On 23 March, sumo wrestler Aonishiki turned 21-years-old on the last day of his debut in the top-division sumo tournament, where he earned promotion into the May tournament. However, the wrestler comes from an unusual background for a sumo wrestler: Aonishiki is a Ukrainian refugee.
Danylo Yavhusishyn, born in Vinnytsia, a city in west-central Ukraine, started sumo at the age of 7. Coming third at the 2019 World Junior Sumo Championships, he was set to turn his back on sumo and start a course at a Ukrainian university in 2022. However, just before Yavhusishyn turned 18, the Russian invasion began, and Danylo became a refugee in Germany.
In April, Yavhusishyn made the decision to go to Japan for sumo. Like many Ukrainian refugees, Yavhusishyn stayed with a host family. Arriving in Japan with no stable (a wrestler must be in a stable to compete), Yavhusishyn spent six months training with university and high school sumo clubs before being accepted at the Ajigawa stable.
Sumo wrestling as a foreigner can be difficult. Ajigawa was reluctant to recruit Yavhusishyn. Even after being accepted, it was six months before he started training, and in 2023 Yavhusishyn debuted in the September tournament. Yavhusishyn became known as Aonishiki Arata, named after the amateur wrestler that gave Yavhusishyn refuge in Japan.
Sumo is a hierarchical sport. To compete at the top, you have to work through the ranks before entering the top-level, televised Makuuchi division. Aonishiki, with a winning performance in every tournament, matched the record (9 tournaments) for the fastest wrestler promoted from debut to Makuuchi. Aonishiki made his debut at Makuuchi on 9 March 2025.
Tournaments last for 15 days, and wrestlers compete daily. Aonishiki won against Sadanoumi on day 3, but came into day 6 with a losing record. Aonishiki faced the only other Ukrainian to reach the top level of sumo: 28-year-old Shishi from Melitopol. In their first bout, Aonishiki defeated Shishi with a trip behind his knee, pushing him into the crowd.
An impressive round of wins saw Aonishiki rise to an excellent 11-5 record and received a special prize. As Ukraine remains at war, Aonishiki seems to be flying high, and he can be assured of a swift promotion going into the next tournament in May, where recently promoted Russian wrestler Roga will also be competing. All eyes will be on the young Ukrainian if he is drawn against Roga. Time will tell whether Aonishiki will become a tournament champion, but he has certainly made an impressive start.
Photo Credits: “Sumo Wrestling (Japan)” by Greg Walters is licensed under CC BY 2.0.