Latest news with #GrandSumoTournament
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Onosato's rapid rise to rank of yokozuna signals new era for sumo in Japan
Onosato, 24, has been promoted to yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo. In terms of speed, it was a record-breaking rise to the pinnacle of the sport, signaling the birth of a star wrestler with both popularity and ability. Hailing from Ishikawa Prefecture, Onosato is the first Japan-born wrestler to become a yokozuna in eight years, following his mentor Kisenosato (now stablemaster Nishonoseki). His promotion to yokozuna after just 13 tournaments since his debut is the fastest since the annual six-tournament system began in 1958, surpassing the 21 tournaments it took the champion Wajima, who was also from Ishikawa Prefecture, by a wide margin. Onosato's promotion also came after just nine tournaments following his entry into sumo's top makuuchi division, outpacing the Showa-era (1926-1989) grand yokozuna Taiho, who achieved the feat after 11 tournaments. In this year's May Grand Sumo Tournament, where his promotion was on the line, Onosato secured his second consecutive tournament victory on the 13th day. His total of four tournament wins is the most among active wrestlers. Onosato stands 192 centimeters tall and weighs 191 kilograms -- hefty even in the world of sumo -- and he wrestles with power from his large physique, coupled with speed at the initial charge. The wrestler's growth on the technical side has also been remarkable. From a young age, he has been diligent in his research of the sport, frequently questioning his coaches, analyzing match videos, and polishing his techniques. He seized the opportunity to ascend to the top of the sumo rankings in his first attempt, also demonstrating the mental strength to withstand the pressure. As his rank has increased, so has his popularity. Onosato is the second yokozuna to come from a student sumo background, following Wajima. During his time at Nippon Sport Science University, he became a student yokozuna and an amateur yokozuna. His achievements were recognized, allowing him to debut in the makushita division, several above the lowest jonokuchi division. The Yokozuna Deliberation Council unanimously recommended his promotion, with members successively expressing hopes that he would make new history in professional sumo. At the ceremony in which messengers from the Japan Sumo Association officially informed Onosato of his promotion, he declared his aim to become a "unique yokozuna." If he continues to work hard, he certainly has the potential to become a grand yokozuna. There was an incident in the past where Onosato received a stern warning from the Japan Sumo Association for drinking with a wrestler under 20. As a yokozuna, he will now be held to strict standards of "dignity." Onosato's success is uplifting those affected by last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture. He is also driven by the support from people in his hometown. After the first tournament of the year, Mongolian-born Hoshoryu, 26, was similarly promoted to the rank of yokozuna, and the Nagoya tournament in July will have both an east yokozuna and a west yokozuna for the first time in four years. Amid concerns about a shortage of new wrestlers, it is hoped that they will strive through friendly rivalry to create an Onosato-Hoshoryu era and lead the sumo world.
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Latest Yokozuna Continues Stable's Tradition of Champions Training Champions
The Yomiuri Shimbun Onosato, right, and Stablemaster Nishonoseki smile after being informed of his promotion to yokozuna in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Wednesday. Onosato's promotion to yokozuna, the top rank in sumo, was due in large part to the training he received from his stablemaster Nishonoseki, 38, who helped his talents fully bloom. The sumo world was interested in Onosato from his school days, and when he declared his desire to be a professional sumo wrestler, many stables competed to win him. Onosato ultimately chose the Nishonoseki stable led by former yokozuna Kisenosato. Nishonoseki became a yokozuna in his 89th tournament. He conveyed the hardships and experience of his days in the ring to Onosato and helped him reach the top rank with surprising speed. Hard training 'From yokozuna to yokozuna.' This slogan is displayed on the Nishonoseki stable's website beside a photo of the curent stablemaster in his wrestling days. In the picture, he is shaking hands with stablemaster Naruto, the former yokozuna Takanosato who trained Nishinoseki. Takanosato was in his time trained by stablemaster Futagoyama, who was the first yokozuna named Wakanohana. The conviction that retired yokozuna wrestlers should foster the next generation of yokozuna has been passed down steadily. Onosato's promotion extended the relay to a fourth generation. Nishonoseki stable produced its first yokozuna less than four years after Nishonoseki became an independent stablemaster in August 2021. 'The practice that we have wrestlers steadily engage in bears fruit little by little. This clearly shows that training never lets you down,' Nishonoseki said. Training was very hard at the Naruto stable where Nishinoseki practiced during his days as Kisenosato. At many stables, wrestlers' daily practice ended in the morning, but the Naruto stable often continued past noon. Stablemaster Naruto once scolded a trainee who had lost, saying: 'Imagine there are spikes outside the dohyo ring. Would you casually step out of the ring in that kind of situation?' The practice venues were always tense at Naruto stable. Humbly acquiring the basics Nishonoseki learned about the importance of basic physical training from his own stablemaster. So, Nishinoseki built two dohyo rings in his stable's practice room and had trainees spend a lot of time practicing 'shiko' foot stamping and 'suriashi' foot sliding. He did not give preferential treatment to Onosato, even though he already had excellent capabilities and achievements, but had him engage in the same practice as trainees in the makushita and lower divisions. Onosato humbly participated, saying, 'I'm grateful because I'm being firmly taught the basics.' His stablemaster praised him: 'He has obediently continued to do what I told him to.' Ahead of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, which would decide whether Onosato was promoted to yokozuna, Onosato and the stablemaster practiced by wrestling in the dohyo ring. Onosato physically felt his stablemaster's enthusiasm. At a press conference after his promotion, Onosato expressed his intention to perform dohyo-entering ceremonies in the Unryu style, like his stablemaster did when he was a yokozuna. The stablemaster and the wrestler who both sought advancement have finally reached their long-desired summit. Home prefecture excited In Onosato's home area of Ishikawa Prefecture, residents expressed their joy after learning about his promotion. The Yomiuri Shimbun Banners celebrating Onosato's promotion to yokozuna are displayed at a store inside the Kanazawa Station building in Kanazawa on Wednesday. Shunto Miwa, a 30-year-old company employee in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, taught Onosato sumo techniques when the wrestler was a high school student. 'I never dreamed a person close to me could become a yokozuna. I'm proud of that and very glad,' Miwa said. He sent a message saying 'Congratulations on the championship' after the end of the summer tournament, and Onosato replied, 'Let's meet again when I go back to Ishikawa Prefecture.' 'I want him to continue fighting as a yokozuna in an overwhelmingly impressive way,' Miwa said. A 54-year-old man who coached Onosato in Tsubata, Ishikawa Prefecture, when Onosato joined a sumo club in his elementary school years offered encouragement. 'I hope he won't forget to enjoy sumo, will continue to grow and will have as long a wrestling career as possible,' the man said. Many banners and other decorations celebrating Onosato's promotion were displayed at Kanazawa Station in Kanazawa. A 75-year-old business operator who had come to Kanazawa for sightseeing from Suzaka, Nagano Prefecture, was an enthusiastic fan. 'I hope he won't get injured and will stay in the yokozuna rank as long as he can,' they said.
NHK
24-05-2025
- Sport
- NHK
May Tournament Day 13 - GRAND SUMO Highlights
NHK WORLD-JAPAN presents a sumo highlights program for fans around the globe. Today the show features all top-division bouts from May 23th, Day 13 of the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
NHK
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NHK
May Tournament Day 2 - GRAND SUMO Highlights
NHK WORLD-JAPAN presents a sumo highlights program for fans around the globe. Today the show features all top-division bouts from May 12th, Day 2 of the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
Japan Times
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Takayasu's latest heartbreak creates sumo history
When Takayasu fell to Onosato in a title-deciding playoff bout on the final day of the March Grand Sumo Tournament, the former ozeki not only extended a long series of collapses in his biggest moments but also made sumo history. With a ninth career jun-yusho, or runner-up finish, Takayasu took sole possession of first place on the leaderboard of wrestlers who have come in second but never been a champion. The 35-year-old maegashira's name stands out even more on the overall jun-yusho list. Among the 28 men with the most second-place finishes since the individual title came into existence near the start of the 20th century, only Takayasu has failed to win a championship. Perhaps the most eye-opening stat is the fact that yokozuna Asashoryu — who lifted the Emperor's Cup 25 times — now has fewer second-place finishes than Takayasu. It's a history of heartbreak that rivals some of the greatest in sport. If Takayasu doesn't eventually change his fortunes and win a title — something that few wrestlers manage after age 35 — then he'll join a championship futility pantheon that includes athletes such as Tim Henman (tennis) and Charles Barkley (NBA) as well as the 1990s Buffalo Bills in the NFL and the French rugby and Dutch soccer teams. But even if he fails in his quest for a top-division title, Takayasu can be proud of his achievements. By any objective measurement, the former ozeki has had an outstanding, two-decade career that has garnered 13 special prizes and six gold stars in addition to those nine jun-yusho, not to mention reaching the sport's second-highest rank. Perhaps further consolation can be found in the fact that the man now in second place on the aforementioned list — ozeki Yutakayama — eventually went on to become Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tokitsukaze. Of course the light hasn't completely faded for Takayasu yet and there is still a possibility that he could get that elusive first title before he retires. Should he do so, it will put his career in a very different light. Take the example of John Elway, whose remarkable achievements on NFL fields were, for most of his career, overshadowed by collapses in the Super Bowl. Two late career titles completely changed the narrative and Elway's place among the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game is no longer disputed. It must also be remembered that while Takayasu's place atop the list of sumo's nearly men seems increasingly set in stone, he is far from the only rikishi to have come close to glory but never gotten over the line. Akinoshima's two career jun-yusho may not be anywhere close to Takayasu's nine, but the former sekiwake wreaked such havoc among the top rankers for so long that it's surprising he never lifted the Emperor's Cup himself on any occasion. Akinoshima, now a stablemaster and JSA board member known as Takadagawa, still tops the career lists for special prizes and gold stars 22 years after his retirement. His achievement of 16 gold stars, earned for defeating a yokozuna while ranked at maegashira between 1988 and 1999, is a mark that may not be approached — never mind broken — for decades. Similarly, his total of 19 special prizes is six more than Takayasu has managed in two decades — minus two years when ranked at ozeki and therefore ineligible — and is a record likely to stand for a long time. Another close-but-not-quite wrestler was current Nishiiwa stablemaster (former sekiwake Wakanosato) who spent 19 straight tournaments ranked at either sekiwake or komusubi between 2002 and 2005 but never won a title or made it to ozeki. Wakanosato and Akinoshima each had stretches where they looked unbeatable, often delivering several days of excellent sumo. But they struggled to maintain that level over a full tournament — or when they did, someone else was performing even better. The title of nearly man can also be applied to those who didn't have consistent high-level success like Akinoshima and Wakanosato but who came extremely close to winning an Emperor's Cup at some point. Hokutoriki in May 2004 was just such a case. A single defeat to Wakanosato was the maegashira-ranked wrestler's only defeat heading into the final day. Hokutoriki was nigh untouchable that tournament, defeating three ozeki and completely overwhelming yokozuna Asashoryu,who was on a 35-bout winning streak. Championship glory seemed assured when all that stood between Hokutoriki and the Emperor's Cup was a 19-year-old top division debutant by the name of Hakuho. A side step and pull-down win by the youngster forced Hokutoriki into a playoff with Asashoryu and the veteran yokozuna gained revenge for his earlier defeat. Hokutoriki left empty-handed in his only real shot at glory, while Asashoryu and Hakuho would go on to claim a further 63 Emperor's Cups combined. The failures of Hokutoriki, Akinoshima and Wakanosato to claim sumo's ultimate prize can partly be attributed to the high level of competition among the upper ranks as well as the depth of talent. These days, with a dozen active wrestlers who have championship experience and several more recent retirees with just a single Emperor's Cup to their name, it's increasingly incongruous that Takayasu has failed to take the title even once. With a newly minted yokozuna looking to bounce back and create a legacy, and a fast rising Onosato seemingly set to dominate, further chances to rectify that stat may be hard to come by for Takayasu. As things stand right now, it appears likely his place will be sealed in sumo history as the sport's ultimate nearly man.
