Kirishima Closes with Loss, But Run to Spring Title Capped by Promotion Back to Ozeki

The Japan News

19:29 JST, March 22, 2026

Having clinched the title the previous day, sekiwake Kirishima went into the final day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with one final item of business.

Athough Kirishima failed to finish on a winning note, losing to ozeki Kotozakura on Sunday to finish with a 12-3 record, that appeared to still be good enough to earn the Mongolian a promotion back to the rank of ozeki.

After the tournament at Edion Arena Osaka, the Japan Sumo Association announced that an extraordinary board meeting has been called for Wednesday to discuss the promotion — generally a sign that it will be approved.

In the ring, Kotozakura swiftly moved Kirishima to the edge and forced him out. Kotozakura notched just his eighth win in 22 meetings between the two and finished at 10-5.

Kirishima compiled a total of 34 wins over three tournaments, topping the informal criteria of 33 for promotion to ozeki — the rank he last held two years ago. But ending with consecutive losses could have weighed against him.

Kirishima had lost to ozeki Aonishiki on Saturday, but still clinched the title when both No. 5 maegashira Kotoshoho and yokozuna Hoshoryu — the only wrestlers left with a mathematical chance of catching him — also went down to defeat.

Kirishima, who turns 30 next month, won his third career title and earned the Outstanding Performance Award for the first time.

Aonishiki posts 1st losing record

The subplot of the tournament involved Aonishiki, who turned in a perplexingly disappointing performance that left him with a losing record for the first time in his career, a span of 15 tournaments since his debut in November 2023.

In the final bout of the tournament, Hoshoryu threw down Aonishiki to hand him his makekoshi eighth loss, while finishing 11-4 himself.

It marks quite a reversal of fortunes for the Ukrainian, who, after winning both of the previous two tournaments, became a candidate for promotion to yokozuna — now he will have to post a majority of wins in the May tournament just to retain his ozeki rank.

Kotoshoho finished with a win and an 11-4 record to receive the Fighting Spirit Prize along with No. 13 maegashira Fujiseiun, who went 10-5 in his makuuchi division debut.

No. 2 maegashira Fujinokawa earned the Technique Prize for consecutive wins over the yokozuna duo of Onosato (who dropped out of the tournament after that loss on the third day) and Hoshoryu.