Sumo Star Onosato Becomes the 75th Yokozuna
Onosato earned promotion to sumo's highest rank faster than any other wrestler. The Ishikawa Prefecture native received the honor after only 13 tournaments.
Onosato (left) and stablemaster Nishinoseki attend a yokozuna promotion ceremony on May 28, 2025, in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture. (©SANKEI)
Onosato has had a brilliant start to his sumo wrestling career, winning four of his first 13 tournaments as a professional.
And now, after capturing back-to-back titles, including the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, May 25 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Ishikawa Prefecture native has reached the pinnacle of his sport.
The Japan Sumo Association's board of directors held a meeting on Wednesday, May 28 and, as expected, unanimously approved Onosato's promotion to yokozuna (grand champion), the sport's highest rank. Consecutive titles is considered a requirement for an ozeki to ascend to the highest rank.
Onosato's rapid rise to the top broke the record for the fewest number of tournaments needed to become a yokozuna. In the 1940s, Haguroyama and Terukuni both became yokozuna with just 16 tournaments under their belt.
The six-tournament era was adopted in 1958. And during the modern era of Japan's traditional sport, Wajima, another Ishikawa Prefecture native, set the previous record of earning promotion to grand champion after 21 tourneys in May 1973. Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds the Hanshin Tigers megaphone after his promotion ceremony. (©SANKEI)
Becoming a yokozuna carries great responsibility as a public figure and as a bearer of the sport's traditional values.
On Wednesday, JSA representatives visited Nishinoseki stable in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture, where Onosato trains, to deliver the good news.
"Since entering professional sumo, I've always thought the rank of yokozuna is something I'd absolutely aim for. I'm happy to have achieved it," Onosato said, according to Kyodo News. "I think what I do from here is important." Onosato won his fourth Emperor's Cup at the Summer Basho on May 25 in Tokyo. (KYODO)
Onosato, whose given name is Daiki Nakamura, turns 25 on June 7. The 192-cm wrestler made his pro debut in May 2023. Before that, he was a Nippon Sport Science University student and wrestler.
After Terunofuji's retirement in January 2025, there was a one-yokozuna period for several months. There are now two yokozuna once again, with Onosato joining Mongolian Hoshoryu, who has held the rank since January, at the top.
Hoshoryu spoiled Onosato's bid for a perfect Summer Basho, winning their match on the 15th and final day, meaning Onosato finished with a 14-1 record.
Looking ahead, Onosato is determined to make his mark as a yokozuna.
"I will devote myself to training so as not to disgrace the rank of yokozuna," Onosato was quoted as saying by The Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday.
He added, "I aim to be the one and only grand champion." Onosato and stablemaster Nishinoseki (right) attend the promotion ceremony. (KYODO)
What does being called yokozuna mean to him now?
"I still haven't gotten used to it," The Sankei Shimbun reported him saying at Nishinoseki stable. "[But] I guess I will get used to it."
Retired yokozuna Kisenosato, now known as Nishinoseki stablemaster, has guided Onosato's career. In 2017, he became the last Japanese to earn the prestigious title of yokozuna.
Mongolians have dominated sumo's makuuchi (top) division over the past few decades.
"I hope he leads by example and lifts the entire world of sumo," stablemaster Nishonoseki said of Onosato, according to Kyodo News. "It's important to be strong, but I hope he becomes a role model for other wrestlers. I hope he wrestles while being aware [of a yokozuna's responsibilities]." Then-ozeki Onosato defeats fourth-ranked maegashira Takerufuji on Day 7 of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 17. (©SANKEI)
In May 2024, Onosato won his first Emperor's Cup with a 12-3 record as a komusubi, sumo's fourth-highest rank. As a result, he was promoted to sekiwake for the July 2024 meet in Nagoya.
In his second tourney as a sekiwake, Onosato claimed his second Emperor's Cup at the Autumn Basho in Tokyo in September 2024, posting a 13-2 record. That earned him another promotion, reaching ozeki for the final meet of 2024 in November in Fukuoka.
Interestingly enough, upon his promotion to the sport's second-highest rank, Onosato also vowed to be "the one and only" ozeki.
There was no doubt that Onosato had the ability to shine as an ozeki and that he was destined for even greater prestige. He compiled a 45-15 record as an ozeki, raising his win total from nine to 10 to 12 to 14 in his four meets at that rank.
Winning the Spring Basho by beating Kisenosato in a playoff at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Onosato took that first big step toward promotion to yokozuna. His outstanding Summer Basho performance was confirmation that has the ability to be a great sumo wrestler for many years to come.
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 .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
15 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Tokyo Yushun: Race Favorite Croix du Nord Delivers Impressive Victory
Guided by jockey Yuichi Kitamura, the Kitasan Black offspring maintained a fast pace throughout the 92nd Tokyo Yushun and finished strong to secure the win. Croix du Nord, piloted by Yuichi Kitamura, wins the 92nd Tokyo Yushun on June 1, 2025, at Tokyo Racecourse. (©SANKEI) Odds-on favorite Croix du Nord validated his Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000 meters) victory in December 2024 by winning the 92nd Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) by three-quarters of a length on Sunday, June 1. The son of Kitasan Black had three wins in as many starts last year and kicked off the 2025 racing campaign with the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000, Guineas, G1, 2,000 meters) on April 20 as the heavy favorite. In that race, Croix du Nord had to settle for second, 1½ lengths behind Museum Mile. On Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, trainer Takashi Saito and jockey Yuichi Kitamura both claimed their first Japan Racing Association G1 title since the 2024 Hopeful Stakes with this colt. It was Saito's ninth overall G1 win and Kitamura's seventh. While it was their first Classic title for both the trainer and jockey, owner Sunday Racing notched its fifth Japanese Derby victory — renewing the JRA record for most Derby titles won. The 92nd running of the Tokyo Yushun at Tokyo Racecourse. (©SANKEI) Croix du Nord broke smoothly from stall 13, shifted closer to the inside and secured a prominent position around third or fourth behind Satono Shining (Yutaka Take's ride), who was rushed to the front in his bid to lead the 18-horse field. He then gave way to Ho O Atman (Hironobu Tanabe) soon after as a pacesetter entering the backstretch. Kitamura kept his mount in good rhythm as Ho O Atman increased his lead from the rest of the field by almost 10 lengths. The 2,400-meter race began in earnest as the leader weakened 300 meters out. At that point, Croix du Nord came powerfully up the center lane to duel with Satono Shining. Croix du Nord then pulled away from Satono Shining at the furlong pole while holding off a powerful chase by runner-up Masquerade Ball (Ryusei Sakai) and third-place finisher Shohei (Christophe Lemaire) to earn a three-quarter length victory. ( Watch the full race on the JRA's YouTube channel. ) Winning jockey Yuichi Kitamura (©SANKEI) "I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a Derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes. So my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished my mission," Kitamura said after the race. "The whole process since the win last year, including our runner-up effort in the Satsuki Sho, was a meaningful and precious learning experience for me." Added Kitamura, "The colt felt great today and I was able to come into the race with every confidence, so victory itself came as no surprise to me." How did the race unfold? "The break was smooth and after that, I was concentrating on keeping him in a comfortable rhythm more so than what position he was sitting in," said Kitamura. "In the stretch run, he responded really well and as I've said, I had every confidence in the colt and drove him on believing that he would make it to the wire a winner." The start of the 92nd Tokyo Yushun. (©SANKEI) Masquerade Ball secured a comfortable position in mid-field with a close view of the race favorite and eventual winner, running a few lengths in front. Giving the colt a breather along the backstretch before edging closer along the outside approaching the last two turns, Sakai guided the colt further out for a clear run into the stretch where the son of Duramente turned in a terrific turn of foot. He closed in on the eventual winner while overtaking both Shohei and Satono Shining to secure second place, although just short of reaching the winner. Shohei made use of an inside break to sit close to the pace while saving ground along the rails before shifting out slightly coming into the straight to follow the eventual winner. And while unable to match that foe, Shohei ran gamely to overtake Satono Shining in the last strides to secure third place. Satono Shining finished fourth, a neck's length behind Shohei. Eighth pick Eri King (Yuga Kawada) and second favorite Museum Mile (Damian Lane) placed fifth and sixth, respectively. The 75th Yasuda Kinen is the JRA's next G1 race on Sunday, June 8 at Tokyo Racecourse. Read the full report , including details on each of the Tokyo Yushun entrants, on JRA News. Author: JRA News
Japan Forward
17 hours ago
- Japan Forward
B.League Unveils Best Five Team and Other Awards
Teammates DJ Newbill and Makoto Hiejima of the title-winning Utsunomiya Brex were named to the Best Five Team for the second straight year. chairman Shinji Shimada (left) and Utsunomiya Brex coach Zico Coronel pose with Brex players during the league's annual awards show on May 30, 2025, in Tokyo. Coronel and Kevin Braswell, his predecessor who died in February, share the Head Coach of the Year Award. (©SANKEI) The 2024-25 Award show was held on Friday, honoring players and teams for their achievements during the season. At the annual event in Tokyo, the top accolade went to Utsunomiya Brex veteran guard DJ Newbill, who was named season MVP for the second straight year. The Penn State alum also received the Finals MVP accolade after helping lead the Brex past the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the championship series on Tuesday, May 27. Newbill averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists, leading all players in both categories, in the three-game series. During the regular season, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He was eighth in scoring and second in assists in the 24-team league. Above all, Newbill's confidence, productivity and on-court leadership were instrumental in the Brex's overall success. Utsunomiya had a league-best 48-12 record and Newbill was the team's best player this past season. MVP DJ Newbill receives the MVP award for the second year in a row. (©SANKEI) At the banquet, Newbill paid tribute to his late mentor Kevin Braswell, the team's head coach who passed away on February 24. He thanked Braswell for his positive influence on his career. "I'd like to dedicate the MVP award to him," Braswell told the audience, Sankei Sports reported. "I want give a shout-out to my former coach, Coach KB," Newbill said on the stage. "[And] I think this season he really lit a fire under me and challenged me to take my game to new heights, and even with this season being as difficult as it was, losing him, I think everything that he's taught me from Day 1 and taught us from Day 1 ... our team just kept the determination each and every day in practice and each and every game." MVP DJ Newbill (©SANKEI) Newbill, who turned 33 on May 22, two days before the Finals started, headlines the Best Five Team for the second year in a row. Players are selected for their overall excellence throughout the season. Also named to the Best Five Team was Brex shooting guard Makoto Hiejima, who was selected for the fourth time and for the second straight year. Hiejima averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 assists in 58 games. He was at his best in the fourth quarter in Game 3 of the Finals, when he scored 14 of his 17 points to ignite the Brex comeback. Hiejima was also recognized for being the top 3-point shooter in the He led all players with 44.3% shooting accuracy (133 of 300) from beyond the arc. Brex star Makoto Hiejima (©SANKEI) "I've acquired the ability to finish off shots when the opponent is more cautious," Hiejima said, reflecting on his success as an outside shooter in 2024-25. "I think this award shows my growth." Ryukyu forward Vic Law (16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists) was named to the Best Five Team for the first time. San-en NeoPhoenix swingman David Nwaba (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and NeoPhoenix point guard Ryusei Sasaki (who led the in assists with 6.5 per game and scored 11.5 ppg) were also both first-time honorees. Ryukyu's Masahiro Waki ( NeoPhoenix guard Sota Oura, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists off the bench in 59 games (zero starts) received the Best Sixth Man accolade. Chibs Jets guard/forward Shuta Hara received the Best Defender Award for the second time. He also won it in the 2022-23 campaign. Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki was chosen as the Rookie of the Year. The Kumamoto native contributed 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 60 games (49 starts) for Ryukyu. The 2024-25 champion Utsunomiya Brex attend the awards ceremony. (©SANKEI) Braswell and Brex acting head coach Zico Coronel were named co-winners of the Head Coach of the Year Award. Appropriately, the league recognized the coaching leadership of both men and the challenge that Coronel faced. Hired as Braswell's assistant, the New Zealander stepped in to guide the team after Braswell had a heart attack in January and died a few weeks later. Second Team honors went to guards Yuki Togashi (Chiba Jets) and Seiya Ando (Shimane Susanoo Magic) and frontcourt standouts Ryan Rossiter (Alvark Tokyo), Yante Maten (NeoPhoenix) and Brock Motum (Shiga Lakes). Kashima Antlers forward Leo Ceara scores in the ninth minute against Gamba Osaka on May 31 in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. (KYODO) Entering June, the fifth month of the 2025 season, the Kashima Antlers appear to be well on their way to claiming their ninth league title. There's, of course, a slew of matches still to be played. But the Antlers (13 wins, one draw, five defeats) have excelled since the start of the season in February and sit atop the table with 40 points. Sitting in second and third place, respectively, are Kashiwa Reysol (34 points for 19 matches) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (32 points for 18 matches). On Wednesday, June 4, Hiroshima will play its 19th game, facing host Avispa Fukuoka, to equal the total to date of Kashima and Kashiwa. The Antlers earned their latest victory ― a 1-0 away decision over Gamba Osaka ― on Saturday, May 31. Brazilian Leo Ceara scored the lone goal in the ninth minute at Panasonic Stadium Suita. It was Kashima's fourth win in four matches, a stretch in which manager Toru Oniki's club allowed zero goals three times and a single tally on two occasions. Oniki acknowledged his team set the tone for the win with its first-half effort. "The players worked hard and the supporters supported us," the veteran manager told reporters after the match. "I think that was the only thing that mattered in the first half." With 29 goals scored and only 15 allowed so far, the Antlers have strong overall productivity on offense and defense. And they look like the clear-cut favorite to win another title. ODDS and EVENS | Season is Providing Compelling Competition Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees on May 30 at Dodger Stadium. (Jason Parkhurst/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 8-5 on Friday, May 30 at Dodger Stadium. Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani belted a pair of solo home runs for the hosts in the opener of a three-game series. Ohtani homered off Yankees starter Max Fried in the first inning. He added a bases-empty blast off Fried in the sixth. The pride of Iwate Prefecture leads MLB in home runs (22) in the 2025 season. Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is slated to start the series finale on Sunday. Yamamoto (6-3) is among MLB's ERA leaders (1.97, fifth-lowest average through May 30). Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch on May 30 in Chicago. (KYODO) In other MLB news, Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga is making progress in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, according to manager Craig Counsell. Imanaga has not pitched in a game since sustaining the injury on May 4. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 23. On Wednesday, May 28, Imanaga had an on-field test for his physical recovery. It included fielding practice and running along with a 28-pitch bullpen session, The Associated Press reported. What was Counsell's assessment of Imanaga's workout? "So all in all, a very good workday," Counsell was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "Kind of repeat that this weekend, assuming everything turns up well tomorrow, and then go from there." For Imanaga, a trip to the Cubs spring training complex in Mesa, Arizona, would be the next step in making preparations for his return to the starting rotation. Highly touted Japanese baseball prospect Rintaro Sasaki played in all 52 of the Stanford University baseball team's games during the 2025 season. The Cardinal (27-25) lost their final game to Virginia Tech in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship on May 20. Sasaki finished his freshman season with a .269 batting average with seven homers and 41 RBIs. He also had a team-high 25 walks. Doubles partners Hiroto Shinozuka (left) and Shunsuke Togami react after winning the men's final at the World Table Tennis Championships on May 25 in Lusail, Qatar. (AP/via KYODO) For the first time since 1961, Japan claimed the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships on Sunday, May 25. Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami teamed up for a 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Taiwan's Cheng Jui Kao and Yun Ju Lin in Lusail, Qatar. Shinozuka and Togami were the No 2 seeds. Their Taiwanese opponents were seeded sixth. After winning the title, Togami, 23, was euphoric. "I'm so happy," Togami said, according to Kyodo News. "We dropped the first game because of my errors, but a fired-up Hiroto Shinozuka was alongside me." In Beijing, Nobuya Hoshino and Koji Kimura triumphed at the 1961 World Table Tennis Championships. ―Former NPB pitching star Kimiyasu Kudo , who won five Japan Series titles as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks manager (during his tenure from 2015-21), on his baseball aspirations for Indonesia. Kudo, 62, participated in a baseball clinic, featuring junior high and high school students, in Jakarta on May 17, NHK reported. 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 .
Japan Forward
3 days ago
- Japan Forward
MLB Stars Ohtani and Suzuki Wielding Powerful Bats
Reporting on MLB sluggers Shohei Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki, the upcoming participation of the Utsunomiya Brex in Asia's Basketball Champions League and more. Shohei Ohtani (left) and Seiya Suzuki (©KYODO; GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO) Heading into the weekend of May 30-June 1, Japanese sluggers Shohei Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki lead MLB in two of baseball's most significant batting statistics ― home runs and RBIs, respectively. Ohtani, a three-time MVP (twice with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League and the reigning winner in the National League), is No 1 in Major League Baseball with 20 home runs. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar bashed his latest homer on May 27 against the Cleveland Guardians, a two-out, two-run blast in the fourth inning. LA won 9-5. Reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani (Brad Penner/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) In May, Ohtani has hit 13 homers, reminding everyone that his power display in 2024 (54 round-trippers) was no fluke. And twice this month, he's homered in three consecutive games. His 20th homer was also noteworthy from a historical context because he became only the third Dodger to slug at least 20 round-trippers in the team's first 55 games. The others: Cody Bellinger (20 in 2019) and Gil Hodges (21 in 1951). Chicago Cubs star Suzuki, who is batting .273, leads MLB with 51 RBIs. He also has 14 homers. Suzuki was 11-for-27 in his last seven games, including four homers and eight RBIs. In May, he's hit seven homers and amassed 26 RBIs. Suzuki was named NL Player of the Week on May 26. And what a week it was for Suzuki, who batted .480 with three homers and four doubles in six games from May 19-25. He also drove in 10 runs in that span. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is impressed with Suzuki's continued growth as a hitter. "His ability to hit and to continue to develop hitting premium velocity has been really important," Hoyer said, according to "I just see a guy that's more aggressive both in demeanor and also in counts. He was a little bit more passive at the plate before. He's got guys on base and he's looking to do damage, and he has." Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki bats against the Colorado Rockies on May 27 at Wrigley Field. (GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO) Now in his fourth season with the Cubs, Suzuki is striving to be a productive player. For the most part, he's pleased with his play of late on offense. "I don't know if I can say it's the best [stretch of my career]," Suzuki said through an interpreter, reported. "But I feel like I've been doing really well. Obviously, I'm going to have moments where the performance isn't as good, and I'll talk to the coaches and see what adjustments I need to make. But I'm happy with how it's gone so far." The Utsunomiya Brex, the 2024-25 champions, celebrate their title-clinching win on May 27 at Yokohama Arena. (KYODO) After winning the title on Tuesday, May 27, the Utsunomiya Brex celebrated their glorious achievement. But their offseason has not yet begun. The Brex will participate in the Basketball Champions League Asia, which will be held June 7-13 in Dubai. It will consist of eight nations' domestic champions plus the winner of the FIBA West Asia Super League. East Asian representatives include the Meralco Bolts (Philippines), the Changwon LG Sakers (South Korea) and the Zhejiang Lions (China). First-round action will feature three groups, with round-robin competition in each group. Finals: Utsunomiya Rallies Past Ryukyu to Capture the Title Following the Ryukyu Golden Kings' 73-71 loss to the Brex in Game 3 of the Finals, veteran forward Vic Law shared his thoughts on the team's disappointing finish. Law's shot on the last play of the game was blocked, ending the possibility of overtime. "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened," Law wrote on Twitter. "Heartbroken we couldn't win the championship but extremely proud of our team. No one believed we could make it there and we proved everyone wrong. Thank you to everyone who supported us along the way." The Golden Kings reached the championship round for the fourth consecutive season, an unprecedented streak since the was launched in 2016. Hiroki Yanagita (center) wins the men's 100-meter final at the Asian Athletics Championships on May 28 in Gumi, South Korea. (KYODO) Four Japan national team representatives have secured gold medals at the ongoing Asian Athletics Championships (May 27-31) in Gumi, South Korea. As of Friday, May 30, Japan's event winners are Hiroki Yanagita in the men's 100 meters (10.20 seconds, a season-best time), Kazuto Iizawa in the men's 1,500 (3:42.56, a personal-best time), Paris Olympian Rachid Muratake in the men's 110-meter hurdles (13.22 seconds), and Nanako Matsumoto in the women's 400 (52.17 seconds, a personal-best mark). Yanagita, a 21-year-old athlete, had mixed feelings about his performance in the men's 100. "I did manage to win consecutive victories [at the Asian Athletics Championships], but I wasn't satisfied with the results," Yanagita was quoted as saying by the Tokyo Broadcasting System website. He added, "I was hoping that I could win consecutive victories by breaking the participation standard for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships (10.00 seconds). But I'm disappointed that I couldn't break the standard I had in mind the most." For Matsumoto, her triumph in South Korea was satisfying. "Winning a competition that I entered with the goal of winning gives me a lot of confidence," the 28-year-old said, according to TBS. ASICS' New Marathon Shoe Weighs Only 129 Grams 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 .
