“You wouldn’t believe it’s the same guy.”
That’s the comment buzzing across Reddit threads and sumo circles lately—and no, they’re not exaggerating. Takakeisho, once tipping the scales at a mighty 170 kilograms (375 pounds), is now walking around at a trim 130 kg (287 pounds). If you just blinked at those numbers, you’re not alone. That’s a whopping 88 pounds gone. Poof.

So… what happened? And more importantly, how did the stoic powerhouse of Japanese sumo become the poster child for healthy weight loss without the gimmicks?

Let’s sit down (figuratively) and unpack the story—not with AI flair, but in the real words of the man himself.

“I Was Forcing Myself to Eat”

When I asked former Ozeki Takakeisho—now Minatogawa-oyakata—if he missed the ritual chanko stew feasts or the pressure to bulk up for competition, his answer was quick:

“I’ve never really had a big appetite,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Back then, I was forcing myself to eat.”

Wait, what?

Yes. The beast of the dohyo, the same Takakeisho who could bulldoze through opponents like a freight train, was actually stuffing himself just to stay in the game. This wasn’t about indulgence—it was strategy. In sumo, mass matters. And Takakeisho mastered it… at a cost.

“Once I retired, I just started eating like a normal person. And the weight? It just started falling off.”

“From Ozeki to Ouch…”

The turning point? Retirement.

Back in late 2024, after a string of injuries and punishing tournaments, Takakeisho hung up the mawashi. Fans were crushed. The dohyo lost a warrior. But privately, Takakeisho says he felt relief.

“I was constantly sore, always tired. My joints were screaming at me. I couldn’t go on.”

The physical toll wasn’t just match-day drama. At 5’9”, his 170 kg frame meant he was constantly fighting gravity—and not in the metaphorical sense. It wore him down.

And when the pressure to stay massive vanished, so did the constant need to feed the sumo machine.

The Takakeisho Weight Loss Plan: No Tricks, No Pills, Just Change

Here’s the part that makes jaws drop: there was no strict keto diet, no supplements, no calorie-tracking app obsession.

“I just stopped eating like a sumo wrestler.”

He laughs when he says it. But let’s break that down.

💡 What does that actually mean?

• No more 6,000-calorie chanko meals twice a day.

• No forced eating schedule to maintain bulk.

• More walking, more light activity—nothing extreme.

• Listening to his body.

Simple? Sure. Easy? Not exactly.

“The habits were hard to break. For years, my identity was tied to my size. Losing weight meant I was leaving that behind.”

That hits different, right?

His Face Changed First, Then His Life

It wasn’t just the numbers. Fans began noticing subtle shifts.

First, it was the face. A sharper jawline. Brighter eyes. “He looks unrecognizable,” one Reddit post read. “But when you look at his face, it’s still him.”

And that’s key. This isn’t a reinvention. This is a return.

Now going by his elder name, Minatogawa-oyakata, Takakeisho is embracing a calmer life, one without the spotlight of national tournaments but filled with purpose. He’s mentoring, coaching, even smiling more—seriously, scroll through his recent photos.

“I feel like I’m finally living for me,” he admits.

Wait, So He Didn’t Work Out?

Hold up. He’s down 40 kilograms and didn’t start running marathons?

“Not really. I walk more. I move around more. But I’m not doing anything crazy.”

No HIIT. No crossfit. Just… moving like a regular guy.

What changed most, though, wasn’t his gym routine. It was his mind.

“I had to separate my worth from my weight,” he said. “That was the hard part.”

Fans Are Stunned—But Inspired

His transformation isn’t just a physical shift—it’s viral because it’s so real. There’s no polished PR campaign here. No glossy fitness brand endorsement. Just a former sumo champion quietly becoming someone new—and looking really, really good doing it.

One fan wrote, “This is the healthiest I’ve ever seen him look. You can tell he’s at peace.”

Another chimed in, “Forget celebrity diets. This is how you lose weight the real way.”

Takakeisho Weight Loss: 5 Burning Questions Fans Keep Asking

1. How much weight did Takakeisho lose?

He’s lost around 88 pounds (40 kg) in just eight months, dropping from 170 kg to 130 kg.

2. Did Takakeisho follow a strict diet?

Nope. He simply stopped overeating—particularly the massive, calorie-dense meals required for sumo.

3. Did he start a workout routine?

Not exactly. More walking, natural movement, but no hardcore workouts or structured regimens.

4. What motivated him to lose weight?

Retirement removed the pressure to stay big. His body was tired. His joints were done. The shift was about health, not aesthetics.

5. What’s next for Takakeisho?

He’s now Minatogawa-oyakata, mentoring the next generation. Healthier, happier, and rocking a whole new look.

The Takeaway? Your Size Doesn’t Define You

Takakeisho’s story isn’t just about the pounds lost. It’s about a shift in identity, health, and purpose. He didn’t need a gimmick. He needed freedom—from expectation, from tradition, and from the scale.

“I’m still learning who I am outside the dohyo. But for the first time in a long time, I like the person I see.”

Mic drop.