British Teenager Pursues Sumo Grand Champion Dream in Japan
Hull teenager Nicholas Tarasenko has left his home country to dedicate himself to the rigorous training of a professional sumo wrestler in Tokyo.
Nicholas Tarasenko, a 17-year-old from Hull, England, has moved to Japan to pursue his ambition of becoming a sumo grand champion. Known in sumo circles as Eisei, Tarasenko discovered his passion for the sport through his father, a longtime enthusiast.
His daily routine is demanding, beginning at 5 a.m. and ending at 11 p.m., with a daily intake of 5,000 calories to support his physical development. His diet primarily consists of rice and chanko nabe, a traditional Japanese stew often called sumo wrestlers' hotpot. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Tarasenko currently weighs 134 kilograms and aims to reach 150 kilograms.
Beyond training, Tarasenko performs domestic duties within the Sumo Training Academy in Tokyo. These tasks include assisting other wrestlers with their mawashi (loincloths), sweeping the sumo ring, preparing chanko nabe, and cleaning up afterward. As the lowest-ranking wrestler at the academy, he is restricted in his social activities, only permitted to speak with his family once a week and unable to go out for meals until he advances in rank.
During his limited free time, Tarasenko dedicates himself to learning the Japanese language. He is noted as the second British person to achieve professional sumo wrestler status. His training master, Takayuki Minato, has expressed confidence in his potential, suggesting he could reach the highest rank of yokozuna.
Prior to his sumo career, Tarasenko was accomplished in judo and declined a position on the British national team. He told The Times that the transition to sumo required him to start from the beginning, a challenge he embraced. "I really like doing hard things. I like challenging myself," he stated. "When we have a week off after the tournament, I just find myself bored."
Tarasenko's journey into sumo began three years ago when he visited Estonia with his father and participated in an amateur tournament, where he defeated opponents older than himself. A year later, during a family holiday to Tokyo, he attended a post-tournament party and inquired about joining a training center, receiving an offer for a trial.
Shortly before his 15th birthday, Tarasenko moved to Japan and made his professional debut in Nagoya, winning four out of seven matches. His current objective is to achieve sekitori status, placing him in one of the top two divisions of professional sumo, a goal that typically takes three to four years to accomplish.