Latest news with #YokozunaDeliberationCouncil
New York Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Japan finally has another yokozuna atop nation's beloved sport of sumo
Sumo is Japan's beloved sport. Yokozuna is the sport's most prestigious title. And after 20 years of near-total dominance by Mongolian giants, a Japanese man once again holds the highest title in the country's national sport. Ōnosato Daiki, a 24-year-old from Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture, officially stands at 6-feet-3 and weighs just over 420 pounds. On Wednesday, he became the 75th recognized yokozuna, the sport's highest title, in sumo's more than 1,000-year-old history. Advertisement It took just six minutes for the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, an advisory group within the Japan Sumo Association (JSA), to unanimously approve Ōnosato's promotion to yokozuna on Monday. Two days later, the century-old JSA ratified his new rank in a ceremony that saw Ōnosato posing with two massive fish and toasting with a glass of beer. The historical origins of yokozunas remain wrapped in myth and mystery, but the term itself refers to the white, 44-pound rope yokozuna wear around their waists during tournaments' opening ceremonies. Winning two consecutive grand tournaments is generally considered the modern qualification for promotion to yokozuna. Ōnosato accomplished that feat with back-to-back championships in the March and May tournaments. Ōnosato won promotion after just 13 tournaments, the fastest anyone has achieved yokozuna status since the official process began in 1958. It took Wajima Hiroshi, his closet competition for that record, 21 tournaments to win his promotion in 1973. 'I am truly happy. Now, things will become more important than ever. I want to stay focused and continue to work hard,' Ōnosato said at a press conference Wednesday. 'This is a very much unknown territory for me. I want to maintain my style, be Ōnosato, and I will work hard to become a unique and unparalleled yokozuna.' Ōnosato is the first Japanese yokozuna since 2017, when his mentor, Kisenosato Yutaka, won promotion. Kisenosato was the first Japanese yokozuna since 1999, but his reign was brief as he retired in 2019 due to nagging injuries and a series of losses that reportedly made him seriously question his abilities. Every other yokozuna named since the turn of the century has been Mongolian, a changing of the guard within the sport which can be partially attributed to a dip in sumo's popularity in Japan, an increase in countries represented at sumo tournaments and Mongolia's ancient wrestling tradition of its own. Some origin stories date the first sumo match to around the time of the Roman Empire's founding, but these days, professional sumo has six divisions. Within those are five ranks, and wrestlers earn promotions and relegations based on their performance. At the top is the rank of yokozuna. Wrestlers at that level do not face demotion, so there can be, and often are, multiple yokozuna at one time. Advertisement Because so few men have ever held the top rank, yokozuna face immense pressure to perform, and are expected to retire as soon as they are unable to compete at the highest level. Once they step away, they become 'elders' and often stablemasters, a role akin to head coaches in American sports if head coaches oversaw nearly every aspect of their athletes' lives. At that point, they generally take on a new name to accompany their new identity. Yokozuna didn't become a ceremonial status until the 1700s, wasn't part of the sport's official historical record (the banzuke) until the 1890s and wouldn't become an official 'rank' until 1909. There are six 15-day Grand Sumo tournaments, or honbasho, each year. Wrestlers win their matches by either forcing their opponent to the ground or pushing them out of a central circle called a dohyo. There's a short break and reset if the wrestlers reach an impasse. The longest sumo match on record lasted 32 minutes and included two of those pauses. But on average, a match lasts under 30 seconds. Before Ōnosato's promotion this week, there was only one active yokozuna: Hōshōryū Tomokatsu of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. At 26 years old, 6-foot-2 and 331 pounds, Hōshōryū earned his white rope in January. The start to Hōshōryū's run as yokozuna has had its ups and downs. He lost his very first match after achieving the rank at the March Grand Tournament, and midway through the event, he pulled out of the competition entirely due to a shoulder injury. He ended up with a 5-5 record. The same injury contributed to a 2-2 start in this month's tournament, though he rebounded to win seven straight matches. Another loss came in round 12. But Hōshōryū finished strong with two more wins. Then, in a showdown that portends a budding rivalry between sumo's top warriors, Hōshōryū handed Ōnosato his sole loss in the May tournament finale in Tokyo. Advertisement Smashed backward by a brutal charge and throat strikes by Ōnosato, who outweighs him by about 100 pounds, Hōshōryū's foot nearly left the dohyo twice within the bout's first five seconds. But Hōshōryū managed to grab hold of Ōnosato's belt and use the leverage to hurl him toward the edge. Ōnosato reached for the yokozuna's belt but could not get hold of it. Less than a second later, Hōshōryū flipped Ōnosato into the dirt and out of the ring. Turning to the crowd, he gave a triumphant, forceful nod and stalked away from Ōnosato, who grimaced in pain and frustration. The two shared a final ceremonial bow and went their separate ways. It was a huge moment for both men. This month's competition was Hōshōryū's first full grand tournament as yokozuna, and his victory spoiled Ōnosato's undefeated streak through the most consequential honbasho of his career. Ōnosato took home the Emperor's Cup with a 14-1 record. His dream run was nearly perfect. Somewhat poetically, though, the man he now stands alongside was the one obstacle he couldn't overcome. Hōshōryū finished with a 12-3 record and rose to 6-2 against Ōnosato overall. 'You could say he's my rival or perhaps even my benchmark. I certainly see him as a hurdle I have to clear,' Ōnosato said the day after the match. As columnist John Gunning wrote for The Japan Times earlier this week, sumo could be in for a new golden age with the emergence of Hōshōryū and Ōnosato. And fans won't need to wait long to see a rematch. Sumo's next grand tournament is in Nagoya in July. When the festivities reach their conclusion, it will be the first time in nearly six years that two yokozuna face each other to close a honbosho. Each will be motivated to avenge something. For Hōshōryū, it will be another shot at his first Emperor's Cup as a yokozuna. For Ōnosato, it will be another shot at perfection. Both are looking for their first true triumph with a white rope. In a thousand-year-old sport where a split second can decide everything, two months will probably feel like an eternity.
The Mainichi
29-05-2025
- 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.
Japan Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Onosato, 24, promoted to sumo grand champion in record time
Onosato (center) holds up a fish to celebrate being promoted to yokozuna or grand champion on Wednesday 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 191 kg and is 1.92 meters 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 Hoshoryu'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. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Onosato, 24, promoted to sumo grand champion in record time
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 metres (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 Hoshoryu'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. stu-hih/dh
France 24
28-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Onosato, 24, promoted to sumo grand champion in record time
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 metres (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 Hoshoryu'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.
