Ukrainian Athlete Makes History Winning Prestigious Japanese Sumo Tournament
A Ukrainian sumo wrestler achieved a historic victory at the prestigious Kyushu Basho tournament, winning the Emperor's Cup.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Suspilne.Sport.
21-year-old athlete Danylo Yavhusyshyn, known professionally as Aonishiki, became the first Ukrainian to win a tournament in the highest division of Japanese sumo, as well as the first European to achieve this in the last eight years.
Kyushu Basho is one of the six major professional tournaments (basho) in Japanese sumo, held in Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu over 15 days. Sumo wrestlers compete in one bout per day, and in the event of a tie, the champion is determined through a playoff.
This year, Aonishiki defeated Mongolia's Hoshoru Tomokatsu in the final match using the okurinaage technique.
Two Ukrainian sumo wrestlers participated in the tournament: Danylo Yavhusyshyn (Aonishiki) and Serhiy Sokolovsky (Sisi Masaru). After 15 fights, Yavgusishin had 12 wins that allowed him to advance to the championship playoffs. The victory in this match was his fourth career win over Hosho Tomokatsu and earned Aonishiki the title of basho champion.
Why this victory is important for Ukraine?
Danylo Yavhusyshyn became the first Ukrainian and the seventh country in history whose athletes have won tournaments in the elite division of sumo. At the age of 21 years and eight months, he also became the fourth youngest champion in the history of makuuchi, the highest division of sumo.
The victory paves the way for Aonishiki to be promoted to the rank of ozeki, the second most prestigious rank in world sumo, possibly the fastest promotion in the history of the sport. Following the triumph, the Sumo Association's judging panel held an extraordinary meeting and recommended a possible promotion, with an official discussion scheduled for November 26.
In addition, since his debut, Aonishiki has competed in only 14 tournaments, becoming the second fastest wrestler in history to win a top division trophy, second only to Japan's Mikage Takerufuji. The athlete himself considers his progress to be just the beginning and is determined to continue competing at the highest level.
According to the former Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan, Sergiy Korsunsky, Danil Yavgusishin's historic victory at Kyushu Basho was not only a sporting success but also a profound cultural and diplomatic gesture.
"When a sumo wrestler enters the dohyo, his country of origin is announced. And... for the Japanese, he is Ukrainian and will always remain so,“ the diplomat recalled. ”His victory does more to support Ukraine in Japan than any official statement, because sumo is sacred, and if the people see a Ukrainian as a fighter, a hero, restrained and noble, then for them all Ukrainians become like that."
This is the essence of Japanese perception. If a Ukrainian in sumo looks noble, persistent, and confident, then the Japanese will imagine the entire Ukrainian nation to be the same.
“Aonishiki, a Ukrainian who grew up and trained in Vinnytsia, became a real superstar solely through his hard work and incredible willpower. In just three years, it is unrealistic even for a Japanese person to go from a beginner to an ozeki,” Korsunsky described the Ukrainian.
Thus, Yavhusishin's victory enhances Ukraine's image at the level of everyday perception, where sumo has unique authority.
Danylo Yavhusyshyn is originally from Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine. He became interested in sumo at the age of seven and also practiced judo and freestyle wrestling. With the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he moved to Germany with his family, and in 2022, he continued his career in Japan at the invitation of the captain of the Kansai University Sumo Club.
The Ukrainian has already achieved significant success on the international stage, including a gold medal at the 2019 European Championships and three titles at the 2021 Ukrainian Championships.
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