Kyushu Basho: Aonishiki Beats Hoshoryu in a Playoff to Nab 1st Emperor's Cup

Rising sumo star Aonishiki defeated yokozuna Hoshoryu in a playoff at the Kyushu Basho on Sunday, November 23.

In doing so, the 21-year-old became the first Ukrainian to win a grand sumo tournament title. And Aonishiki improved to 4-0 in his career against the Mongolian grappler.

Competing at the third-highest rank of sekiwake for the first time at this tourney, Aonishiki outmuscled Hoshoryu on Saturday, helping create a logjam at the top.

Heading into Day 15 of the tournament in Fukuoka, sekiwake Aonishiki and the two yokozuna, Hoshoryu and Onosato, were in a three-way tie for the lead (11-3).

Onosato dislocated his left shoulder in his victory over Aonishiki on Friday, Nishonoseki stable announced on Sunday, a day after he notched his 11th win of the meet. A one-month injury recovery period was also announced, according to published reports.

As a result, Hoshoryu received a walkover win due to the injured Onosato's forfeit of their Day 15 match.

Kyushu Basho — *Aonishiki faces ozeki Kotozakura in a Day 15 match in Fukuoka. (KYODO)*

In the penultimate bout on Sunday, Aonishiki beat ozeki Kotozakura, who finished with an 8-7 record. That victory ensured that Aonishiki would meet Hoshoryu in a winner-take-all playoff at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

After the initial charge at the start of the Hoshoryu-Aonishiki playoff, the Ukrainian worked quickly to gain the upper hand. Securing a strong grip around the Mongolian's waist, Aonishiki sealed the win with a forceful okurinage (rear throw-down).

With his title-clinching triumph on Sunday in only his 14th tournament as a professional sumo wrestler, Aonishiki is on the verge of promotion to ozeki, the second-highest rank. The Japan Sumo Association is set to make a formal announcement on Wednesday, November 26, according to published reports.

Success at the Kyushu Basho

What was Aonishiki's mindset as he prepared to meet Hoshoryu in the playoff? And how did he approach facing the yokozuna in a rematch a day after their previous encounter?

"This was my first playoff, so I just wanted to make sure I got it right and finish with no regret," Aonishiki was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I'm always a little nervous, but I was able to focus on my style of sumo."

To maintain his focus, Aonishiki explained after the bout that "I thought it would be best to do what I usually do and stay low, and fight as hard as I could," The Japan News reported.

On Sunday, Aonishiki received the Outstanding Performance Award for the first time. He was also awarded the Technique Prize for the final sumo basho of 2025.

Acknowledging that his promotion to ozeki is just around the corner, Aonishiki stated again his ultimate goal as a sumo wrestler.

"I'm happy," the Kyushu Basho champion said after clinching the Emperor's Cup, according to Kyodo News. "But there's one more rank above ozeki and I'll be doing my best to get there."

Tournament Notes

Hoshoryu experienced disappointment in back-to-back tournaments to close out 2025. In September's Autumn Basho, Onosato beat him in a playoff to claim his third Emperor's Cup of the year.

At the Kyushu Basho, Hoshoryu was handed a shock loss on Day 1 to top maegashira Hakuoho. But that didn't stop Hoshoryu from putting himself in position to contend for the title. He lost only two more regulation bouts in Fukuoka ― a Day 6 setback to fourth-ranked maegashira Tamawashi and on Day 14 versus nemesis Aonishiki.

Hoshoryu, who was promoted to yokozuna in January 2025, expressed disappointment after his playoff defeat to Aonishiki.

"Next tournament is my revenge," Hoshoryu said, according to Jiji Press. "I don't want to lose to him (Aonishiki) anymore. All I can say is I'm frustrated."

Maegashira No 2 Kirishima and eighth-ranked Ichiyamamoto finished the tourney with identical 11-4 records. Both wrestlers received the Fighting Spirit Prize.

Fifth-ranked maegashira Yoshinofuji (formerly Kusano), who went 9-6 in the Kyushu Basho, collected the Technique Prize.