Wakanojō Munehiko

Wakanojō Munehiko
若ノ城 宗彦
Personal information
BornMunehiko Aka
(1973-04-13) 13 April 1973
Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Height1.92 m (6 ft 3+12 in)
Weight150 kg (330 lb)
Career
StableMagaki
Record356-375-27
DebutJanuary, 1992
Highest rankMaegashira 6 (March, 1998)
RetiredMay, 2004
Elder nameSee retirement
Championships1 (Jūryō)
3 (Sandanme)
1 (Jonokuchi)

Last updated: June 2020

Wakanojō Munehiko (born 13 April 1973 as Munehiko Aka) is a former sumo wrestler from Naha, Okinawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1992, and reached the top division in September 1997. His highest rank was maegashira 6. He retired in May 2004 due to diabetes, which he had been dealing with since the age of 18 and had seen him fall from the top division all the way down to the second lowest jonidan division. After retirement he became an office worker. He needed a kidney transplant in 2006 and his mother was the donor, which was featured in Tokyo Broadcasting System Television's The Friday in January 2018. He appeared in another edition of the program in June 2018, working alongside fellow ex-sumo wrestlers Wakatoba and Wakatenro, in care for the elderly (including making chankonabe).