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The Mainichi
3 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.
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Onosato attains yokozuna rank in record time
May 28 (Reuters) - Onosato has been promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, the Japan Sumo Association said on Wednesday, attaining the honour in a record 13 professional tournaments. The 24-year-old wrestler, who weighs 191 kilograms and is 1.92 metres tall, has become the 75th yokozuna in eight fewer appearances than the previous record held by the late Wajima. Onosato is also the first Japan-born wrestler to reach the rnk since Kisenosato in 2017. He retired in January 2019. "I am truly happy. Now, things will become more important than ever. I want to stay focused and continue to work hard," Onosato told reporters. "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." Onosato is the second wrestler to reach the top rank within four months following Hoshoryu's promotion in January. Onosato and Hoshoryu will face each other for the first time as yokozuna in July in Nagoya.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Historic rise to yokozuna just the beginning for Onosato
It's been an historic week for Japan's national sport, with Onosato's rapid rise to yokozuna forcing major revisions to sumo's record books. So head-spinningly fast has the 24-year-old's ascent been that it's hard to know where to even begin when describing the impact. First and foremost, there is a good argument to be made that Onosato is already the most widely decorated wrestler in sumo history. In addition to becoming just the second ever student yokozuna to reach the same rank in professional sumo, after fellow Ishikawa prefecture native Wajima, Onosato is also the first grand champion to have been amateur yokozuna, World Games gold medalist and National Sports Festival champion. Of course most stars of the past turned pro while still in their teens, and weren't part of the collegiate and international amateur circuit that Onosato dominated for years. Even so, the Nippon Sport Science University graduate has achieved far more in just two years as a professional than the vast majority of wrestlers manage over an entire career. With a fourth Emperor's Cup in just nine top division tournaments, the Nishonoseki stable man has reached the top of his chosen sport faster than anyone in modern sumo history. That Onosato has done so without posting a losing record in any tournament to date is simply mind-boggling. Since reaching the paid ranks he has won an incredible 82% of his bouts and reached double digits in 9 of 11 meets. Only 18 months ago Onosato had yet to compete in sumo's top division, yet now he becomes just the 75th man to reach the sport's ultimate rank. Onosato turns 25 on June 7 and is already in a place where it's simply a matter of burnishing his legacy. A first title as a yokozuna, followed by the five more that would put him in rarefied air, and then all that's left is chasing the marks reached by the sumo's greatest legends. Writing so flippantly about five championships – a number that many yokozuna never reached – should feel strange, but so overwhelming has Onosato been to date that it doesn't seem far-fetched. Sumo's newest grand champion isn't invincible as Hoshoryu demonstrated on the May meet's final day. However even that loss was hard-fought, and with the title (and promotion) having been sealed on day 13, a certain lapse in concentration was understandable. Failing to go unbeaten just gives Onosato something else to aim for in the future, and given how things stand in sumo currently it'd be a surprise if he doesn't achieve a perfect 15-0 championship soon. Predictions of greatness have become the norm when it comes to Onosato, but as he prepares to ascend to the sport's highest rank, it's worth pondering just how far he can go. In an activity as violent as sumo, where career-derailing injures are common and rikishi put their bodies on the line every time they step into the ring, success is never guaranteed. However if Onosato can avoid major harm, he should be able to match the achievements of the aforementioned Wajima and perhaps go even further. In addition to the sheer size and power that enables him to blow opponents away with ease, Onosato has gradually reduced his tendency to pull when a first attack stalls, which was his one remaining obvious weakness. With that one habit now almost entirely overcome, the new yokozuna goes into every fight with a significant advantage in physicality, offense and defense, making him incredibly difficult to defeat. While fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu has the ability to beat any opponent – including Onosato – he must work much harder to do so. That's not simply a matter of size. Virtually all great yokozuna have a side to their sumo that gives an almost insurmountable edge. Whether the massive bulk of Akebono, the technical perfection of Takanohana, or the raging intensity of Asashoryu, the sport's greatest exponents have at least one weapon that tips the balance in their favor most of the time. Hoshoryu is getting there in terms of aggressiveness and technique but isn't yet the finished product, while Onosato already has significant and established advantages in both power and offense. That means that while head-to-head bouts could lean toward the Mongolian native for a while, Onosato is far less likely to suffer the same two or three soft losses each tournament that have prevented Hoshoryu from claiming more silverware. With no one else able to consistently hit the same level that Onosato can manage, the 75th yokozuna should steadily add to his trophy cabinet over the next five years. On that timeline, if a conservative estimate is taken with Onosato winning an average of two to three tournaments a year, then the sport's newest grand champion will be more than capable of surpassing Terunofuji, Musashimaru and Wajima by the time he hits 30. The gap from Wajima's 14 Emperor's Cups to Takanohana's 22, though, is a large one with almost all of the most successful yokozuna — Chiyonofuji aside — having started their Emperor's Cup collection at a young age. There is no doubt that Onosato has the ability to write himself into the history books further and find himself described as a "dai-yokozuna" (great yokozuna) by the time he retires, but the most tantalizing part of his rapid rise is that he already shows all the traits needed to go even further and become part of the elite group of names mentioned in discussions about the all-time greats. It's been an historic ascent for Onosato already, but his greatest days may be yet to come.
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Onosato becomes yokozuna at record pace after 13 tournaments
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Onosato was promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna on Wednesday, attaining the honor at a record pace after competing in just 13 professional tournaments. The 24-year-old from Ishikawa Prefecture became the 75th yokozuna and the first Japanese-born grand champion since his stablemaster Nishonoseki, the former Kisenosato, who won his promotion after the New Year meet in 2017. Onosato ensured his promotion by winning the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with two days to spare on Friday, achieving the required benchmark of back-to-back championships as an ozeki, the second-highest rank. The Japan Sumo Association officially approved Onosato's elevation at an extraordinary board meeting on Wednesday. The previous record holder under the six-tournament calendar introduced in 1958 was the late Wajima, another Ishikawa native, who had contested 21 meets upon his promotion after the May 1973 tournament. Onosato joins 14-time winner Wajima as the only wrestler to become a grand champion after entering the professional ranks from university. The imposing 192-centimeter, 191-kilogram star, who excels both with his pushing and grappling techniques, has won four Emperor's Cups having claimed his first last May. Onosato is set to forge a rivalry with Mongolian yokozuna Hoshoryu, who reached the rank after January's New Year meet. They will go head-to-head as yokozuna for the first time at July's Nagoya meet at the newly built IG Arena.
Kyodo News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato becomes yokozuna at record pace after 13 tournaments
KYODO NEWS - 10 minutes ago - 09:19 | Sports, All Onosato was promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna on Wednesday, attaining the honor at a record pace after competing in just 13 professional tournaments. The 24-year-old from Ishikawa Prefecture became the 75th yokozuna and the first Japanese-born grand champion since his stablemaster Nishonoseki, the former Kisenosato, who won his promotion after the New Year meet in 2017. Onosato ensured his promotion by winning the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with two days to spare on Friday, achieving the required benchmark of back-to-back championships as an ozeki, the second-highest rank. The Japan Sumo Association officially approved Onosato's elevation at an extraordinary board meeting on Wednesday. The previous record holder under the six-tournament calendar introduced in 1958 was the late Wajima, another Ishikawa native, who had contested 21 meets upon his promotion after the May 1973 tournament. Onosato joins 14-time winner Wajima as the only wrestler to become a grand champion after entering the professional ranks from university. The imposing 192-centimeter, 191-kilogram star, who excels both with his pushing and grappling techniques, has won four Emperor's Cups having claimed his first last May. Onosato is set to forge a rivalry with Mongolian yokozuna Hoshoryu, who reached the rank after January's New Year meet. They will go head-to-head as yokozuna for the first time at July's Nagoya meet at the newly built IG Arena. Related coverage: Sumo: Onosato lifts trophy with 14-1 record after loss to Hoshoryu
