Photo by Michihiro Taguchi — shot ringside.
In sumo, Onosato is a Nishonoseki stable wrestler from Niigata who arrived in the professional ranks as a decorated college champion. He climbed to jūryō and then into the top makuuchi division at remarkable speed, yet did so without ever lifting a championship trophy along the way.
From schoolboy wrestler to college champion
Onosato started sumo at the age of seven and grew up as a dedicated young wrestler. He attended junior high and high school in Niigata before moving on to Nippon Sport Science University. It was in college that he made his name, winning the Student Yokozuna and Amateur Yokozuna titles. He took the Amateur Yokozuna crown in two consecutive years, marking himself out as one of the finest amateurs in the country.
Entering Nishonoseki stable
He chose to enter the Nishonoseki stable, run by the former yokozuna Kisenosato, located in Ibaraki Prefecture where there are few distractions. Thanks to his amateur credentials, he made his professional debut at the rank of makushita 10 tsukedashi, skipping the lowest rungs of the ladder entirely.
A bumpy start in makushita
The start was anything but smooth. On the opening day of the May 2023 basho, Onosato lost to Ishizaki (later known as Asakoryu) by tsukiotoshi. Astonishingly, he lost to Ishizaki again at the following July tournament. That left him in a tight spot at 3–3, with further defeats to capable opponents in Tokisenpu and the jūryō wrestler Kihō. Onosato then won his seventh bout to scrape out a kachikoshi.
A heartbreaking debut in jūryō
That single winning record carried weight: the next September tournament saw him reach jūryō, placed at the very bottom of the division. After dropping the opening day, he reeled off nine straight wins, including a victory over Asakoryu, who was himself on a losing streak. On day 10 he lost to Ichiyamamoto, who held a one-loss record, leaving the two level on a single defeat.
By the final day, both Ichiyamamoto and Onosato sat on two losses. Ichiyamamoto protected his standing by beating the 7–7 Ouenami. Onosato, also at 7–7, faced Rōga with promotion to makuuchi on the line. He lost by sukuinage, and the championship slipped away.
So close again, then into makuuchi
At the following November tournament, Onosato found himself in the title race once more. On the final day he met Kotoshoho in a championship playoff. Kotoshoho had already beaten him in their regular-schedule bout on day eight, winning by uwate dashinage. In the playoff, Onosato fell once again, this time to an uwatenage. For all his promise, he kept coming up short when it mattered most. In the end he was promoted to makuuchi without a single championship at jūryō or below. Standing 192 cm and weighing 176 kg at 23 years old, he favors a pushing-and-thrusting attack and a right-hand-inside yori drive.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Where is Onosato from?
He attended junior high and high school in Niigata, then went on to Nippon Sport Science University, where he won the Student Yokozuna and Amateur Yokozuna titles.
Q. What stable does Onosato belong to?
Nishonoseki stable, run by the former yokozuna Kisenosato, in Ibaraki Prefecture. He debuted at makushita 10 tsukedashi thanks to his amateur record.
Q. Did Onosato win a championship before reaching makuuchi?
No. He twice came agonizingly close in playoffs and final-day deciders but lost each time, reaching makuuchi without a yusho at jūryō or below.
Photos by Michihiro Taguchi, shot ringside.
