Sumo: Aonishiki keeps sole lead, extends streak against hobbled Hoshoryu

Kyodo
January 23, 2026

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn, known by his Japanese ring name Aonishiki, receives the Prime Minister's Cup trophy after winning the Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on November 23, 2025. Nameless Stringer photo

TOKYO -- Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki took another step toward consecutive championships Friday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament as he continued his head-to-head dominance over injury-hampered yokozuna Hoshoryu.

The 21-year-old sensation, contesting his first meet since being promoted to sumo's second-highest rank, remained the outright leader of the 15-day competition while improving to 4-0 in head-to-head meetings with Mongolian-born grand champion Hoshoryu.

Aonishiki (11-2) also stayed on track to become the first ozeki debutant to win the Emperor's Cup since Hakuho in May 2006 as he finished Day 13 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena ahead of sekiwake Kirishima and No. 4 maegashira Atamifuji at 10-3.

Sporting the black "mawashi" belt he inherited from his Ajigawa stablemaster, the former sekiwake Aminishiki, Aonishiki withstood a strong initial charge from Hoshoryu (8-5), competing with his damaged left knee heavily strapped.

But the hobbled yokozuna was unable to sustain any forward momentum and could do little more than dig in his heels as the ozeki thrusted his way into position to seal victory with an overarm throw.

Yokozuna Onosato (9-4) put aside his struggles with a left shoulder injury as he won a heavyweight battle against ozeki Kotozakura (8-5) with a force out.

Kirishima, a winner against Aonishiki on Day 8, notched a convincing force-out victory over the top division's other Ukrainian representative, No. 14 maegashira Shishi (9-4), who dropped from the second rung of the leaderboard.

Atamifuji (10-3) stayed in the hunt a day after his loss to Aonishiki by thrusting down former sekiwake Abi (9-4), who was fighting to keep his title bid alive as a No. 12 maegashira.

Sekiwake Takayasu (8-5) rebounded from his consecutive losses to the two yokozuna and sealed a winning record by throwing fellow former ozeki Asanoyama (9-4), effectively knocking him out of the race in his top-division comeback as a No. 16 maegashira.

No. 3 maegashira Hakunofuji, who changed his name from Hakuoho prior to the tournament, withdrew with a ligament injury to his left big toe and incurred a losing record at 5-8 after forfeiting to No. 6 maegashira Onokatsu (7-6).

It marked a disappointing end to the meet for the promising 22-year-old after he defeated Onosato and Kotozakura among his five wins through the first eight days.