Onosato locks In promotion to yokozuna
An advisory panel of the Japan Sumo Association on Monday unanimously recommended the promotion of wrestler Onosato to yokozuna, the highest rank in professional sumo, following his victory in the summer tournament that ran through Sunday.
Onosato, 24 years old and 191 kilograms, and currently at the second-highest rank of ōzeki, is now set to become the 75th yokozuna. Based on the panel's recommendation, the association's executive board will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday.
The Ishikawa Prefecture-born wrestler, whose real name is Daiki Nakamura, will be the first yokozuna since Hoshoryu, who gained the spot after the January grand tournament, and the first Japanese yokozuna since Kisenosato, who was promoted following the 2017 January tournament. Six of the last seven grand champions were born in Mongolia.
Onosato will reach the rank of yokozuna in only 13 tournaments after his debut, the fastest among those who debuted in or after 1958, when the current system of holding six tournaments per year was introduced. The figure is eight fewer than the current record holder.
"Winning two consecutive tournaments is an impressive feat," Tadamori Oshima, head of the advisory panel, said at a news conference. "Above all, he was able to wrestle calmly under pressure."
Onosato's win on Sunday was his second straight title, following his victory at the spring tournament in March, and the fourth of his career.
"I feel a sense of achievement and fulfillment," he said.
"It still hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will the moment I put on the rope for the first time," he added, referring to the ring attire given to grand champions.
There are no set criteria for promotion from ōzeki, and cases are considered by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council.
Hoshoryu's promotion in January meant that sumo avoided having no grand champion for the first time in over 30 years.
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