The Sumo Scene / Coming Off Serious Injury, Enho Gradually Works His Way Back Up from the Depths

By Kuniyuki Kamimura / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer

10:55 JST, August 21, 2024

This year’s recently completed Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament was the last to be held at Dolphins Arena, also known as Aichi Prefectural Gym. In contrast to the late afternoon, when the arena was filled with a lively atmosphere, it was eerily quiet in the morning when only a few spectators were in the stands. It was amid that quiet that one wrestler took the first steps of a comeback in the sport.

The name Enho may ring a bell with sumo fans. Relatively small at just under 1.70 meters and about 100 kilograms, the baby-faced Enho became popular during his time in the makuuchi division, getting in low on his opponent and using a twisting technique and other creative moves.

However, Enho suffered a serious spinal cord injury, the price of a style in which he dropped his head to get into position. He was forced to sit out all tournaments from last year’s Summer tournament, when he was in the second-tier juryo division.

The injury was so severe that doctors recommended that he retire. “It caused problems in my daily life,” Enho recalled. After a long rehabilitation, he returned to the ring for the Nagoya tournament after over a one-year absence. Missing so much action had dropped him in rank to the lowest jonokuchi division.

Heads colliding in the initial charge is a common site in sumo, causing an impact said to be equivalent to a collision between two small trucks. Down in the jonokuchi division, Enho still had to face wrestlers with high school or college experience, and his main battle was with his own fear.

In the first match of his comeback, on the second day, he was dealt a defeat. But the joy that he felt over being back in the ring outweighed his fear. “I was finally back,” he said. “I was so excited.”

The next day, he recorded an emotional first win. “Without a doubt, it’s great to win,” he said.

Enho went on to finish the tournament with a 6-1 record, which will surely propel him up the rankings to the next-level jonidan division for the Autumn tournament in September.

“Amid all the worries, the biggest thing was that I was able to wrestle in all seven matches,” Enho said. “In the end, I still really enjoy sumo.”

He still has still has a long way to go on his path back to the salaried divisions. Even so, it was heartwarming to see him so diligently overcoming his troubles and taking the first steps. I will be closely watching this 29-year-old as he restarts his career.

— Kamimura is a sumo expert.