Abi Masatora

Abi
Abi
Born	Kōsuke Horikiri; Template:Birth year and age; Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Occupation	Professional sumo wrestler
Years active	2013–present
Known for	Sumo wrestler, first top division championship in November 2022, four Fighting Spirit special prizes, one Outstanding Performance prize, five gold stars

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Abi Masatora, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 1 December 2025

Abi is a professional sumo wrestler hailing from Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in May 2013 and represents Shikoroyama stable. Abi ascended to the premier makuuchi division in January 2018. Throughout his career, he has been awarded four special prizes for Fighting Spirit and one for Outstanding Performance. He has also earned five gold stars by defeating yokozuna. His peak rank achieved is sekiwake. Abi secured his inaugural championship title in November 2022.

Early life and sumo background

Born Kōsuke Horikiri as the youngest among four siblings, he grew up in a family managing a construction business. Taller than many peers but initially reluctant toward athletics due to being somewhat heavy and disliking running, he first tried judo before focusing on sumo. Early success came with winning the children's sumo championship in his city during his first two years of elementary school. Despite his talent, he often skipped practice sessions, showing little enthusiasm for training. In pursuit of tougher competition, he participated in national children's sumo contests but achieved limited results. Although uncertain about his future in sumo, he continued mainly because many of his friends were involved, forming bonds with future makuuchi wrestlers Daieishō and Hokutōfuji.

During junior high school, Horikiri's skills advanced markedly, culminating in a third-place finish at the national junior high sumo tournament held in Kagoshima. So doubtful was he of progressing far that he brought swimwear for nearby swimming if eliminated early.

At Nagareyama High School, where he joined the sumo club alongside fellow wrestler Daishōhō, he frequently ranked within the top sixteen competitors. In his final year, he claimed third place at the 61st Towada Sumo Tournament individually, losing only to future san'yaku competitor Ichinojō.

Although his family anticipated that he would attend university and continue sumo there, Horikiri expressed a desire to eventually manage the family enterprise. Without prior consultation, he chose to join Shikoroyama stable, influenced by his high school coach’s relationship with its head, former wrestler Terao. Despite initial parental hesitation, his resolve ultimately convinced them.

Sumo career

Abi made an impressive start in July 2013 with a 6–1 record in his debut tournament, suffering defeat only to Ikeru, who captured the jonokuchi championship. In September's jonidan division, Abi achieved an undefeated 7–0 record and won the championship after a playoff. His sandanme debut resulted in a 4–3 scoreline, but he clinched the sandanme title with a flawless 7–0 record in January 2014. Over the subsequent year, Abi recorded four winning tournaments out of six. In March 2015, alongside Amakaze and Ishiura, he was promoted to the salaried jūryō ranks and adopted the shikona Abi—chosen to honor his coach Terao and symbolize strength and fiery spirit.

Abi spent four tournaments in jūryō initially but managed only one winning record before being demoted to makushita after September 2015. Over eight tournaments within makushita, he hovered near its upper ranks before capturing the March 2017 makushita championship with an undefeated 7–0 performance. Returning to jūryō in July 2017 with an 8–7 result, he went on to win the jūryō championship in September by defeating Homarefuji and Kotoyūki in a playoff with a 10–5 tally. An 11–4 score in November earned him promotion into the elite makuuchi division.

Making his makuuchi debut at maegashira 14 in January 2018, Abi posted a strong 10–5 record and shared the Fighting Spirit Prize with Ryūden. Another 10–5 performance followed in March, leading to promotion to maegashira 2 for May. There, on day six, Abi claimed his first kinboshi by overcoming yokozuna Hakuhō. He secured a second consecutive kinboshi during July by defeating Kakuryū. In May 2019, Abi won ten matches and shared the Fighting Spirit prize with champion Asanoyama and newcomer Shimanoumi; he clinched this honor on the final day by besting Tamawashi.

This success resulted in Abi’s initial promotion to san'yaku at komusubi rank. He produced respectable records of 8–7 and then 9–6 but was unable to advance to sekiwake due to occupied slots.

In November 2019, Abi received a reprimand from the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) for posting an inappropriate Instagram prank involving fellow wrestler Wakamotoharu; both wrestlers issued apologies to JSA officials following the incident. Subsequently, JSA discouraged wrestlers from making personal posts on social media.

In July 2020, Abi was withdrawn mid-tournament after admitting visits to hostess bars twice despite JSA COVID-19 restrictions; this action was described as "unpardonable" by the JSA chairman. On August 4, Abi submitted retirement papers which were initially declined; instead he received a suspension spanning three tournaments along with salary reductions shared by himself and his stablemaster. Despite recently marrying, Abi was ordered back under strict supervision at Shikoroyama stable. His retirement status remained undecided pending further developments. At his November 2022 championship award ceremony, Abi tearfully acknowledged past difficulties with his stablemaster and received supportive applause from attendees.

Returning in March 2021 ranked at makushita 56, Abi achieved consecutive perfect tournaments in March and May that year, ensuring reinstatement as sekitori for July. Promoted back into makuuchi by November 2021, he stood alone in second place on Day 13 after defeating ōzeki Takakeishō but lost subsequent bouts against Terunofuji and Takanoshō; nonetheless finishing with an impressive 12–3 record and earning his third Fighting Spirit prize. At maegashira 6 in January 2022, Abi finished runner-up again while securing his third kinboshi by upsetting Terunofuji; this performance also earned him his first Outstanding Performance Prize.

Abi was elevated to sekiwake for March 2022—marking a return to san'yaku since his komusubi tenure during 2019-2020—and retained this rank through May despite concluding with a losing record following a final-day defeat.

Prior to September 2022 tournament start, Abi tested positive for COVID-19 casting doubt on participation; however he withdrew due to knee and ankle injuries necessitating surgery and rehabilitation. Upon returning in November, Abi claimed his first top division championship with a 12–3 result by prevailing in a rare three-way playoff against Takayasu and Takakeishō—the first such playoff since 1994—becoming the sixth distinct champion that year. He expressed enthusiasm about sharing this triumph with stablemaster Shikoroyama.

In March 2024, Abi notably defeated two of sumo’s four active ōzeki—Takakeishō and Kirishima—on consecutive days. During August training sessions that year, he sustained a back injury forcing withdrawal from summer tour events but later reported recovery progress through acupuncture treatments and demonstrated strong performance during team practices ahead of September competition.

On Day 4 of May 2025 tournament, Abi secured his fourth career kinboshi by besting yokozuna Hōshōryū.

Personal life

Abi entered into marriage in June 2020, following a relationship that lasted three years. The couple is blessed with one daughter.

Fighting style

Abi's technique centers on tsuki-oshi, emphasizing pushing and slapping maneuvers rather than engaging in belt gripping (mawashi). His frequent winning kimarite consist of oshi-dashi (push out), hataki-komi (slap down), and tsuki-dashi (thrust out). Renowned for his assertive pushing strategies, he also often employs henka (sidestepping) at the initial charge (tachiai), particularly since his return to the Makuuchi division in November 2021—a method that has drawn criticism for being below the expected standard of top-division sumo. A notable instance occurred during a three-way playoff in November 2022, where Abi used henka to outmaneuver Takayasu, followed by a powerful slap down that resulted in Takayasu sustaining a concussion.

Career record

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     { { Basho|||s|||1|||w|||8|||7 } }
     { { Basho|||s|||1|||w|||7|||8 } }
     { { Basho|||k|||1|||w|||8|||7 } }
     { { Basho|||KYUJO|||rank=k|||r-no=1|||tozai=e } }
     { { Basho|||m|||9|||w|||12|||3|||PP|||y|||f } }
 { { Sumo record year end } }

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External links