Dazaifu Tenmangu Presents Kesho-Mawashi to New Juryo Asahifuji

November 3, 2026

New juryo Asahifuji of Isegahama-beya was presented with a kesho-mawashi by Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine in Fukuoka on November 3rd. The shrine has housed Isegahama-beya during the Kyushu basho since 1992 and has previously given kesho-mawashi to Aminishiki and Takarafuji. The design features the shrine's red and white plum blossoms and the uso bullfinch, a bird associated with the shrine and known as a bringer of good fortune. Attending the ceremony in the main hall with his stablemaster Isegahama (former Yokozuna Terunofuji), the 24-year-old Mongolian said, "I'm really happy. It looks cool," and added that he wants to fight forward-moving sumo that the fans will enjoy.

Asahifuji spent four and a half years as a trainee before his debut at last year's Kyushu basho and reached juryo in just six tournaments, tying Takatetsuyama, Tosayutaka, Jokoryu and Enho for the fastest rise since the six-basho calendar began in 1958 (excluding makushita tsukedashi entrants). Chief priest Nobuhiro Nishitakatsuji praised his patience and told him to keep aiming for yokozuna, and one shrine official joked that a full three-piece yokozuna set may be needed next.

Source: Yahoo! Japan Sports