“Ain't no way that's the same person,” the internet exclaimed after a former sumo wrestler's weight loss went viral.
Takanobu Satō, better known by his ring name “Takakeishō Takanobu," spent his career as one of sumo’s biggest stars (literally).
In the ring, his greatest weapon was his 400-pound frame, which helped him reach the sport’s highest levels. But just months after retiring, the former champion stunned fans with a dramatic transformation.
“Ain't no way that's the same person,” the internet exclaimed after a former sumo wrestler's weight loss went viral.
Takakeishō was one of professional sumo’s most accomplished wrestlers of his generation.
Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, he turned 30 years old on August 5 and was back in the spotlight among fan conversations.
Many were taken aback by his weight loss shortly after his retirement in September 2024.
During his days as a professional sumo wrestler, the 5-foot-9 fighter maintained a regular weight of over 350 pounds.
His powerful build and technique made him a four-time Grand Sumo champion.
He also achieved the prestigious rank of “Ozeki” in 2019, the second-highest rank in the ancient Japanese sport, before retiring at the age of 28.
Takakeishō was one of professional sumo’s most accomplished wrestlers of his generation
In 2021, Takakeishō’s weight was listed as 403.5 pounds.
But a series of injuries led to his retirement in 2024, after which he is believed to have shed between 100 and 150 pounds over the course of about eight months, according to a report last year.
The former sumo wrestler, who now goes by the sumo elder name Minatogawa-oyakata, did not reveal too many details about his physical regimen.
Takakeishō did, however, note that simply eating less helped him significantly slim down, as sumo wrestlers reportedly eat around 4,000 to 8,000 calories a day to maintain their fighting weight.
“I never had a big appetite. When I was an active wrestler, if I let my guard down I would lose weight quickly,” he said.
“I had to weigh myself every night and every morning and adjust my weight accordingly,” he added.
Takakeishō said simply deviating from his sumo wrestling diet helped him slim down
Netizens were stunned by his transformation, saying, “It's so crazy what weight can do to your face.”
“If you have the dedication to build a sumo body, a standard fit body is probably cake,” one said.
Another wrote, “Sumo Wrestlers are freakishly disciplined, the mental fortitude to eat the calories they eat and then strength train daily is crazy, I’m not as shocked at this as I would be with just about anyone else.”
“People think they're just fat, look at these guys calves, quads, and backs,” said another. “They are absolutely stacked with muscle mass, and also just happen to have a lot of fat on top it because being heavier provides an advantage on top of being strong.”
Sumo wrestlers maintain their enormous size with a lifestyle built around eating, training, and rest.
Sumo wrestlers maintain their enormous size with a very dedicated lifestyle
Their caloric intake can be anywhere between 5,000 and 8,000 kcal, and sometimes even go beyond 10,000.
But it is not just about overeating or consuming three to four times more than the average adult male.
Most of them undergo hours of grueling training, which helps maintain their immense power, speed, flexibility, and balance.
As per traditional sumo training practices, wrestlers typically don’t eat breakfast and stick to two meals a day.
They begin their intense five-hour training session on an empty stomach, which is followed by an enormous lunch of chanko-nabe, a hearty stew that’s most commonly associated with the sumo diet.
The stew contains protein like chicken, fish, tofu, and/or meatballs. A healthy quantity of vegetables like bok choy, daikon, and mushrooms also go in.
“I've won the World Sumo Championship four times,” Byambajav Ulambayar, who spent five years sumo training in Japan, told GQ.
“In other sports people rely on a lot of protein powders, but I never take supplements, so I build up my body with a healthy diet and fundamental sumo practice,” he said with the help of a translator.
“I saw how they lived and I’ll never mock them by calling them fat,” one commented online
