Growing up in Ukraine, Yavhusishyn Danylo became fond of sumo wrestling after discovering he didn't like judo, his first participatory sport. A decade and a half later, the 21-year-old is a rising sumo star named Aonishiki.
"To be very honest with you, it (judo) wasn't actually really that much fun," he recalled at The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) in Tokyo on Thursday, October 9.
"And one day after practice, my mother was a little bit late in coming to pick me up, even though my own practice had finished, some of the sempai, the older people within the ring, started to play sumo."
He then said, "And so I was only 6 years old at the time, so I didn't really understand what was happening or what this sport was that they were playing then. But, [I liked] the way who was winning was decided so quickly, [and] the rules were very clear and easy to understand. And it really gained my interest from there. So when my mother came, I said, 'Oh, not judo anymore. This sumo, this is the sport for me.' "
Judo's loss became sumo's gain.
It's not a crazy notion to think that he may become the first-ever European yokozuna (grand champion) in the future.
Focused firmly on his goal to become the best sumo wrestler, the Ukrainian believes mental discipline is a key ingredient for success.
"Human beings are, of course, weak. There will always be a time when you become down, or you're tired, or so on," Aonishiki commented. "But it's very important to keep the clear goal in mind as well."
This lesson also applies throughout a 15-day grand sumo tournament, he said.
"You've always got to be back in the ring the next day," he noted.
A Quick Ascent to the Top
What's most impressive about Aonishiki's sumo career is this: His journey from the bottom of the sport's six-division structure to the top division (makuuchi) is the fastest in history since the start of the six-tournament era in 1958. It only took him nine tourneys to become a makuuchi division wrestler.
And he earned promotion to the sanyaku ranks (the three ranks below yokozuna) in just 12 tournaments, faster than any wrestler in the same period.
The Ajigawa stable wrestler made his professional debut in September 2023. He competed as a komusubi (the fourth-highest rank) for the first time at the 2025 Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, posting an 11-4 record and winning a Technique Prize for the second consecutive basho.
"As a rikishi, as a sumo wrestler, I'm going to continue to aim for the top, for the highest [rank] as well, so I hope you'll continue to support me along this journey," Aonishiki said at the FCCJ.
Consistent Success in 2025
In the three previous tournaments, his first three in the top division, Aonishiki went 11-4 each time in March, May and July this year. He was awarded the Fighting Spirit Prize for the Spring Basho and Summer Basho, then collected his first Technique Prize at July's Nagoya Basho.
As the guest speaker during the FCCJ press luncheon, Aonishiki shared recollections of the lasting impression of seeing pro sumo for the first time.
"It was only when I was about 10 or maybe 12 years old that I actually saw a full sumo match of a tournament, and this was a really impressive match between Takanohana and Asashoryu at that time," Aonishiki said, recalling the clash of two legendary wrestlers. "When I saw this, this is what made me realize this is what I want to do. I want to become a professional in sumo, and that is where my goal began."
Former sekiwake Aminishiki, now known as stablemaster Ajigawa, is Aonishiki's mentor.
Aonishiki spoke about their relationship with a tone of respect, appreciative of Ajigawa's vast knowledge of the sport.
"I am also looking very often at videos or recordings from when he was a professional in his tournaments as well," the komusubi said. "There's a great amount that I can learn when I'm watching."
He added: "We look at those together and he provides very detailed guidance based on that in terms of how to improve these skills and so on."
According to Aonishiki, Ajigawa's sumo wisdom is invaluable to him, a catalyst for his success so far.
"I'm really happy to have someone who can give me advice, on and off the dohyo," Aonishiki said at the press luncheon. "I would not have risen so quickly if it wasn't for this stable, and it's thanks to him."
Looking Ahead to the Next Sumo Tournament
Six weeks after the Autumn Basho wrapped up, the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament begins on November 9 in Fukuoka.
Wrestling at the next tournament, Aonishiki has a clear objective in mind: "My next goal is becoming an ozeki (the second-highest rank)."
And as he prepares for the year's final 15-day basho, Aonishiki outlined his general plan to achieve this goal.
"I'd like to continue to work on as I have been doing until now and make [myself] even stronger to be able to go even higher from there," he said.
Aonishiki is also targeting his first-ever victory over yokozuna Onosato, the winner of three tournaments in 2025. He is 0-2 against the Ishikawa Prefecture native.
"I have not been able to be successful in winning against him," the Ukrainian stated. "So I'll continue my training, my practice, so that I can get to the level that I'm able to be successful against him."
That said, Aonishiki certainly maintains pride as a result of his Day 12 victory over Mongolian yokozuna Hoshoryu in the Autumn Basho. That triumph followed the first kinboshi (a win by a lower-ranked grappler against a yokozuna) of his career, also coming against Hoshoryu, in the July tournament on the third day.
From Ukraine to Japan
Still in his teens, the future pro sumo wrestler demonstrated his skills on the dohyo in major competitions in Ukraine, Europe and elsewhere.
He was the gold medalist in the men's under 92-kg division at the 2019 European Sumo Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. In the same year, Aonishki, then 15, collected the bronze medal in the 100-kg weight class at the Junior Sumo World Championships in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.
Becoming a university student was his plan a few years later. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 forced a change of plans.
He first went to Germany, where his family had relocated as refugees. Then he arrived in Japan later that year.
While the war raged on, Kansai University coach Arata Yamanaka invited Aonishiki to live with him and his family. The two men had struck up a friendship during the Junior Sumo World Championships three years earlier. At that time, Yamanaka was the collegiate sumo club's captain.
The Path to a Professional Career
After relocating to Osaka Prefecture, Aonishiki also began to practice with the university's sumo club, even though he wasn't enrolled at the school.
Day after day, the Ukrainian's talent shone through during the practice sessions. And it elevated his name and reputation within sumo circles, leading to his recruitment by the Ajigawa stable.
During the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the up-and-coming wrestler wants to be a positive symbol for his fellow Ukrainians.
"I hope that people from Ukraine will be able to see my sumo and have some kind of encouragement from that," he said at the press luncheon.
In the future, Aonishiki wants to return to his homeland. At the FCCJ, he spoke about things that stir up nostalgic memories in his mind.
"Of course I would like to go back because it's the place where I was born and raised and I still have a lot of friends and family there," he said. "If it's possible, I'd like to go back and meet them, go to restaurants where I used to go when I was small, and walk on the streets of my hometown (Vinnytsia)."
Nowadays, he relishes opportunities to sleep in on his days off from training. He also enjoys leisurely visits to a sauna on these days.
Following in Shishi's Footsteps
Shishi, currently an 18th-ranked maegashira, was the first Ukrainian sumo wrestler to reach the sekitori (top two divisions) level in January 2023.
Aonishiki is quite familiar with the career of the 28-year-old, given name Serhii Sokolovskyi, who made his pro debut in March 2020.
"As for Shishi, I have first been aware of him since I was a child," Aonishiki noted. "He became a sekitori much earlier than me."
He continued: "When I first entered this world, we did have a few opportunities to speak. However, now we are, of course, competitors, going up against each other in the ring as well. Therefore, it's not really good for us to be close when we are going up against each other as competitors in the ring.
"But I hope that once we have both retired, we will be able to become friendly then."
He has a more immediate goal as well, one that won't be achieved in the ring.
The 182-cm, 140-kg Aonishiki, who is light by sumo's standards, told the press luncheon attendees that he wants to increase his weight by about 10 kg.
After stating that goal, Aonishiki insisted it's "not so easy to do. It's hard to really eat more than I am at the moment as well. [And] it will be quite painful in a way. However, it is an advantage to be larger."
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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