TOKYO –
Yokozuna Onosato captured his sixth profession championship on the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on September 27, defeating Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki in a winner-takes-all showdown at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan to complete the 15-day competitors with 12 wins and three losses, ending a year-long title drought after a dramatic closing weekend.
The 26-year-old wrestler from Ishikawa Prefecture defeated Aonishiki with a robust thrusting assault within the event’s closing bout. Both males entered the competition with an identical information of 11 wins and three losses, making their assembly a direct battle for the Emperor’s Cup.
Onosato took management from the preliminary cost, extending his arms to forestall Aonishiki from securing a grip on his belt. He then drove his opponent backward with a collection of forceful thrusts earlier than pushing him out of the ring.
The victory introduced Onosato his first championship in six tournaments and his sixth general, whereas Aonishiki completed with 11 wins and 4 losses, lacking a chance to say consecutive championships.
The outcome additionally marked the primary time a yokozuna had received a event this 12 months. Onosato turned the primary sole yokozuna to seize the Emperor’s Cup since Terunofuji received the Nagoya event in July 2024.
Onosato was visibly emotional through the championship ceremony, wiping away tears because the nationwide anthem was performed. Speaking afterward, he mentioned he had labored arduous to return to the winner’s podium and was delighted to have lastly achieved his objective.
The championship capped a troublesome interval for Onosato, who had struggled with a left shoulder damage and the calls for of competing at sumo’s highest rank. He returned to finish all 15 days on the July event in Nagoya however managed solely 9 wins and 6 losses, leaving him exterior the championship race.
His earlier title had come on the Autumn event in September 2025, making this 12 months’s victory a return to the scene of his final main success.
Onosato entered the September event decided to regain his type, however his marketing campaign was removed from easy. He suffered an early defeat to Takayasu on the fourth day earlier than recovering with eight consecutive victories.
By the closing phases of the event, he seemed to be shifting towards a cushty championship. However, consecutive defeats to ozeki Kirishima on September 25 and ozeki Kotozakura on September 26 remodeled the title race.
The defeat in opposition to Kotozakura was notably pricey. Onosato had moved ahead aggressively from the preliminary cost, solely to be caught by a sudden thrust-down that despatched him to the bottom.
His second consecutive loss left him with three defeats and allowed Aonishiki to attract stage on the high of the standings heading into the ultimate day.
Aonishiki had recovered from three defeats through the opening six days of the event to mount a outstanding comeback. The 22-year-old, competing for Ajigawa steady, received eight consecutive bouts from the seventh via the 14th day, establishing the championship decider in opposition to Onosato.
The Ukrainian wrestler entered the event following his victory on the Nagoya event in July, the place he secured the Emperor’s Cup via a three-way playoff. Another championship in September would have given him consecutive titles and strengthened his case for promotion to yokozuna.
However, Onosato’s decisive victory introduced Aonishiki’s profitable streak to an finish and ensured that the championship remained with the yokozuna.
The championship race had additionally concerned former ozeki Asanoyama, who remained in competition till the penultimate day. Competing as a sixth-ranked maegashira, Asanoyama collected 10 victories however suffered defeats in each of his closing two bouts, ending with a 10-5 report.
New sekiwake Fujinokawa was one other distinguished contender. The 21-year-old produced one of many event’s strongest performances, defeating three ozeki and remaining within the championship race till the latter phases. He completed with 11 wins and 4 losses after defeating fellow sekiwake Atamifuji with a scoop throw on the ultimate day.
Fujinokawa’s efficiency earned him his second Fighting Spirit Prize. Churanoumi additionally acquired the award after defeating Daieisho on the ultimate day to complete with 10 wins and 5 losses.
Takayasu, who had defeated Onosato earlier within the event, was a candidate for the Outstanding Performance Prize however missed out after shedding his closing bout to Fujiryoga. The defeat left him with seven wins and eight losses. No wrestler acquired the Technique Prize.
Among the opposite main wrestlers, Kirishima secured a profitable report on the ultimate day by defeating fellow ozeki Kotozakura with an overarm throw. Kirishima completed with eight wins and 7 losses, whereas Kotozakura ended the event with 9 wins and 6 losses.
Kirishima’s victory was notably vital as a result of it allowed him to keep away from getting into the November event at risk of demotion from the ozeki rank.
Atamifuji additionally completed with eight wins and 7 losses, whereas Wakamotoharu recorded 10 wins and 5 losses regardless of shedding his closing bout to Gonoyama. Ura reached double figures with a victory over Tobizaru, finishing the event with a 10-5 report.
Fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu was absent from the event, leaving Onosato as the only wrestler competing at sumo’s highest rank.
In the second-tier juryo division, Kitanowaka claimed the championship after a three-way playoff in opposition to Kagayaki and Kayo. All three completed the common event with 11 wins and 4 losses, forcing a playoff to find out the champion. Kitanowaka defeated each opponents to safe the title.
The September event additionally highlighted the rising competitors amongst youthful wrestlers difficult sumo’s established stars. Aonishiki’s continued success at ozeki and Fujinokawa’s robust debut at sekiwake demonstrated the depth of rising expertise within the higher ranks.
For Onosato, nonetheless, the event represented a big private comeback. A 12 months after his earlier championship and following months of damage issues and inconsistent outcomes, he overcame two damaging late defeats to safe the Emperor’s Cup within the closing bout.
The event concluded with Onosato celebrating his sixth championship in a victory parade, bringing an emotional finish to fifteen days of competitors in Tokyo.
Source: Kyodo