Sumo wrestler Onosato promoted to Yokozuna Grand Champion
The Japan Sumo Association decided to promote Onosato from the second highest rank of ozeki at an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors on Wednesday.
Onosato became champion of the latest Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with 14 wins and one loss. This was his fourth career tournament victory and second in a row.
He won the spring tournament in a playoff after he and his rival ended the 15-day event with 12 wins and three losses.
After the association meeting, two messengers visited the Nishonoseki stable in Ami Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. They notified Onosato and his stable master of the promotion.
In accepting, Onosato vowed to practice hard so as not to disgrace the title of the grand champion. He also said he would make an effort to become a unique yokozuna.
The new yokozuna then said at a news conference that he is truly glad about the promotion. He said he will work even harder because he is entering an important stage.
Onosato achieved the fastest promotion to yokozuna since 1909, when the position became an official title. It took only 13 tournaments for him to achieve the feat.
About his speedy promotion to yokozuna, he said it was fast in terms of a record, but he did not think about the speed.
He said instead he learned from every tournament and believed in his capability to reach the position he would finally be in.
Onosato, who is 24 years old, was born in Tsubata Town in central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture. He made his debut as a professional sumo wrestler in May 2023.
He is the first Japanese-born wrestler to become yokozuna since 2017. In that year, his stable master Nishonoseki, formerly known as wrestler Kisenosato, was promoted to the top position after the New Year Tournament.
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