By Ernest Osogbue
It was one of the most exciting Grand Sumo Tournaments in recent memory. Up until the final day, nothing was sure, as the title could have gone to any one of the over 40 rikishi on parade.
Sekiwake Aonishiki, a Ukranian refugee, who only arrived in Japan as an 18 year old, two years ago, when Russian invaded his country, however, used his technical skill set and superior power to overcome all other rikishi to emerge champion in the final Grand Sumo Tournament of 2025.
On the 13th day, Aonishiki had lost to Yokozuna Onosato, to keep him one win behind the two Yokozuna’s, Hoshoryu and Onosato. In a dramatic twist, however, on the 14th day, Aonishiki beat Yokozuna Hoshoryu, with Ozeki Kotozakura upsetting Yokozuna Onosato. This left Hoshoryu, Onosato, and Aonishiki on 11 victories apiece. This meant that depending on how the matches go, a winner would only emerge on day 15.
In another twist, Onosato pulled out of his bout with Hoshoryu on the final day, having injured his shoulder in training. Hoshoryu therefore became the leader with 12 wins. This meant that the match between Ozeki Kotozakura and Sekiwake Aonishiki had the significance of determining the winner of the tournament. Aonishiki, however, pulled off another upset, by defeating Kotozakura, to also be on 12 victories like Hoshoryu. A playoff was therefore required to determine the winner, between the two of them.
Aonishiki once again defeated Yokozuna Hoshoryu, making it two victories in two days over the Yokozuna, to emerge the grand sumo champion. By the win, Aonishiki becomes the first Ukranian to win the sumo championship. It is expected that the Japan Sumo Association, JSA, which meets on Monday 24th November, would approve his promotion to Ozeki, one rank away from the grand championship rank of Yokozuna. The next sumo championship comes up in January 2026.
