Kakizoe Tōru

(born August 12, 1978 in Usa City, Ōita Prefecture, Japan), is a former sumo wrestler. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 2001 and reached the top division in 2003. His highest rank was komusubi, which he held for just one tournament. He won one special prize, for Technique. After injury problems he fell to the third makushita division in 2011 and retired in April 2012, becoming a sumo coach. He was part of ex-yokozuna Musashimaru's Musashigawa stable from 2013 until 2020, when he moved to Irumagawa stable. He is now a sumo elder, under the name Ikazuchi (雷).

Career Kakizoe was an amateur sumo champion at Nippon Sport Science University, winning the Kokutai (Japan Games) and the All Japan University Championship in 2000, his final year, which earned him the amateur yokozuna title. He joined Musashigawa stable, which, at the time, was one of the strongest in sumo with yokozuna Musashimaru and other successful former collegiate competitors such as Dejima and Miyabiyama amongst its wrestlers. Because of his amateur success, Kakizoe was given makushita tsukedashi status, meaning he was able to debut at the makushita 15 ranking. He was the first makushita tsukedashi entrant to be put at #15 instead of the bottom of the makushita division. He had initially hoped to debut in March 2001, but his entry was delayed because of a nagging injury. He announced his retirement before the tournament began, and stayed in sumo as a coach at his stable (now renamed Fujishima stable) under the elder name Oshiogawa-oyakata. In October 2012, he switched to the Ikazuchi name. In August 2013, when his former stablemate Musashimaru established his own Musashigawa stable, Kakizoe moved with him. In October 2020 he moved to Irumagawa stable. It was announced after the January 2023 tournament that on February 1 he would be taking over as head coach of the stable, which would be changing its name to Ikazuchi stable accordingly, due to the imminent retirement of Irumagawa Oyakata (former sekiwake Tochitsukasa).

Fighting style Kakizoe was an oshi-sumo specialist, preferring pushing and thrusting techniques. His most common winning move was oshi-dashi (push-out), which accounted for around 43 percent of his career victories. He was vulnerable to defeat if his opponents grab hold of his mawashi.

Family Kakizoe is married, with two children. His wife, Eimi, is a former amateur sumo wrestler who won the Sumo World Championships. His eldest son, Haruku, was a member of the renowned Saitama Sakae High School sumo club. His son made his professional debut at the July 2026 tournament under his real last name (Kakizoe).

Career record