Nagoya Basho: Aonishiki Wins a 3-Way Playoff to Capture the Emperor's Cup

Sumo star Aonishiki bounced back from a loss on the final day of the Nagoya Basho and ended the tournament on a high note.

The 22-year-old Ukrainian, who entered Day 15 as the sole leader in the makuuchi (top) division, lost his regulation bout to fellow sekiwake Atamifuji, giving both men 12-3 records.

Then, in the penultimate match on Sunday, July 26, Mongolian ozeki Kirishima kept alive his title hopes, emerging with a triumph over ozeki Kotozakura. As a result, there was a three-way tie atop the leaderboard at IG Arena.

And after yokozuna Onosato (9-6) beat sekiwake Kotoshoho in the final regulation bout, the playoff commenced.

Nagoya Basho — *Atamifuji (right) defeats Kirishima in the playoff. (©SANKEI)*

Up first: Atamifuji vs Kirishima. The 23-year-old sekiwake, an Isegahama stable wrestler, picked up the victory by pushing his opponent over the edge of the raised ring.

Moments later, Aonishiki, who claimed back-to-back sumo tournament titles in November 2025 and January 2026, faced Atamifuji in a rematch. The 182-cm, 142-kg Aonishiki avenged his Sunday loss, prevailing via a yorikiri (frontal force-out).

In the final playoff match, Aonishiki conquered Kirishima, and sealed the title with a frontal force-out. (He also defeated Kirishima on Day 13.)

"I feel like I gave it my all," Aonishiki said in his post-victory interview.

Mission Accomplished for Aonishiki

With three Emperor's Cups on his glistening CV at age 22, Aonishiki has already established himself as one of sumo's best active wrestlers.

Prior to the Nagoya Basho, he set a pair of goals, and he accomplished those objectives.

"I had spoken with my stablemaster [ahead of the meet] and we set the target of not just aiming for the 10 wins but the championship. So I'm really happy to have won the title," Aonishiki said, according to Kyodo News.

By reaching the benchmark of 10 wins in Nagoya, Aonishiki secured promotion back to ozeki.

He was demoted to sekiwake, sumo's third-highest rank, after sitting out the Summer Basho with a left ankle injury.

"My body was moving better than I expected, so that was good," Aonishiki said in his post-victory interview, Sports Hochi reported.

In his view, there was a clear-cut key to his title-clinching victory against Kirishima.

"I was patient and able to wrestle in my own style, and that was the biggest factor in the result," Aonishiki was quoted as saying by Sankei Sports.

Nagoya Basho Notes

In the top division, 13th-ranked maegashira, Nishikifuji and Takerufuji, finished with 10-5 records, as did 14th-ranked Shishi, a Ukrainian, and maegashira No 4 Daieisho.

On the final day, Nishikifuji prevailed against 10th-ranked Chiyoshoma, while Daieisho upset komusubi Yoshinofuji.

Seventh-ranked maegashira Takayasu and Kotoeiho, who had the same rank for the Nagoya Basho, both went 11-4 at IG Arena.

Yokozuna Hoshoryu (7-7-1) withdrew from the tournament on Saturday due to right hamstring pain. He missed nearly the entire Summer Basho in May after injuring his right hamstring.

Maegashira No 1 Fujinokawa, a 21-year-old Kyoto native, collected the Outstanding Performance Award after earning eight wins in the 15-day meet.

Atamifuji, Kotoeiho and Takayasu received the Fighting Spirit Prize.

In addition to the Nagoya Basho title, Aonishiki was awarded the Technique Prize.