Latest news with #SummerGrandSumoTournament
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Onosato earns yokozuna rank in record time
TOKYO: Sumo wrestler Onosato speaks to the media during a press conference in Ami, Ibaraki on May 26, 2025. - AFP TOKYO: Sumo crowned a new grand champion in record time on Wednesday as Onosato became the fastest to attain the exalted rank of yokozuna in the Japanese sport's modern era. The 24-year-old's elevation by the Japan Sumo Association came after he appeared in just 13 professional tournaments, eight fewer than the current record holder. The wrestler, who weighs 191kg (421lb, 30 stone) and is 1.92 meters (6ft 3in) tall, became the 75th grand champion in the centuries-old history of sumo. He was the second to reach the top rank in the space of four months, following History's promotion in January. The two will go head-to-head for the first time as yokozuna in July in Nagoya. Onosato also became the first Japan-born wrestler to reach the rank since 2017. Six of the last seven grand champions were born in Mongolia. Onosato was recommended for promotion on Monday after he won the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament a day earlier for his second straight title and the fourth of his career. "I am truly happy. Now, things will become more important than ever. I want to stay focused and continue to work hard," he told a press conference after being formally promoted. "This is a very much unknown territory for me. I want to maintain my style, be Onosato, and I will work hard to become a unique and unparalleled yokozuna." There are no set criteria for promotion from the second-highest rank of ozeki, 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 more than 30 years. Onosato's promotion was the fastest since the current six-tournament calendar was introduced in 1958. – AFP
Tokyo Weekender
2 days ago
- Sport
- Tokyo Weekender
Introducing Onosato: Japan's Record-Breaking Yokozuna Grand Champion
Onosato was promoted to the highest rank of yokozuna on Wednesday following his Summer Grand Sumo Tournament triumph. The 24-year-old Ishikawa Prefecture native achieved the feat after just 13 professional tournaments, making him the fastest to attain the exalted rank in the modern era. The previous record was held by fellow Ishikawa Prefecture native Wajima, who secured promotion after his 21st meet in 1973. Onosato, whose birth name is Daiki Nakamura, is the first Japanese-born sumo wrestler to become grand champion since 2017. List of Contents: A New Era in Sumo The Rise of Onosato Related Posts A New Era in Sumo The only other Japanese-born competitor promoted to the top rank of the sport this century was his stablemaster Nishonoseki, who wrestled as Kisenosato. He retired in 2019. Since Asashoryu's ascent to the highest rank 22 years ago, sumo has been dominated by Mongolian wrestlers, with six of the last eight yokozuna hailing from the world's second-largest landlocked country. The rise of Onosato, though, could mark a new era in the sport. A remarkable talent, he is the first wrestler to turn yokozuna without a single losing record. 'I'll devote myself to training in order not to bring the rank of yokozuna into disrepute, and aim for a one-of-a-kind yokozuna,' said Onosato during his promotion ceremony at his Nishonoseki stable in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture. Nishonoseki added, 'I hope he leads by example and lifts the entire world of sumo. 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).' The Rise of Onosato Described as 'the most eagerly awaited prospect to come out of collegiate sumo in decades,' Onosato only became a professional in May 2023 after graduating from Nippon Sport Science University. Speaking about the wrestler's potential, his former coach at Niigata's Kaiyo High School said , 'It may be presumptuous to call him the Shohei Otani of sumo, but I have high hopes for him to become a 'monster of a new era.'' So far, he has lived up to the hype. Beginning as a pro in the third-tier makushita division, Onosato won the Emperor's Cup in his seventh tournament, the fastest since the championship system was established more than a century ago. He secured his fourth career championship last Friday with two days to spare in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. Going into the final day, he had a perfect 14-0 record. Hoshoryu , however, spoiled his bid to finish the tournament undefeated. The Mongolian is, of course, sumo's only other current yokozuna. He was promoted in January. The last two wrestlers promoted to yokozuna in the same year were Hokutoumi and Onokuni in 1987. It's hoped that the sport's latest rivalry will become one for the ages. Hoshoryu currently has the upper hand, with six wins in eight career bouts between the pair. They will meet as yokozuna for the first time at the IG Arena in Nagoya in July. Onosato will be hoping to claim his third successive title this year, while Hoshoryu will be aiming for his third career championship. Related Posts The Greatest Sumo Rivalries of All Time | List of 7 London To Host First Overseas Sumo Tournament in 20 Years A Guide to Sumo in Tokyo
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Onosato promoted to yokozuna after record-setting ascent in sumo
Onosato has been promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, the Japan Sumo Association announced on Wednesday, completing a meteoric rise to the summit of Japan's national sport in the record span of 13 tournaments. The 24-year-old, who weighs 421lb (191kg) and stands 6ft 4in (1.92m) tall, becomes the 75th yokozuna in sumo's centuries-spanning history and the first Japan-born wrestler to hold the title since Kisenosato in 2017. His promotion comes just days after clinching the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Sumo Hall with a 14-1 record, clinching his second straight championship and fourth overall. Onosato's promotion was made official after a unanimous recommendation from the JSA's advisory council on Monday and approved by the board of trustees at a special meeting on Wednesday. He is now the fastest wrestler to reach yokozuna in the modern six-tournament calendar era, which dates to 1958. The record ascent eclipses the previous mark of 21 basho set by Wajima, another Ishikawa native, in 1973. 'I am truly happy,' Onosato told reporters on Wednesday after receiving the decision from JSA envoys at his Nishonoseki stable in Ibaraki Prefecture. 'Now, things will become more important than ever. I want to stay focused and continue to work hard.' He added: 'I will devote myself to training so as not to disgrace the rank of yokozuna. I want to be the one and only grand champion.' The phrase 'one and only' echoed his remarks last September when he was promoted to ōzeki, sumo's second-highest rank. 'I didn't originally plan to say it again, but it just felt right,' he said. 'It was the only thing that came to mind.' Onosato, whose birth name is Daiki Nakamura, entered the professional ranks in May 2023 after a decorated amateur career at Toyo University. He began in the third-tier makushita division and quickly scaled the ranks without a single losing record, reaching ōzeki in his ninth tournament and before reaching the top in his 13th. He secured his latest title on day 13 of the Summer tournament – where competitors wrestle once daily and the best record after 15 days wins – by defeating fellow ōzeki Kotozakura to improve to 13-0. His only blemish came on the final day to Hoshoryu, the Mongolian-born yokozuna who was promoted in January. Hoshoryu finished 12-3 and the result has only heightened anticipation for the budding rivalry between the two. They are set to face off as yokozuna for the first time at the Nagoya tournament in July – sumo's grand tournaments are held every two months throughout the year in the odd-numbered months – the first time two grand champions will top the banzuke ranking list since 2021. It makes the first time that two rikishi have earned promotion to yokozuna in the same calendar year since 1987, when Hokutoumi and Onokuni both reached the top. 'Winning two straight tournaments as an ōzeki is an impressive feat,' said Tadamori Oshima, chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, said on Sunday. 'Above all, he remained composed and consistent under pressure.' The promotion ends a period of scarcity for Japanese-born yokozuna. Before Kisenosato in 2017, Japan had gone nearly two decades without a native wrestler at the top rank, as Mongolian wrestlers dominated the sport. Six of the last seven yokozuna before Onosato were born in Mongolia, including the record-shattering Hakuho, Harumafuji and Asashoryu. Their emergence followed Akebono, the American who became the first rikishi born outside Japan to earn the rank in 1993. 'I hope he leads by example and lifts the entire world of sumo,' said Nishonoseki, Onosato's stablemaster, who competed as Kisenosato. 'He's still developing. He's been building his body properly since entering the stable, making steady efforts. Training does not lie.' Onosato's rise has been widely hailed both for its symbolic significance and his calm, composed style. A technical and balanced wrestler, he has been praised for his maturity in the ring and his steady temperament off it. His promotion has also been a source of pride in his home prefecture of Ishikawa, which was devastated by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day in 2025. More than 600 people died in a disaster that displaced thousands and the Noto Peninsula region continues to rebuild. 'I will work hard as a yokozuna to encourage and cheer up the Ishikawa prefecture and the Noto region,' he said. He is now the third yokozuna from Ishikawa, following Wajima and Haguroyama. With the sport preparing for an international exhibition at London's Royal Albert Hall in October, his promotion comes at a time when JSA is seeking to broaden its global profile while reconnecting with fans at home. At 24, Onosato is the youngest yokozuna since Takanohana's promotion in 1994 and thought to be the first to reach the rank without a single losing record in the top division. What comes next is not only the pressure of defending the rank, but the responsibility that accompanies it both inside and outside the dohyo. 'This is unknown territory for me,' Onosato said. 'But I want to continue being myself: to wrestle my way, stay focused, and become a unique and unparalleled yokozuna.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Onosato promoted to yokozuna after record-setting ascent in sumo
Onosato's promotion comes just days after clinching the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Sumo Hall with a 14-1 record, clinching second straight championship and fourth overall. Onosato's promotion comes just days after clinching the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Sumo Hall with a 14-1 record, clinching second straight championship and fourth overall. Photograph: Japan Pool/JIJI Press/AFP/Getty Images Onosato has been promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, the Japan Sumo Association announced on Wednesday, completing a meteoric rise to the summit of Japan's national sport in the record span of 13 tournaments. The 24-year-old, who weighs 421lb (191kg) and stands 6ft 4in (1.92m) tall, becomes the 75th yokozuna in sumo's centuries-spanning history and the first Japan-born wrestler to hold the title since Kisenosato in 2017. His promotion comes just days after clinching the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Sumo Hall with a 14-1 record, clinching his second straight championship and fourth overall. Advertisement Onosato's promotion was made official after a unanimous recommendation from the JSA's advisory council on Monday and approved by the board of trustees at a special meeting on Wednesday. He is now the fastest wrestler to reach yokozuna in the modern six-tournament calendar era, which dates to 1958. The record ascent eclipses the previous mark of 21 basho set by Wajima, another Ishikawa native, in 1973. 'I am truly happy,' Onosato told reporters on Wednesday after receiving the decision from JSA envoys at his Nishonoseki stable in Ibaraki Prefecture. 'Now, things will become more important than ever. I want to stay focused and continue to work hard.' He added: 'I will devote myself to training so as not to disgrace the rank of yokozuna. I want to be the one and only grand champion.' The phrase 'one and only' echoed his remarks last September when he was promoted to ōzeki, sumo's second-highest rank. 'I didn't originally plan to say it again, but it just felt right,' he said. 'It was the only thing that came to mind.' Advertisement Onosato, whose birth name is Daiki Nakamura, entered the professional ranks in May 2023 after a decorated amateur career at Toyo University. He began in the third-tier makushita division and quickly scaled the ranks without a single losing record, reaching ōzeki in his ninth tournament and before reaching the top in his 13th. He secured his latest title on day 13 of the Summer tournament – where competitors wrestle once daily and the best record after 15 days wins – by defeating fellow ōzeki Kotozakura to improve to 13-0. His only loss came on the final day to Hoshoryu, the Mongolian-born yokozuna who was promoted in January. Hoshoryu finished 12-3 and the result has only heightened anticipation for a nascent rivalry between the two. They are set to face off as yokozuna for the first time at the Nagoya tournament in July – sumo's grand tournaments are held every two months throughout the year in the odd-numbered months – the first time two grand champions will top the banzuke ranking list since 2021. It makes the first time that two rikishi have earned promotion to yokozuna in the same calendar year since 1987, when Hokutoumi and Onokuni both reached the top. 'Winning two straight tournaments as an ōzeki is an impressive feat,' said Tadamori Oshima, chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, said on Sunday. 'Above all, he remained composed and consistent under pressure.' Advertisement The promotion ends a period of scarcity for Japanese-born yokozuna. Before Kisenosato in 2017, Japan had gone nearly two decades without a native wrestler at the top rank, as Mongolian wrestlers dominated the sport. Six of the last seven yokozuna before Onosato were born in Mongolia, including the record-shattering Hakuho, Harumafuji and Asashoryu. 'I hope he leads by example and lifts the entire world of sumo,' said Nishonoseki, Onosato's stablemaster, who competed as Kisenosato. 'He's still developing. He's been building his body properly since entering the stable, making steady efforts. Training does not lie.' Onosato's rise has been widely hailed both for its symbolic significance and his calm, composed style. A technical and balanced wrestler, he has been praised for his maturity in the ring and his steady temperament off it. His promotion has also been a source of pride in his home prefecture of Ishikawa, which was devastated by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day in 2025. More than 600 people died in a disaster that displaced thousands and the Noto Peninsula region continues to rebuild. 'I will work hard as a yokozuna to encourage and cheer up the Ishikawa prefecture and the Noto region,' he said. He is now the third yokozuna from Ishikawa, following Wajima and Haguroyama. With the sport preparing for an international exhibition at London's Royal Albert Hall in October, his promotion comes at a time when JSA is seeking to broaden its global profile while reconnecting with fans at home. Advertisement At 24, Onosato is the youngest yokozuna since Takanohana's promotion in 1994 and thought to be the first to reach the rank without a single losing record in the top division. What comes next is not only the pressure of defending the rank, but the responsibility that accompanies it both inside and outside the dohyo. 'This is unknown territory for me,' Onosato said. 'But I want to continue being myself: to wrestle my way, stay focused, and become a unique and unparalleled yokozuna.'
Japan Forward
3 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Forward
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 .
