Ernest Osogbue
Ozeki Onosato was today promoted to the rank of Yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo wrestling by the Japanese Sumo Council. He thus becomes the 75th Yokozuna, and the second to be promoted this year after Hoshoryu was promoted to the same rank in January.
Onosato qualified for the promotion after winning two consecutive basho’s in March and May. In March, he was tied 12-3 with veteran Takayasu but won the tournament by defeating Takayasu in the subsequent playoff. In May, he posted a perfect 14-0 record aiming for a zenso yusho until the final day before meeting his great rival Hoshoryu, who beat him by kotenage to dent his record and make it 14-1. Hoshoryu thus leads their head to head 6-2, going into the July basho.
Onosato, however, remains the fastest Rikishi to rise to the rank of Yokozuna after only 9 tournaments in the top division, having only joined the professional ranks in May 2023. It is also the first time two Yokozuna’s have been promoted in the same year since 1987 when Hakutoumi and Onokuni received their promotions.
With Onosato at 24 and Hoshoryu 26, there’s every indication that sumo wrestling has never had it so good as these two young fighters will lead for years to come barring injuries. Only in January there were fears for the ancient Japanese art after the sudden retirement of Yokozuna Terunofuji. Who would have thought that in only a matter of months, we would have two young Yokozunas.
Congratulations Onosato!