Hidetora Hanada

Hidetora Hanada
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born (2001-10-30) October 30, 2001
Wakayama, Japan
Football career
No. 93 – Colorado State Rams
PositionDefensive tackle
Class Senior
Personal information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight280 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High schoolWakayama Commercial High School (Wakayama)
College
Stats at ESPN
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Men's sumo
World Games
2022 Birmingham Heavyweight

Hidetora Hanada (Japanese: 花田 秀虎, Hepburn: Hanada Hidetora), born October 30, 2001) is a Japanese gridiron football defensive tackle for the Colorado State Rams and former amateur sumo wrestler.

Early life

Hanada was born in Wakayama Prefecture. Influenced by his father, who participated in amateur sumo tournaments at national level, and his mother, a judo instructor. He experienced a variety of martial arts since his childhood, however, choosing sumo because it is impossible to have a draw and because of its simplicity.[1] Hanada won the local wanpaku sumo when he was in the second grade of elementary school.[2]

Before entering junior high school, he was advised to specialize in order to comply with Nishiwa Junior High School sports club registration requirements, and Hanada chose to pursue sumo activities.[1] Hanada and other former members from their elementary school club revived the club, which had been closed due to a lack of members, also finishing second in the individual competition at the Japan Junior High School Championships in his third year.[1]

Amateur sumo career

Hanada decided to enroll in the Wakayama Commercial High School, a school with a renowned sumo club, as his middle school was nearby and he had already had the opportunity to train there with coaches who also divided their time between the two schools.[1] There, Hanada achieved consecutive championships in the openweight division at the World Junior Sumo Championships in 2018 and 2019.[2] In total, Hanada won seven national high school titles.[3] At that time, he had already attracted the interest of several professional stables but decided to continue his studies at university level.[4]

During his high school years, he also fought against future Kitanowaka and Kusano, the latter defeating him in the final of the All-Japan Junior High School Championships and in the semifinals of the Inter-High School Championships.[3][5] During the Inter-High Championship in his freshman year, he was defeated in the quarterfinals by Sugarragchaagiin Byambasuren, and in his sophomore year, he was also eliminated from the competition at the same level by Yūto Suzuki.[6]

After graduating from high school, he went to Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU), where he also won seven national championships.[3] In 2020, Hanada won the All Japan Sumo Championship,[7] qualifying for makushita tsukedashi status, prevailing in a competition that included amateur stars such as his NSSU classmate Pürevsürengiin Delgerbayar.[8] With this win, Hanada became the first wrestler from his university to win the amateur yokozuna title in eight years and became the second amateur yokozuna as a freshman in 36 years since Hisashi Keita in 1984.[7][8] His success at the time was attributed both to his talent and to the fact that his classmate, Daiki Nakamura, an almost undefeated star on the amateur scene, was beginning to attract the attention of many rival clubs, placing a heavy mental burden on him and leaving Hanada free to surprise other wrestlers who were ill-prepared to face him.[9] In 2021, Hanada qualified for the final of the same championship, but was defeated by Keita Kawazoe.[10] At the 2022 World Games, he won the heavyweight final as a first-year senior at university, defeating his classmate Daiki Nakamura, who later became professional sumo's 75th yokozuna.[9][11]

For all his achievements during his amateur career, Hanada earned the nickname Sumo genius (天才力士, Tensai rikishi).[4] Hanada, although slightly smaller than most other wrestlers, compensated for his physical shortcomings with great speed and technical skill.[9]

During his university years, Hanada told the press that he could see his future clearly mapped out: becoming a professional, entering the top division and achieving success there before retiring and becoming a master. However, this vision bothered him, creating in him a desire to experiment more with what the sport has to offer, raising questions about a possible occupational burnout.[1]

College career

Departure from sumo

Supported by his team of coaches, Hanada decided to distance himself from sumo.[1] He has been interested in American football and the NFL since his junior high school days, commenting that he was already incorporating elements of football into his training as early as elementary school.[12] After careful consideration, he gained the support of Shuichi Yasuda (former CEO of Dome Corporation), who accompanied him to participate in tryouts.[1]

In March 2022, he participated in a joint X-League tryout at Fujitsu Stadium, despite having no experience in American football, where he received numerous positive reviews for his performance, delivering a 40-yard dash time of 5.23 seconds.[12][13]

Initially, Hanada was hoping to become a yokozuna in sumo and then try to join the NFL, but in September 2022, he announced that he would focus on American football first, stating that he wanted to challenge himself to see how much he could do when he was young and in his prime.[2][14] The announcement came as a shock to the sumo world, as Hanada had earned a respected status after challenging Daiki Nakamura's supremacy on the amateur scene.[1]

Hanada remained in the sumo club of NSSU, but was effectively left off, and sumo practice was completed for the time being. In the future, he still hopes to become a dual-wielding athlete (二刀流, nitōryū), becoming both a NFL player and a professional sumo yokozuna, foreshadowing a career path that set him apart from other former professionals who had tried their luck in football, such as Wakanohana and Wakanohō.[2][12]

Gridiron football

In January 2023, Hanada was selected for the All-Japan Selection for the Dream Bowl, a friendly game against the Ivy League, but he did not participate.[15] In February of the same year, he participated in the CFL combine held in Japan.[16][17] In March, Hanada was selected along with three other Japanese players to participate in the Canadian CFL Combine in Edmonton, being selected before becoming eligible due to student status.[18]

In July 2023, it was decided that he took a leave of absence from NSSU and transferred to Colorado State University, playing as a defensive lineman for the Rams football team and becoming the program's only Japanese player.[19][20][21][22] Hanada capitalized on the growing interest he generated at the CFL Combine, turning down offers from American college powerhouses such as Texas and Ohio State.[22]

Just before the start of the 2024 season, Hanada suffered an injury to his right shoulder and had to sit out the season's matches, forcing him to focus on the 2026 IPP drafts held in Florida to join the NFL.[3][23] While waiting for the eight-week trial period, Hanada devoted himself to physical training and activities as a trainee coach, declaring that "If I don't succeed, this challenge is over".[3]

Professional wrestling tryouts

In February 2025, Hanada received an offer from the WWE NIL program.[19] That month, he announced on Instagram that he had signed a NIL contract with WWE.[24][25]

Personal life

Hanada has a younger brother, Ryūshin Hanada, who is also successful as an amateur wrestler on the high school scene, having won the National High School Championships and the title of champion at the National High School Athletic Meet (under-100 kg category) in 2025.[6]

Hanada's favourite NFL player is Aaron Donald.[12]

Just like foreign wrestlers who enter professional sumo, Hanada had to get used to a different culture while living in the United States, citing the difficulty of getting used to the rhythm of classes, the language, and the food.[23] Hanada has been friends with Hakuōhō since junior high school. When he returned to Japan in May 2024, he went to cheer him on at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[26]

Although Hanada has a similar name and background to Masaru Hanada, a professional sumo wrestler who competed as Wakanohana Masaru and has experience in American football, he is not related to him.[2] However, Hanada revealed that he met Wakanohana in 2022 and received advice.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Hibiki Beppu (14 July 2025). "36年ぶり「大学1年生がアマ横綱」の衝撃…大の里も撃破した"天才力士"は、なぜ相撲界から姿を消した？「整備された"道"が見えてしまった」". Number (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hiroshi Ichino (7 February 2023). "「えっ？ なぜ相撲をやめるの？」大学1年でアマ横綱…相撲界で"無敵の21歳"（体重130kg）が驚きの決断「大谷翔平や大坂なおみを目指したい」". Number (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e "NFL目指す元アマ横綱の花田秀虎「もしダメなら…」来年1月のセレクションへ覚悟　角界入りも視野？" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b "横綱・大の里を撃破し世界一に…異例の「大学1年生アマ横綱」にも輝いた"天才力士"はなぜ突如、相撲界から姿を消した？「角界復帰の可能性は…」". Number (in Japanese). 19 July 2025. Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  5. ^ "「大の里関のポテンシャルは当時から最強」　日体大の後輩・花田秀虎が感じた「言語化できない強さ」". Sportiva WEB (in Japanese). Shueisha. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "【相撲インターハイ】100キロ級は花田龍信が優勝！元アマ横綱の兄・秀虎が帰国して現地で応援" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "日体大・花田 36年ぶり大学1年生でアマ横綱 「勝つために来て勝ちました」" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b Gunning, John (9 December 2020). "NSSU freshman Hidetora Hanada emerges to claim amateur yokozuna title". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Hibiki Beppu (14 July 2025). "横綱・大の里「実は後輩に敗れていた」世界大会…怪物を撃破も"相撲界から消えた"同じ大学の天才力士とは何者だった？「弱冠19歳でアマ横綱に…」". Number (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ^ Gunning, John (24 November 2021). "Terunofuji's challengers likely to emerge from amateur ranks". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  11. ^ "花田秀虎、石井さくら、奥富夕夏が世界一　ワールドゲームズ相撲競技第1日" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d Gunning, John (9 March 2022). "Former amateur yokozuna Hidetora Hanada shifts gears toward NFL dream". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  13. ^ "アマ横綱の日体大２年・花田秀虎、アメフト初心者も１対１で吹っ飛ばした Ｘリーグトライアウト" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  14. ^ "20年アマ横綱の花田秀虎がアメフト専念「人生懸けてやりたい」日本人初NFL選手へ本格的挑戦 - スポーツ : 日刊スポーツ" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  15. ^ "元アマ横綱の花田出番なし「パフォーマンスも考えていたが」　アメフト全日本は逆転負け" (in Japanese). Daily Sports. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  16. ^ "CFL国内コンバインに元アマ横綱の花田秀虎ら20名が参加 視察したCFL運営トップが日本人選手を高評価「強くて速い」 | Xリーグ 公式サイト". Xleague (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  17. ^ "【CFLコンバイン】2023年CFLコンバイン始まる CFLとのインタビューでは花田秀虎選手が爆笑を誘う | Xリーグ 公式サイト". Xleague (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. ^ Gunning, John (8 March 2023). "In sumo, size doesn't matter (much)". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Hidetora Hanada, sumo wrestler turned CSU Rams lineman, receives NIL offer from WWE". The Denver Post. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  20. ^ "【アメフト】米挑戦の元アマ横綱・花田秀虎「かなりわくわくしている」渡米前に心境を明かす" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 30 July 2023. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Sumo wrestler Hidetora Hanada from Japan to play college football for Colorado State". USA TODAY. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  22. ^ a b Gunning, John (19 July 2023). "Amateur sumo star embarks on journey made for Hollywood with NCAA football move". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  23. ^ a b Hibiki Beppu (14 July 2025). "角界復帰の可能性は「全然、ありますね」…大の里を破って相撲世界一→アメフト転向でNFL挑戦　23歳元"天才力士"の未来図「いろんなオプションがある」". Number (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  24. ^ "torajiro.hanada". Instagram.
  25. ^ "ＷＷＥとＮＩＬ契約って？ 元アマ横綱「プロレスラーになるという意味ではない」と断言 ＮＦＬ入りを目指して米大学アメフト挑戦中/デイリースポーツ online". Daily Sports (in Japanese). 28 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  26. ^ "元アマ横綱でＮＦＬ入り目指す花田秀虎が相撲観戦　親友の伯桜鵬の応援タオルを購入し「頑張ってほしい」" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  27. ^ "【アメフト】元アマ横綱の花田秀虎がNFL入りの夢へ渡米、同姓の花田虎上さんとの写真もアップ" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
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