Aonishiki Stuns Hoshoryu to Keep Kyushu Title Hopes Alive

The Japan News

19:29 JST, November 22, 2025

Sekiwake Aonishiki kept his hopes of a first tournament title alive, notching a stunning win over yokozuna Hoshoryu on Saturday that, combined with yokozuna Onosato’s loss in the previous bout, left all three wrestlers with 11-3 records heading into the final day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

The possibility of a winner-take-all battle between the yokozuna on Sunday at Fukuoka Kokusai Center was quashed when Onosato continued a late-tournament slump and was forced out by ozeki Kotozakura, who secured his all-important kachikoshi eighth win.

In the day’s final bout, Aonishiki came out charging hard and never looked back as he bulled Hoshoryu out of the ring — the Ukranian’s third win in three meetings between the two.

On Sunday, a win by Aonishiki over Kotozakura will set up a playoff between him and the winner among the two yokozuna. If he loses, the winning yokozuna will walk off with the Emperor’s Cup.