New Sumo Era with 2 Grand Champions

Onosato joined Hoshoryu at sumo's top rank following back-to-back titles in March and May, becoming the first Japanese-born grand champion since his stablemaster, the former Kisenosato, in 2017.

His promotion to the highest rank of yokozuna, after a total of 13 tournaments, was the fastest since the introduction of sumo's current system of six tournaments per year in 1958.

The imposing 192-centimeter, 191-kilogram wrestler, who excels both with his pushing and grappling techniques, won the first of his four Emperor's Cups in May 2024.

2025 Sumo Tournament Schedule

Date	Venue	Winner
Jan. 12-26 : New Year meet	Ryogoku Kokugikan	Hoshoryu
March 9-23 : Spring meet	Edion Arena Osaka	Onosato
May 11-25 : Summer meet	Ryogoku Kokugikan	Onosato
July 13-27 : Nagoya meet	IG Arena	TBD
Sept. 14-28 : Autumn meet	Ryogoku Kokugikan	TBD
Nov. 9-23 : Kyushu meet	Fukuoka Kokusai Center	TBD

New sumo grand champion Onosato performs a ring-entering ritual at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena on May 31, 2025. (Kyodo)

Onosato says he is motivated to win championships to raise the spirits of people in his native Ishikawa Prefecture, especially those in areas affected by the devastating Jan. 1, 2024, Noto Peninsula earthquake.

*A collapsed building is pictured in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2024, following a strong earthquake that rocked a wide area on the Sea of Japan coast the previous day. (Kyodo)*

*A collapsed building is pictured in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2024, following a strong earthquake that rocked a wide area on the Sea of Japan coast the previous day. (Kyodo)*

Among the places hit hard by the quake was Onosato's hometown of Tsubata, which showed its appreciation for the ascendant star by holding a parade to celebrate his promotion to yokozuna ahead of the July tournament.

Onosato (R) waves to spectators during a parade held in his hometown of Tsubata in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on June 29, 2025, celebrating his promotion to the sport's highest rank of yokozuna. (Kyodo)

Onosato (R) waves to spectators during a parade held in his hometown of Tsubata in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on June 29, 2025, celebrating his promotion to the sport's highest rank of yokozuna. (Kyodo)

Onosato made his professional debut as No. 10 in the third-tier makushita division in May 2023, having received the head start granted to wrestlers with outstanding amateur records.

*Onosato (R) celebrates with his father in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, after winning his first career top-division title at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 26, 2024. (Kyodo)*

*Onosato (R) celebrates with his father in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, after winning his first career top-division title at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 26, 2024. (Kyodo)*

He reached the elite makuuchi division after competing in only four tournaments, two each in makushita and second-tier juryo.

Onosato went on to lift his first Emperor's Cup at a record pace, in just his seventh professional tournament, in May 2024.

Onosato (R) wrestles en route to his first professional victory on May 16, 2023, in a makushita-division match at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. (Kyodo)

He reached ozeki at a record clip, after only nine professional meets. His meteoric rise saw him achieve the rank with hair still too short to be worn in the customary style of "sekitori" wrestlers competing in the top two divisions.

*Onosato celebrates his promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki on Sept. 25, 2024, at the Nishonoseki stable in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Kyodo)*

*Onosato celebrates his promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki on Sept. 25, 2024, at the Nishonoseki stable in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Kyodo)*

He is set to take his rivalry with fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu to the next level at the July 13-27 meet at Nagoya's IG Arena, where they will face off as grand champions for the first time. Onosato will aim to join the small number of wrestlers to win a championship in his yokozuna debut tournament.

Onosato (R) defeats Hoshoryu on the 14th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 21, 2024. Onosato improved to a 13-1 record to clinch his second top-division title with a day to spare, virtually guaranteeing his promotion to ozeki.(Kyodo)

Hoshoryu, the nephew of Mongolian former yokozuna Asashoryu clinched promotion to the top rank with his victory at the New Year tournament in January.

His promotion ensured the sumo world would not be left without a yokozuna following the retirement of Terunofuji midway through the January meet.

Hoshoryu had a difficult start to life as a grand champion, withdrawing hurt from his yokozuna debut tournament in March, but he bounced back with a strong performance in May, including a final-day win over Onosato that denied his rival an undefeated championship.

Combining explosive athleticism with outstanding grappling technique, Hoshoryu won his first Emperor's Cup as a sekiwake in July 2023, securing his ascent to ozeki in the process.

*Hoshoryu waves to the crowd during a parade to celebrate his promotion to yokozuna on Feb. 16, 2025, in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. (Kyodo)*

*Hoshoryu waves to the crowd during a parade to celebrate his promotion to yokozuna on Feb. 16, 2025, in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. (Kyodo)*

He earned a shot at yokozuna promotion after going 13-2 as runner-up in November 2024, requiring a championship-caliber performance at the subsequent New Year meet to move up to the sport's highest rank.

Hoshoryu (R) and Hokutofuji wrestle in a playoff on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Dolphins Arena in Nagoya on July 23, 2023. Hoshoryu captured his first top-division championship and secured promotion to ozeki. (Kyodo)

He finished the tournament deadlocked for the lead with rank-and-file wrestlers Oho and Kinbozan at 12-3 before beating both back-to-back in a three-way tiebreaker to claim the Emperor's Cup and ensure he would become sumo's 74th grand champion.

Hoshoryu was inspired to pursue a sumo career by his uncle Asashoryu, whose 25 top-division championships place him fourth on the all-time list.

*Asashoryu poses with the Emperor's Cup after the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 24, 2010 (Kyodo)*

*Asashoryu poses with the Emperor's Cup after the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 24, 2010 (Kyodo)*

"I used to watch him (Asashoryu) from the sidelines as a child...I'm excited," Hoshoryu said after clinching his yokozuna promotion in January.

Hoshoryu (R) performs a ring-entering ritual at Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine on Jan. 31, 2025, following his promotion to yokozuna. (Kyodo)

The 25-year-old Onosato is fighting for his third consecutive and fifth career title in the elite makuuchi division, while Hoshoryu, 26, is looking for his third career Emperor's Cup at Nagoya's new IG Arena.

*Onosato (top) is congratulated by fellow sumo wrestlers at his Nishonoseki stable in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture, on May 28, 2025, following his promotion to yokozuna. (Kyodo)*

*Onosato (top) is congratulated by fellow sumo wrestlers at his Nishonoseki stable in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture, on May 28, 2025, following his promotion to yokozuna. (Kyodo)*

Stay tuned for our sumo coverage!

Kyodo News, with decades of experience reporting sumo news in English, publishes daily roundup articles and a variety of photos during each 15-day tournament.

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