Onosato Looking to Shine in Ozeki Debut at Kyushu Basho

Newly promoted ozeki Onosato says his promotion to sumo's second-highest will motivate him to work harder when the Kyushu Basho begins on Sunday, November 10.

After winning the Autumn Basho on September 22 as a sekiwake, the 24-year-old Onosato became the fastest wrestler to reach ozeki since the start of the Showa era in 1926, accomplishing the feat in only nine meets after turning professional.  

He will be the odds-on favorite to lift the Emperor's Cup at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament (November 10-24) at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

"Seeing my name on the rankings helped me realize the fact I have become an ozeki," Onosato said, according to Kyodo News. "It made me feel I have to roll my sleeves up even more. I'm sure there will be lots to gain and learn come the first day."

A Rapid Rise to Stardom for Onosato

Onosato made his professional debut at the Summer Basho in May 2023 and won his first elite-division title at the May tournament in 2024 when he went 12-3 as a komusubi.

A second championship performance in September as a sekiwake convinced sumo officials that Onosato was ready to make the jump to ozeki.

"Comparing myself to a year ago, I'm in an unimaginable position. I haven't caught up with it myself," Onosato told Kyodo News.

He added, "I expect lots of new things to face [as ozeki]. I'll try not to overthink and work hard with the same mindset as I've had till now."

With his meteoric rise up the ranks, some sumo analysts are now projecting that the 192-cm, 182-kg wrestler is well on his way to being promoted to yokozuna, and his quest for the highest rank truly begins on Sunday.

"It's not a rank everyone can reach, nor something I can claim easily. I haven't got around to thinking about it yet," Onosato said, according to Kyodo News. "[But] I think there will be things I get to see after gaining experience as ozeki."

Aiming for Success at the Kyushu Basho

Onosato missed part of the Japan Sumo Association's regional tour in October due to an infection but was able to get some practice in before the start of the tournament.

"I've lacked training in some areas but I'm gradually moving my body. I'll just keep going without getting flustered ahead of the meet's first day," Onosato was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "It's the last tournament of the year so I want to round it off on a positive note."

Onosato's competition at the Kyushu meet is likely to come from the tournament's two other ozeki wrestlers ― Kotozakura and Mongolian Hoshoryu.

Kotozakura barely eked out a winning record of 8-7 in September and will be looking for better results in Fukuoka. Hoshoryu was also 8-7 last time out and is capable of much more.

Terunofuji Pulls Out of Kyushu Basho

Yokozuna Terunofuji withdrew from the tournament on Friday, meaning he will be absent for the second straight meet.

Terunofuji's Isegahama stable said the 10-time Emperor's Cup winner is not fit to compete due to knee pain and symptoms of diabetes.

The oft-injured 32-year-old Terunofuji has only contested two full tournaments this year: the New Year's tournament in Tokyo and the Nagoya meet in July, winning both.

"Appearing at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament (in January) will be his priority," his stablemaster Isegahama said, according to Kyodo News. "He will work on that from now."

Mongolian Kirishima will be another wrestler to keep an eye on when the basho kicks off.

The former ozeki went an impressive 12-3 in September and is bidding to get back to the second-highest rank, which he held from July of 2023 until May of this year.

Takerufuji Returns to the Top Division

Further down the ranks, up-and-coming grappler Takerufuji will fight as a No 16 maegashira. Takerufuji, 24 at the time, electrified the sumo world when he captured the Emperor's Cup at the March tournament with a 13-2 record.

It was the first time any wrestler had won the tournament in his top-division debut since Ryogoku did so way back in 1914. 

But the win took a toll as Takerufuji injured his right ankle on the penultimate day of that tournament. 

Even though he was able to come back the next day and win, he was forced to miss all of the May tournament and fell back to the juryo ranks and only appeared in three bouts in July.

The native of Aomori Prefecture won the juryo division in September with a 13-2 record and is now back in the top division looking for more success.

RELATED:

• EDITORIAL | Onosato, Now Ozeki, Builds Hope for a Future Yokozuna
• Onosato Celebrates Championship on the Final Day of the Autumn Basho Despite Loss to Abi
• Kirishima Wins His Second Emperor's Cup with a Stellar 13-2 Record at Kyushu Basho

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.