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Ukraine-born wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn, besides known arsenic Aonishiki Arata, is the archetypal from his state to triumph an elite-level sumo title successful Japan.
Published On 23 Nov 2025
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn connected Sunday became the archetypal from his federation to triumph a tourney of the accepted Japanese sport.
The 21-year-old, who fled the warfare successful Ukraine 3 years ago, won the Kyushu tourney aft a tie-breaking triumph implicit expansive champion Hoshoryu from Mongolia.
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Known by his ringing sanction Aonishiki Arata and speaking fluent Japanese, helium told fans astatine Fukuoka Kokusai Center successful his televised triumph interrogation that helium was gladsome helium was capable to amusement his accustomed performance.
“I americium blessed that I americium capable to execute a extremity of mine,” helium said.
Yavhusishyn, who arrived successful Japan 3 years agone aft fleeing Ukraine, has climbed the sumo ranks astatine grounds speed.
The Japan Sumo Association volition soon clasp a peculiar gathering to beforehand him to “ozeki”, the second-highest ranking aft “yokozuna”, oregon expansive champion, nationalist broadcaster NHK said.
Yavhusishyn competed successful the satellite inferior sumo championships arsenic a teen but near Ukraine aft Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
He arrived successful Japan 2 months aboriginal and made a blistering commencement to his career, reaching sumo’s precocious divisions successful lone a twelvemonth and winning promotion to the fourth-highest rank.
Yavhusishyn was calved successful cardinal Ukraine and took up sumo astatine the property of seven, becoming a nationalist champion astatine 17.
His property meant helium narrowly avoided Ukraine’s subject draught for men aged 18 and older erstwhile warfare broke out, and helium sought refuge successful Germany earlier moving to Japan.
His parents stayed successful Germany, and helium arrived successful Japan knowing thing of the language.
Yavhusishyn became the 2nd Ukraine-born nonrecreational sumo wrestler erstwhile helium made his debut successful July 2023, pursuing successful the footsteps of compatriot Serhii Sokolovskyi, amended known arsenic Shishi.
Yavhusishyn’s promotion to sumo’s precocious divisions was the 5th fastest since the existent strategy of six tournaments a twelvemonth was introduced successful 1958.
The ambitious wrestler said helium present has his sights connected reaching the apical of the sumo hierarchy.
“I americium blessed (now) but determination is 1 higher status. I privation to enactment toward that,” helium said.
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn, left, wins the title lucifer by defeating Hoshoryu during the Grand Sumo Tournament successful Fukuoka connected November 23, 2025 [Jiji Press/AFP]
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