On Sunday, for just the third time in 74 tournaments, a college freshman claimed the title of amateur yokozuna. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/12/03/sumo/samejima-all-japan-freshman/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #alljapanchampionship #hikarusamejima #onosato #hidetorahanada

Aonishiki, a 21-year-old Ukrainian, won his first Emperor’s Cup at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament and was promoted to ōzeki, highlighting his rapid rise and Japan’s growing acceptance of foreign wrestlers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/11/28/japans-real-feelings-about-foreign-sumo-champ/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #sumo #aonishiki #ukraine #kyushugrandsumotournament #expats #foreignworkers #foreigntrainees #immigration

With two young yokozuna and now a fresh-faced ozeki at the top of the sumo rankings, the future looks bright for Japan's national sport. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/26/sumo/aonishiki-first-title-ozeki/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #aonishiki #kyushugrandsumotournament #onosato #hoshoryu

Aonishiki, said Monday that he had surprised even himself by becoming the first from his country to win a sumo tournament. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/24/sumo/aonishiki-shock-first-sumo-title/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #aonishiki #kyushugrandsumotournament

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki, whose real name is Danylo Yavhusishyn, on Sunday became the first from his nation to win a tournament of the traditional Japanese sport. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/23/sumo/aonishiki-first-ukrainian-win-sumo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #aonishiki #ukraine

Onosato’s bid for a first-ever perfect championship came to an end at the hands of Yoshinofuji on day 10 of the ongoing Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/19/sumo/kyushu-basho-week-2/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #onosato #yoshinofuji #hoshoryu #aonishiki #kyushugrandsumotournament

There is simply no better word to describe the performance of Onosato over the first three days of the November Grand Sumo Tournament than imperious. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/12/sumo/gunning-kyushu-sumo-tournament/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #onosato #kyushugrandsumotournament #aonishiki #asakoryu #fujinokawa

Now that Japan has its first female prime minister, the question hangs in the air: If Sanae Takaichi can stand at the center of power, why not in the center of the ring? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/11/sumo/takaichi-sumo-ring/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #sanaetakaichi #japansumoassociation #sumo

In September, Onosato and Hoshoryu clashed in the first Day 15 title showdown between yokozuna in years, and a rematch could be in the cards later this month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/07/sumo/onosato-hoshoryu-kyushu-basho-favorites/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #kyushugrandsumotournament #onosato #hoshoryu #kotozakura #aonishiki

With potential superstars and immense talent to be found up and down the banzuke, the journalistic spotlight should regularly be directed towards sumo’s lower divisions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/05/sumo/lower-rank-rikishi/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #ikirigata #fukuzaki #noda #kyushugrandsumotournament

The final tournament on the sumo calendar, the Kyushu basho often solidifies storylines that were in flux over the previous 12 months and frames narratives for the following year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/29/sumo/kyushu-basho-banzuke-preview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #onosato #hoshoryu #kyushugrandsumotournament #endo #aonishiki

With the Japan Sumo Association’s first trip to London’s in 34 years being far more successful than almost anyone could have expected, the possibility of a return visit has already been raised. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/22/sumo/sumo-albert-hall-london/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #london #japansumoassociation #uk #ukjapanrelations #sumo

Sumo – a sport based on collisions – is set to have one of its most impactful ever weeks on the western consciousness as a showcase event gets underway at the Royal Albert Hall in London. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/15/sumo/gunning-sumo-london-tournament/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #london #japansumoassociation

Rarely seen traditions and plenty of light-hearted moments were on the menu for the Japan Sumo Association's well-received 100th anniversary event. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/08/sumo/jsa-celebrates-100-years/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #japansumoassociation #hoshoryu #onosato

At just 25 years old, and already significantly better than every other wrestler in the sport, the only question that remains for Onosato is how many Emperor’s Cups he will win. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/29/sumo/yokozuna-onosato-sumo-king/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #onosato #aonishiki #hoshoryu #autumngrandsumotournament

American sumo star Kellyann Ball was impressed by a major Japanese tournament for women held this past weekend. Now she's working on creating a similar future in the United States. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/24/sumo/womens-sumo-us-venus-festival/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #women039sissues #venusfestival #us #kellyannball

Onosato and Hoshoryu are off to fast starts at the Autumn Basho, raising fans hopes of seeing a title-deciding yokozuna showdown on Day 15 for the first time in five years. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/17/sumo/yokozuna-autumn-basho-good-start/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #onosato #hoshoryu #autumngrandsumotournament

Professional sumo is one of the harshest environments in sports. So what would drive a wrestler to bounce around in its bottom-tier nonsalaried divisions for years? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/10/sumo/sumo-lower-rank-journeymen/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #autumngrandsumotournament #makushita #sandanme #shoketsu #hakuyo

Ahead of professional sumo's highly anticipated return to Europe, the release of the September rankings confirms who will be on the plane to London. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/03/sumo/london-sumo-banzuke/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #london #uk #japansumoassociation #autumngrandsumotournament

While sumo in 2025 is more accessible than at any time in the past, fans and tourists alike are all too often getting an experience that pales in comparison to what was previously possible. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/08/20/sumo/sumo-victim-of-popularity/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #tourism #overtourism #japansumoassociation