Japan has a new sumo grand champion, or yokozuna, named Onosato, marking a significant moment as he is the first Japanese wrestler to achieve this rank since 2017. Weighing 421 pounds, Onosato stands out, given that many recent yokozunas have been Mongolian. He expressed his commitment to honor the title through rigorous training and aims to be a unique yokozuna. At just 24 years old, Onosato, whose real name is Daiki Nakamura, was promoted by the Japan Sumo Association after winning the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament and another prestigious event earlier in March.
Onosato hails from Ishikawa prefecture, which recently suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami, prompting him to express his desire to uplift his region through his new role. He stated that striving for the yokozuna rank has been his goal since entering the sumo world, a pursuit he finds challenging yet rewarding.
Sumo is Japan’s national sport, deeply intertwined with Shinto traditions and customs that date back over a millennium. It is exclusively practiced at a professional level in Japan, with wrestlers typically living in communal settings where their diets and attire are strictly regulated.
Onosato’s ascent to the top rank establishes an immediate rivalry with Hoshoryu, a Mongolia-born yokozuna, with their first match anticipated in a July tournament in Nagoya, further igniting interest in the sport. Sumo remains a revered cultural institution in Japan, underscoring the significance of Onosato’s achievement in restoring national representation at the highest levels of this historic sport.
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