes a left-handed inside grip, fighting hidari-yotsu, and wins with yori-kiri, the force-out, driving opponents back and out of the ring. His listed weight is 143 kg.
How long did Wakamotoharu take to reach the salaried ranks?
His climb from the jonokuchi division to new juryo took 43 tournaments, seven years and one month. He took the name Wakamotoharu from the May 2017 tournament, at age 25.
