Introduction to Sumo’s New Champion

Background on the Sport

The sport of sumo wrestling has recently witnessed a significant event with the promotion of a new grand champion, or yokozuna. This development is notable not just because of the champion’s achievement, but also because of his nationality.
TOKYO (AP) — Japan has a new sumo grand champion — or yokozuna — and the big news is he’s Japanese.

The New Champion: Onosato

Onosato, the new grand champion, weighs 191 kilograms (421 pounds) and he is the first Japanese competitor to reach the top rank since 2017. By comparison, the average weight of an NFL lineman is about 140 kilos, or just over 300 pounds. The sport has recently been dominated by Mongolians and prior to Onosato, six of the previous seven yokozunas have been from Mongolia.

Reaction to the Promotion

"I’ll devote myself to training so that I will not disgrace the title of yokozuna,” Onosato said Wednesday, dressed in a formal kimono and bowing as he sat on the floor. “I will aim to become a one-and-only yokozuna.” Onosato, whose real name is Daiki Nakamura, is only 24 and was promoted Wednesday to sumo’s top rank by the Japan Sumo Association.

Path to Success

Onosato was promoted by winning last week’s Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, which came after he won another prestigious tournament in March. His success is a significant moment for Japan, especially considering his background. Onosato is from Ishikawa prefecture, which was hit on Jan. 1, 2024, by a devastating earthquake and tsunami that killed about 600 people in the prefecture and caused widespread damage. Much of the destruction was centered on an area known as the Noto Peninsula.

Commitment to His Roots

“I will work hard as a yokozuna to encourage and cheer up the Ishikawa prefecture and the Noto region,” he said. He then added: “I determined that yokozuna should be my goal once I entered the world of sumo," he said. “It’s not easy to achieve and I’m really delighted.”

The Significance of Sumo in Japan

Sumo is regarded as Japan’s national sport, or most sacred sport, and many of the ritual elements are connected to Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion. Sumo’s origins date back more than 1,000 years, and Japan is the only country where it is contested on a professional level. The sport is highly regimented with many wrestlers living in communal training facilities where food and dress are controlled by ancient traditions.

Upcoming Rivalries

Onosato’s promotion will set up an instant rivalry with Mongolia-born Hoshoryu, who is the other wrestler in Japan to hold the yokozuna title. The Japanese news agency Kyodo said the two sumo stars are due to meet in a tournament in July in the central city of Nagoya.

Conclusion

The promotion of Onosato to the rank of yokozuna marks a significant moment for Japanese sumo, signaling a return of a Japanese champion to the top of the sport. This development not only highlights Onosato’s personal achievement but also the enduring appeal and cultural significance of sumo in Japan.

FAQs

• Q: Who is the new sumo grand champion?
  • A: The new sumo grand champion, or yokozuna, is Onosato, whose real name is Daiki Nakamura.
• Q: What is significant about Onosato’s promotion?
  • A: Onosato is the first Japanese competitor to reach the top rank since 2017, marking a return of a Japanese champion to the pinnacle of the sport.
• Q: What are Onosato’s plans as the new yokozuna?
  • A: Onosato plans to devote himself to training and aims to become a unique yokozuna, also intending to support and encourage his home prefecture of Ishikawa, which suffered from a devastating earthquake and tsunami.
• Q: How does Onosato’s promotion affect the future of sumo?
  • A: Onosato’s promotion sets up a potential rivalry with Mongolia-born Hoshoryu, another yokozuna, and is expected to bring renewed interest and excitement to the sport in Japan and internationally.