Summer Basho Champ Onosato on the Verge of Promotion to Yokozuna
Onosato went 14-1 in the Summer Basho, winning his second consecutive tournament. The Ishikawa Prefecture native will become the sport's 75th yokozuna.
Ozeki Onosato receives the Emperor's Cup from Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku after winning the Summer Basho. Onosato went 14-1 in the tournament, which wrapped up on May 25, 2025, at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. (©KYODO)
Ozeki Onosato achieved his goal of winning the Summer Basho, clinching the title on Friday, May 23 with a victory over Kotozakura, another ozeki.
The Ishikawa Prefecture native then entered the final day of the 15-day tournament on Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan with a perfect record.
In the day's last bout, lone yokozuna Hoshoryu spoiled Onosato's bid to become the first unbeaten champion since now-retired yokozuna Terunofuji went 15-0 at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November 2021.
Hoshoryu, who fell to 2-2 after his Day 4 defeat to second-ranked maegashira Abi, improved to 12-3 with a twisting overarm throw that sent Onosato tumbling downward. Yokozuna Hoshoryu (left) grapples with ozeki Onosato on Day 15. (©SANKEI)
With the victory, Hoshoryu improved his head-to-head record against Onosato to 6-2.
"I am really happy even though I lost in the end," said Onosato, who turns 25 on June 7, on NHK.
He added, "I wanted to win the whole tournament (every match), but I couldn't, so I will do my best next time." Summer Basho winner Onosato is interviewed after the tournament concluded. (KYODO)
Even if perfection was Onosato's goal at the Summer Basho, there's consolation just around the corner. He will become sumo's 75th yokozuna (grand champion), reaching the top in only 13 tournaments ― a modern era record for the fewest meets to ascend to the top.
Onosato will break Wajima's record of needing only 21 tourneys to become a yokozuna in the six-tournament era, which was established in 1958. It's a record that has stood since 1973.
The Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council is on the verge of rubber-stamping Onosato's promotion. An announcement is likely on Wednesday, May 28.
"I will wait to hear good news on Wednesday, when the extraordinary meeting of the board of directors is held," Onosato said on NHK.
He added, "I think the upcoming tournament (July's Nagoya Basho) will be an important one, so I will prepare well and do my best to have a good tournament." Komusubi Wakatakakage forces sixth-ranked maegashira Tobizaru over the edge of the raised ring on Day 15. Wakatakakage went 12-3 in the tourney. (©SANKEI)
In addition to Onosato and Hoshoryu, nine other makuuchi division wrestlers finished with double-digit victory totals.
Komusubi Wakatakakage matched Hoshoryu's record (12-3), and on the final day, he defeated rank-and-file grappler Tobizaru (7-8). In March, Wakatakakage went 9-6 as a top maegashira. Aonishiki, a ninth-ranked maegashira, triumphs against No 13 Sadanoumi on the final day of the Summer Basho. (©SANKEI)
Sekiwake Kirishima and 21-year-old Ukrainian Aonishiki, a ninth-ranked maegashira, both compiled 11-4 records.
Six wrestlers finished with 10-5 marks: Asakoryu, Sadanoumi, Kinbozan, Onokatsu, Oshoma and Daieisho.
Kirishima earned the fourth Technique Prize of his sumo career.
Aonishiki, who debuted in the top division in March, claimed the Fighting Spirit Prize. After posting an 11-4 record in the Spring Basho, Aonishiki received his first Fighting Spirit Prize.
Onosato's 14 consecutive wins in the Summer Basho began with a strong five-day stretch at the outset of the tourney. In that period, he rattled off wins in succession over top maegashira Wakamotoharu, komusubi Takayasu, Abi, top maegashira Oho and third-ranked maegashira Tamawashi.
"I thought the first five days of the tournament were important, and I was good in those five days, so I think I was able to create a good flow, which led to the [title]," Onosato said during his on-air interview.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
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