Ukrainian Sumo champion Aonishiki writes history with second title in a row

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn, competing under the ring name Aonishiki Arata, captured his second consecutive Emperor’s Cup on January 25, defeating Japanese wrestler Atamifuji in a play-off at the Hatsu Basho in Tokyo. The 21-year-old became the third European in history to win the title prestigious New Year’s tournamentafter Estonian Baruto in 2012 and Georgian Tochinoshin in 2018.

Ukrainian Sumo wrestler Aonishiki wins the Emperor’s Cup for the second time in a row in Hatsu Basho

Both wrestlers entered the final day with identical 12-3 records. Atamifuji, who weighed 195 kilograms, defeated Oshumi in his scheduled fight to retain his position in the championship. Aonishiki then forced the play-off by defeating fellow ozeki Kotozakura in the next match. During the deciding play-off, Atamifuji was initially in control and pushed Aonishiki to the edge. However, the Ukrainian executed a headlock throw that sent his heavier opponent to the ground and the title.

The victory marked the first time in twenty years that a newly promoted Ozeki won a tournament. Hakuho, who later became one of Sumo’s greatest yokozuna, was the last to accomplish the feat in May 2006. Aonishiki also became the first wrestler since Futabayama in January 1937 to claim the Emperor’s Cups in consecutive tournaments while he wrestled at sekiwake and ozeki.

Yavhusishyn was born in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, on March 23, 2004. He started sumo at the age of seven and won the Ukrainian National Championship at the age of 17. Following the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, he fled to Germany with his family before traveling to Japan in April 2022 with the help of Japanese sumo wrestler Arata Yamanaka, whom he had befriended during the 2019 World Sumo Junior Championships.

He joined the Ajigawa stable in Tokyo and adopted the ring name Aonishiki, where ‘ao’ means ‘blue’, referring to the Ukrainian flag. The “Arata” part honors his Japanese friend who made his arrival in Japan possible. He made his professional debut in September 2023 and reached the top makuuchi division in March 2025. His rise through the ranks was the fastest in modern sumo history, reaching sekiwake in just 13 tournaments.

Aonishiki won his first Emperor’s Cup in Kyushu Basho in November 2025, defeating Yokozuna Hoshoryu in a play-off. That win earned him promotion to Ozeki for the January tournament. With two consecutive championships, he is now one tournament victory away from becoming the first European yokozuna in sumo history.