Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?

Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid. | JIJI

by JOHN GUNNING
May 15, 2024

Was grand champion Terunofuji’s defeat to rising star Onosato on the opening day of the ongoing May tournament an era-changing bout?

The fight certainly had echoes of another legendary match that also took place on Day 1 of a summer meet — exactly 33 years earlier.

On that occasion, it was yokozuna Chiyonofuji, six months removed from claiming his 31st Emperor’s Cup, who fell to a young up-and-coming talent.